Last month Northern Lifer reported Mayor
David Courtemanche was invited by Toronto Mayor David Miller to
participate in a discussion on immigration at the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities Big Cities mayors' caucus.
It was reported that Courtemanche has said
many times Greater Sudbury needs to attract more immigrants as
a way to counter the area's declining population.
I hope the mayor will give serious
consideration to bringing to Sudbury a good number of refugees
or unskilled people from underdeveloped countries, not just the
skilled specialists who will help us.
Many unskilled immigrants have come to Canada
throughout our history and they have learned skills and helped
to make our country what it is today.
We need to do our part in alleviating the
misery and hardships faced by so many in Third World
countries.
Canadians gave overwhelming support for
tsunami victims by sending money through various aid agencies.
To bring some refugees here is another way we can help those
who are most needy.
In the new federal budget, $398 billion was
promised to help new immigrants integrate into Canada. I hope
that in future negotiations about immigration, the mayor can be
involved in tapping some of that money for new immigrants, to
bring unskilled or needy refugees, as well as skilled
professionals, to Sudbury to enrich their lives and ours.
Melveen Hicks
Sudbury