Canada, the land of beauty, designated as the best place in the world to live by the United Nations four years in a row, tops in fresh water reserves in the world, number seven in economic wealth despite a population of only 30 millions – what a place! Yes indeed what a place – one aspect, however, if you look deeper, should have all Canadians hanging their heads in shame.
Spreading the Word
The message goes out for all the world to hear: “Emigrate to Canada where opportunities abound especially for engineers, scientists and doctors! Enjoy one of the greatest standards of living in the world.” But when these professionals, who were highly respected in their native lands, who earned well above average incomes there, arrive in Canada what do they find as a reception? “You lack Canadian experience.” “Your English is not sufficient for this job.” “Where is your professional engineering certification for Canada?” They are asked to repeat medical school or engineering school, when they have neither the time, the funds nor the inclination for a repetition of what they went through 20 years ago at home.
An Ugly Result
As career counselors, we meet, almost daily, professionals from abroad who are exasperated with Canada, with their professions and with their lives. They had arrived in Canada full of optimism and hope. They had been led to believe that they would thrive like never before. Instead I have met a psychiatrist who is cleaning offices, an MD general practitioner who is scrubbing floors, a PhD. who is washing dishes to make ends meet and a PhD who has work as a security guard. After one or two years looking for a job, with funds totally depleted, debts escalating, bill collectors in hot pursuit the individuals self-esteem, despite the persons obvious accomplishments, is at rock bottom. “Im 50 years old, have two degrees and cant even provide for my family.” Meanwhile, oblivious to the reality, the newspapers wax on about the exodus of intellectuals from Canada, the need for more doctors, and rave on about Canada as the land of hope and glory.
Some Progress
Professional companies in Ottawa have successfully placed not only native Canadians but professionals from Russia, the Ukraine, India, the US, Hong Kong, etc. Lets cite one example.
A Success Story
An engineer from India visited an office with his sad story and expressed his justifiable anger and frustration at being lured to Canada. They could not apologize for the Government but he was assured of the companys best effort to find him a good job here. He lamented about his rejection because he did not have any Canadian degrees, his lack of Canadian experience and his absence of bilingualism. The fact that he had a Bachelors of Engineering, a Masters of Engineering and an MBA was of little or no value because the papers were foreign.
The fact that he spoke three languages – but not the right ones – was of no advantage. The fact that he had successfully run a manufacturing plant in India was deemed of no importance here. While it was agreed that he had met these objections, the company did not agree at their validity. He was asked if a kilogram weighed more in India than Canada, if a lathe operated on a different principle in Canada than India or if lazy and hardworking people were a monopoly of one country over another.
Did not a person work hard to get an engineering degree in India just as a young person pushes to the limit to get a degree here? Was not English the language used by over 90% of private sector employees in the Ottawa area? Having decided to trust our approach to the job search we reached a point where we were attempting to define the kind of opportunity on which to focus.
Because of his experience, the career coach suggested he seek a position for him to head a manufacturing facility. “No, no” he protested, “Lets begin more modestly. I will apply for a position as second or third in a plant, prove myself and gradually work my way up.” He was then asked: “Can you or can you not run a manufacturing facility?” “Of course I can, but I am not a Canadian.” Since he was capable or running plant and since such a job would give him the greatest personal satisfaction, self-esteem, not to mention money, it was recommended that plant leadership should be his focus.
Reluctantly he agreed to follow their lead. Five weeks later this gentleman was running a manufacturing facility near Ottawa. Within three months, that plant had been able to double its production because of the methods he introduced.
Conclusions
People hire employees because of what lies between a persons ears–the experience and knowledge regardless of the race, nationality or officialness of the degree. Can you deliver the goods we expect of you? If the answer is yes, then you should have the job. If you search the right places for a job, this indeed happens.
Expert job counselors can help overcome the prejudices that are bandied about so freely by many in Canada and help locate a career position of significance for most people.
Canadians should not tolerate the senseless discrimination by guilds and trades who hide behind “protecting the public interest” when it is there very own interests they are protecting by keeping a closed shop. I include my own profession, engineering, in this group.
We all need to wake up to the power of individuals regardless of their origins, to cast off our ill-gained sense of elitism, our arrogance about our specialness. We Canadians are no better than any other peoples or races. People are people, everywhere in the world. Let each one stand on personal merit, not on country of origin. Let Canada benefit from these wonderful individuals who have chosen to join our country to make it a better place to live – and can, if only they are allowed to do so.
All The Best
