Truemors
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
I think this story is off the mark, there are plenty of Musicans in British Columbia, just walk down to any city street corner, shopping mall or liquor outlest or ATM Machine and "Voila" there they are Hat in Hand, guitar case laid out for your coinage! Some even have their pet with a fashionably knotted Banadana around it's neck as a hook to get passerbys on the sympathy level.
Now does BC have Great Musicans? Well of course we do, do they work in BC? Hell No! Just like Actors and Comedians, Canada aint the place to make money, never has been, never will be!
When the USA is a film shot, a laugh, a song and a tank of gas away, Big Bucks come a calling for our Canadian talent, everything from Hockey to Doctors !
Will we ever get it back? ahhhh........ NO!
Will American Entertainers come here to British Columbia? Perhaps, only if Loitering Laws in the States prohibit panhandling! Because as they say, if you cannot make it there (USA) you can't make it anywhere!
Our Street Corners, Liquor store and ATM sidewalks and non paid community theatres are full of Entertainers, just ask any Welfare and Unemployment office.
Is B.C. lacking local musicians?Apparently so, according to new data. More temporary work permits were granted in this category than any otherLori Culbert, Vancouver SunPublished: Tuesday, June 10, 2008BRITISH COLUMBIA - Alberta is bringing in cooks and pipefitters. Saskatchewan is short of welders. Manitoba could use more farm supervisors.
And what are the most common job categories of people who come into B.C. on temporary foreign worker permits?
Musicians and singers.Temporary work permits were granted for 1,296 musicians or singers in B.C. last year, the highest number of any category, according to data obtained from Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
Each year Canada brings in thousands of foreign workers for a limited period of time, often about two years, usually to take jobs that the government says can't be filled by Canadians.
Musicians and singers from outside Canada require the same temporary work permits, but are an exception to the rule. They are not filling job vacancies but are frequently brought in for short periods of time to perform at concerts or festivals.
The fact musical artists hold the top ranked position in B.C. - as well as Ontario and Quebec - is likely a testament to the bustling music scenes in these provinces.
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