Canada Immigration: Change is Good, Chequebooks Better

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

We have all seen the Visa Credit Card Advertistement, which quotes "Change is Good, but Life Takes Visa", The Canadian  Government taking a cue from Advertisers, prefer a "Chequebook" with a "healthy bank balance" to the tune of "$400,000.00" for "Immigrants" looking to get the "Immigration Red Carpet" treatment and immediate  Permanent Residency as  soon as you  hit the Tarmac.

For the rest of the "Immigrants, "Keep your Spare Change".

For example, since the transfer of Hong Kong to China in late 1989, Canada looking to cash in on the influx of nervous Hong Kong residents, put up a $250,000.00 Immigration cash incentive to those wishing to get out before the Chinese Communists came a Knocking.    Hong Kong residents came in droves.  

British Columbian citizens especially around the lower mainland took notice as house prices all of a sudden were kept more in line with the Governments $250,000.00 Immigration requirement saw Hong Kong Residents shell out $250,000.00 in the Canadian Economy  as house prices also climbed to $250,000.00.

It had been said that in 2000 Prime Minister Chretien and his Enterprising Liberal Government upped the ante for immigrants to $500,000.00. 

BC Politicians, area Realtors, Home Builders and Speculators, certainly not one to miss an opportunity off the backs of new Immigrants, saw the mad influx of  well heeled Hong Kong citizens paid and came in greater numbers.  New Asian Immigrant Investment turned a City from a Lumber town into what we have today, one of the Jewels in Canada, if not the world, all due to investment from Immigrants who chose Canada as their home.

Yet, today the Chinese community is incensed over a 85 year old 1920's Canadian Government $500.00 Head Tax?  Gee, I think I would direct my incensed energy over a Half Million dollar Head tax. Cause that is basically what it looks like, only packaged differently.

Some all of a sudden realised that this was about the exact time houses in the lower mainland of BC climbed close to the $500,000.00 mark as well. 

Coincidence? For most Immigrants looking to get the "Hell outta Dodge", to them, "It's Priceless".  For the Rest of the Immigrants not able to buy their way into Canada,  as ING advertisment states "Save your Pennies and watch your Savings Grow" , cause Canada only does Green.

Certainly one can hope this new immigration bill will put all immigrants on equal footing. But as they  say, Money Talks and Bullshit Walks.

As for all the other anti immigration myths, one myth that cannot be disputed is that the best way into Canada is with Cold Hard Cash and Plenty of it!