CCIS marks 45 years supporting newcomers; immigration climate remains complex
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society held Friday conference addressing loss of public confidence in immigration and paths forward for integration.
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The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society held a conference Friday to mark 45 years of supporting newcomers to Canada, using the milestone to address persistent challenges in public perception and federal policy around immigration.
Bamidele Salako, manager of marketing and communications for CCIS, said the organization recognizes a fundamental shift in the national conversation. "The reality is that we have lost the public confidence in immigration, and I think the federal government and various levels of government have probably acknowledged areas where the ball was dropped," Salako said. "You've seen from changes in policy and immigration levels that efforts have been made to address some of the errors of the past."
Moving forward will require "honest and frank conversations" and acknowledgement of legitimate concerns from those critical of immigration policy, Salako added. "They are valid concerns. We all have one goal, and that's that Canada prospers, that Alberta prospers."
Fariborz Birjandian, former CCIS CEO and keynote speaker, said immigrants are often scapegoated for economic problems because they're an "easy target." When economies falter, politicians and people blame newcomers rather than examining systemic issues. "If you have a house, and you invite 20 people to your house, but you can only accommodate 10, whose problem is it? That's your problem. Whose fault is it? Your fault," Birjandian said.
Many Canadians lack awareness of why Canada brings in newcomers — to supplement labour shortages and boost the economy. "People are not coming to this country on their own. We bring them, we select them," Birjandian said. When immigration is managed properly, everyone benefits. When it is not, he said, everyone loses.
The Friday event featured guest speakers on immigration policy from federal, provincial, and local government levels, plus panel discussions on how policy decisions affect those most impacted. Much of CCIS's work focuses on helping newcomers integrate and develop a sense of belonging in their new communities.