a10khan

I do not have a problem with foreign ownership so long as it is regulated with tax imposition similar to what Canadians pay. Also, only a certain % of the real estate market should be opened up for foreign investors. My bigger question, how do these investors get mortgages with mediocre revenue streams?

I've heard about this initiative, kudos to the team who put this up. It is time to reclaim Canada, and it starts with Harper's departure. I'm hoping we get rid of the authoritarian, undemocratic rule of this man. Strategic voting is our best chance. Don't worry about anyone running it down. These people fear voters may just vote smartly this time around. Also hoping once either of the two opposition parties come into power, they'd keep their promise and scrap the outdated first past the post system and introduce proportional representation or some other fairer system that takes into account "true majority", the population who did not vote for ruling party.

Glad that Harper and his conmen brought the niqab issue to the fore at election time. I'd rather have these issues discussed than get swept under the carpet. Also, exposes the double standards of some, and the fair-mindedness of others. Forcing a woman to unveil herself when she has already identified herself clearly demonstrates the official's bias to begin with. She never had any trouble with identifying herself for any government screening or for security reasons at the airport. The larger question of whether women should be allowed the niqab or not should not even be a question in a society that upholds social freedom and human rights. Far from being oppressed, most women who don the niqab do so out of choice. Nor do they represent all that is "backward", as seen by the recent assault on on the Muslim woman in Fairvew Mall, Toronto. She is a convert, a fitness trainer and proud of her identity. The Conservatives have succeeded thus far in dividing the electorate on a non-issue that hardly affects 0.01% of Muslim-Canadian women. If people fall for this, than they'd have no one to blame when state tramples on other civil liberties enjoyed by all Canadians, in niqab or otherwise.

A lot is being thrown around on this forum. I'm no big supporter of mass immigration, but I reckon steady immigration is the only way Canada will 'sustain' itself. Canada's economic clout has been achieved on the back of immigration. Amazing how some amongst us quickly discredit immigration and its role in Canada's economic and thus, political advancements. Most People don't come here to do security or warehouse jobs here. Thats a real slap on the face statement to make. Let them come here, put six-figure amounts in the bank, buy a house, enroll their kids in universities - all with a hand-to-mouth job that degrades and derides what they've done and achieved for all their lives. We suffer from a classic hypocrisy by big and medium sized corporations as well as the three levels of government who have failed to integrate qualifications and experience of thousands of immigrants. Additionally, the uncompetitive pay scales mean a lot of Canadian immigrants move down south as soon as an opportunity arrives. They are better paid and valued in the American system and a decent amount of them go onto settle there for good. Also, can someone tell how many recent immigrants are on welfare as opposed to people living here for a considerable period or born-and-raised individuals? Lastly, this can't-speak-English excuse is preposterous. Most of the skilled and semi-skilled immigrants are quite capable in English, although they could perhaps be lacking in confidence which could and generally is easily addressed by LINC classes, etc. The point is we have double-standards here by the concerned authorities which is why we see better utilization of immigration by the US, a country that utilizes its highly-educated and skilled immigrants much better than we do.

I find it appalling that (what?) two dozen women who don the naqab in Quebec are dominating the national political agenda. There might have been one or two odd cases where women refused to remove the veil for security or identification purposes. Which indicates that a large majority of them would not have any problems with removing it for the aforementioned reasons. Also, it is painfully ignorant to consider all women wearing a burkha (burkha and naqab are not one and the same things!) as being oppressed and rendered unequal. These women, generally, feel more protective wearing it and strongly believe it is a requirement in the religion. Whether it is really so is, is something which divides many a scholarly opinions. If the dress code offends others, well, that is just unfortunate than. I get offended by almost-naked men jogging or biking in summer or by micro-shorts, about to tear apart, worn by women in those 35 Celsius days in malls. But I understand it is their choice and they are not really harming or hurting anyone. Point being, we don't live in a primitive society. This is the exact argument given by advocates of the ban. In a primitive culture, there is a lot of force used on implementing codes of conduct. Also, there is little, if any, choice in religion, lifestyle, etc. Canada can do better than that, much better.