Dear Editor,
As a Canadian citizen, a voter, and a retiree living in Meaford I strongly support permanent resident status for undocumented people, also referred to as comprehensive regularization, and so does everyone I know.
I was surprised by Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s recent remarks suggesting a lack of consensus in Canada for regularization. To many Canadians, it’s clear that regularization is both fair and necessary.
I’ve been closely following the mistreatment of undocumented individuals in the news.
Undocumented people face exploitation at work, mistreatment by landlords, and separation from their families. The only solution is to grant them permanent resident status so they can have the equal rights they deserve.
This is why every major labour, healthcare, and faith, climate, and civil society groups, over 500 organizations in all, are supporting the call for many reasons.
I’m dismayed to see immigrants wrongly blamed for the housing and affordability crisis in the media and by some politicians. These issues are due to government policy failures, financial speculators, and pandemic profiteers, not immigrants. Most Canadians support immigration and regularization because we know it strengthens our economy. In fact, regularization will grow the economy by $28 billion.
I was so happy when PM Trudeau promised regularization in December 2021. Prime Minister Trudeau must keep his promise of equality and regularization, not allow for immigrants to be villainized.
Friends and family I’ve spoken with all agree: this is a matter of justice and humanity. Let’s move forward with compassion and common sense. It’s time for comprehensive regularization now.
Sincerely,
Darryl Birch, Meaford
