Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 13, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a3                                                                                                                                                                                                            "   #    128 Adelaide st. 944 7463 1504 st. Maryus re. 944 7474 1530 Regent ave. 944 7466 wow. Canadia footwear. Com                        at Canadian footwear we fit you with Over 150 styles of menus and a omens sport dress and casual sandals in Stock now wow. . Com for Reserva i ions Call 488 4520 d d e e b b r r a a d d i i g g i i o o v v a a n n n n i i c c o o n n c c e e r r t t s s e e r r i i e e s s j j a a n n u u a a r r y y 2 2 0 0 t t h h 2 2 4 4 t t h h appear r r i ing t the i is week Dave hems t Tad f f r r o of l l a a s s t t c c o of i i c c s s t t a a n n d d i i n n g g & v v i i d d e e o o o o n n t t r r i i a a l l top news Winnipeg free press tuesday january 13, 2009 Winnipeg repress. Com a 3 the Economy May be slowing Down but the Manitoba government is charging full steam ahead with plans to double immigration by 2016. For the past couple of years Manitoba has received close to 10,000 newcomers and plans to hit 20,000 in the next seven years. That target remains on track Ben Rempel assistant Deputy minister of Manitoba labour and immigration said. The provinces strategy is based on Long term immigration demographic and labour Market trends he said. By 2015, All labour Market growth is going to be coming from immigration Rempel said. Short term dynamics such As a weakening Economy wont change the fact that More newcomers will be needed Down the Road so weave got the workers who can meet our labour Market needs. Statistics Canada reported that 71,000 full time jobs were lost across Canada in december. The u. S. Reported 524,000 jobs lost in december resulting in the highest unemployment rate 7.2 per cent that country has seen in 16 years. In Manitoba the jobless rate barely moved to 4.3 per cent from 4.2 per cent with 400 jobs lost. Nationally the jobless rate grew to 6.6 per cent from 6.3 per cent the previous month. The conference Board of Canada predicted Manitoba ass Economy will grow by 2.4 per cent this year and rec economics predicted employment will increase by 1.5 per cent and Manitoba ass unemployment will hover around 4.5 per cent. These predictions Are More optimistic than National and most provincial rates. Rempel Isnit worried that canadians from provinces such As Ontario a Hove lost their jobs in the Auto and forestry sectors will flood the Job Market in Manitoba. He said Manitoba can keep increasing permanent immigration while responding to a softening labour Market by reducing the number of temporary foreign work permits issued. So far unlike the booming provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan Manitoba a snot had to rely on dramatic increases in the Pool of temporary workers from outside Canada. Weave had a stable inflow through the provincial nominee program he said. Manitoba welcomed 10,955 people in 2007 and is on target to reach that number in 2008. The Challenge will be to make sure the newcomers get the services they need to be productive and contribute to the Economy he said. Newcomers have struggled to find affordable accommodation. Winnipeg has the lowest rental vacancy rate in its history at one per cent. Carol. Sanders free press. My. Ca on target to double number of newcomers to 20,000 by 2016 by Carol Sanders w Hen Manitoba ass booming trucking Industry needed Long haul Drivers British born Chris Mason answered the Call. Now after injuries have left him crippled and unable to work hers been told hers an economic Burden and will be deported. I feel like Ive been sentenced to death said Mason who found work As a truck Driver in Canada in 2001. After the Wear and tear of that Job damaged his lower Back and left him unable to walk modifications were made to the Rig and he went Back to work As a Driver then later As a dispatcher. Two years later he was struck by a wheelchair taxi at a crosswalk near the health sciences Centre. On Friday Mason 35, was informed he will be removed from Canada today to his native Britain where he a snot lived since he was eight years old. At that time his parents split up and he moved to Greece to live with his dad. I have my Mother and my sister in Britai but All my support and friends Are Here in Winnipeg he said. Masons mom and sister live in walk ups in Manchester that like much of England Arentt wheelchair accessible he said. In England theress such a shortage of accessible housing that theress a two and a half year waiting list for it he said hers still battling Manitoba Public insurance Over an insurance claim and is grateful for a network of friends and support in Manitoba that have helped him Start Over twice once when he first became a paraplegic and again when he was hit in his wheelchair at a crosswalk and everything collapsed again. Laurie Helgason who befriended Mason when they became disabled at about the same time said she feels Mason should be allowed to stay on compassionate grounds. It feels like Canadas throwing him away she said. We dont want to Deal with the problem. We want him Back in England and make it their problem. She said Mason is like a brother to her and her husband and she worries about his Well being. In glands not Well known for their supports for the disabled. Its hard to believe head find housing and supports she said. Hers a Good Man in the Community Mason applied for permanent residency after he started working but did not properly Complete the paperwork. The second time he applied he was disabled out of work and ultimately rejected. Now the Man has to leave his two cats his friends and his wheelchair accessible Home. It does not seem right Helgason said. I really wish something could be done about it. Id like to see him stay that would be the Best thing. A spokeswoman for the Canada Border services Agency Casa said she comment on the specifics of masons Case because of privacy legislation. Generally everyone ordered removed from Canada is entitled to due process before the Law and All removal orders Are subject to various Levels of Appeal she said in an email. Prior to removal individuals May seek a judicial review As Well As an administrative review to assess the potential risk or hardship they May face if returned to their country of origin. It is imperative for the integrity of this system that once individuals have exhausted All avenues they respect our immigration Laws and leave Canada the spokeswoman for Casa said. In cases where there Are medical concerns Casa officials will consult with medical professionals to determine if a person is in a condition to travel. Carol. Sanders free press. My. Ca Manitoba begging for More immigrants. But whereas the Welcome when they become disabled told hers not fit enough to stay Man ordered deported Back to Britain today Home Sweet Manitoba in 2007, the most current year for which statistics Are available immigration to Manitoba. I increased nine per cent to 10,955 the highest level received in 50 years. 76 per cent landed through. T he economic class. 12.3 per cent were family class. 10.7 per cent were refugees. Winnipeg was the top destination receiving 76.5 per cent of Manitoba ass newcomers. The Philippines was the. T of source country with 29.9 per cent. I feel like Ive been sentenced to death All my supports and friends Are Here in Winnipeg Chris Mason 36, a British born immigrant living in Manitoba by Carol Sanders we want your views do you think its right to Deport immigrants who can no longer work because of injury or ailment Send your feedback to feedback free press. My. Ca Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg free press a 03_ Jan 13 09. Ind a3 1/ 12/ 09 8 47 54 pm ;