Me and Mr. Harper

Time goes so slowly now. I stalk the postman. Although he doesn't seem to appreciate it very much; I find it highly entertaining in my drab little world.

On this day in June 2007, I am just plain frustrated. There has been no contact from CIC and when I contact them, I still receive the 'your file is in process' crap. I decide it is time to vent. I sit down and hastily pen the Prime Minister of lovely Canada a letter. It reads:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper:

My name is XXXX XXXXX. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from a prestigious university in St. Paul, Minnesota and have several years of experience working in my field of corporate tax for both publicly and privately held businesses. I have no criminal record. I have paid my taxes and voted in every election in the United States since I was eligible. I have literally worked my fingers to the bone every day of my life to raise my two children as a single parent and see that they have every opportunity possible available to them. My older child is currently in college in the U.S. training to be a registered nurse. My younger child just completed grade 10 in Toronto.

In 2000, I met and fell in love with a man who lives in Toronto. In 2004 we decided our lives were finally in position that one of us could relocate and we could marry and continue our lives together. In 2005, I sold my house, packed up my belongings and my younger son, and moved to Toronto. We married within a few months and began the immigration process believing the guidelines posted on CIC's website and on their forms. They advised that the process would take no more than a year. CIC's 'listen to this while you are on hold' recordings still advise to this day that if a person is in Canada legally and married to a Canadian, CIC will contact you within 30 days upon receiving your paperwork. Needless to say, it has been 2 years and I have received no contact from CIC other than one letter in 2006 saying my file was transferred to a local office.

I, being naive, and believing what CIC says in print on their own forms and on their own website, thought at first that they must of just miscoded my information and I contacted them several times. Every time I contact their 800 number, I receive the same no-information answer, regardless of my question. Even when I inquire about my over paid processing fees (I am currently over paid by $485 due to a change in fees), I received the response and I quote "You could receive your refund in 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 years. We can't tell you." I do not know where else to go for help with my situation.

I have used up all my funds that I arrived with, and a portion of that going to pay GST/PST. I have changed from a comfortable middle class life in the U.S., complete with health care and other social services at my disposal to a life just below the poverty line with no health care and little hope for the future. My husband who works in the construction industry and who was previously attending university part-time, has had to leave school and put in 14 hour days to support us while we wait for CIC. I cannot even register my car that I drove here to Canada in due to my lack of status although I still have to pay insurance and make my monthly car payment. I have and numerous job interviews here in Canada, all of which seem eager to hire me, but are reluctant to sponsor a temporary work permit for me.

I read a statistic recently that said that new immigrants arrive with $50,000 - $100,000 each which is in line with the funds I brought. CIC advises that there are ~250,000 new immigrants every year, making the total over 1 billion dollars. I am beginning to believe that it is Canada's intent to lie to new immigrants and make the country appealing to migrate to only so the immigrant can spend all their money here to lubricate the Canadian economy before turning the new immigrant into a destitute, frustrated individual and force them to return to their home country with nothing but a large gap in employment on their resume to show for all their efforts.

On this upcoming Canada Day, I hope that you think of the thousands of skilled, educated, eager to work individuals who are in my position and consider if it is in line with your own mission statement and what you hope to make Canada during your tenure.

Sincerely,

XXXXX XXXXXX

cc: Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

As I mentioned, it was hastily penned and probably not my best piece of work. I hope I did get my point across though. I emailed this letter to The Prime Minister's office just to feel like I have actually done something. I did get a response which reads:

Dear Ms. XXXXXX:

On behalf of the Prime Minister, I would like to thank you for your
e-mail, in which you raised an issue which falls within the portfolio of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Please be assured that the statements you made have been carefully
reviewed. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your e-mail to Minister Finley so that she too may be made aware of your comments. I am certain that the Minister will give your views every consideration.

L.A. Lavell
Executive Correspondence Officer
for the Prime Minister's Office
Agent de correspondance
de la haute direction
pour le Cabinet du Premier ministre

Apparently, Mr. Harper's paid letter readers don't read letters or they would have seen already that Ms. Finley has a copy.