Policy Forum: Bains and Comments Today

policy forum: Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains speaks at a conference in Ottawa on Oct. 12, 2016, according to Huffington Post Canada. Bains is asking the business community to help sell immigration as something that can increase prosperity and opportunity for Canadians. Navdeep Bains says newcomers create jobs in Canada and is urging people to see immigration not as a social issue, but as a key driver of economic growth. He says people need to understand that bringing in newcomers will give the country a competitive advantage. Bains made the comments today while speaking to business leaders at a economic summit in Ottawa sponsored by the Public Policy Forum. "I need your help, and the help of many in this room, to change that conversation, because I can tell you I'm hitting a bit of challenge within government in having this conversation." "The honest truth is there is still reluctance around immigration policy," Bains said. "When we want to talk about immigration and we say we want to bring more immigrants in because it good for the economy, we still get pushback." He asked his audience to pitch in. "I need your help, and the help of many in this room, to change that conversation, because I can tell you I'm hitting a bit of challenge within government in having this conversation." Some worry that immigration might be viewed negatively because there is high unemployment in some parts of the country. "Overall, how do we explain it to Canadians Because they'll view it as somebody taking away their jobs." They'll create more jobs' That what needs to change, he said. "I think we need to change the conversation to say, it not a social policy it an economic policy. The minister says the government has to do a better job of telling that story. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.