Conf? u Topic 552 CANADA-IMMIGRATION: Wealth of Few C newsdesk The Inter Press Service in English 2:43 PM Mar 13, 1996 Copyright 1996 InterPress Service, all rights reserved. Worldwide distribution via the APC networks. *** 10-Mar-96 *** Title: CANADA-IMMIGRATION: Wealth of Few Chinese Masks Hardships of Many by Barbara Borst VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Mar 10 (IPS) - The flamboyant wealth of some professionals from Hong Kong and Taiwan who have lived here since the early 1980s, gives the false impression that people of Chinese origin are prosperous. Since Canadian immigration established its 'entrepreneur' category in 1978, this immigrant community has spread with 'monster houses,' Mercedes Benz cars, and excess dollars to invest. They have not, however, escaped ongoing prejudice, says Victor Wong, president of the Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians. Yet the image of wealth has created resentment among those Chinese Canadians whose families have been here for generations, Wong said, refering to the pioneers who endured quotas, a racially based head tax, and the Chinese Exclusion Act (1923-1947). Many of these 'older' groups suffered severe discrimination and envy the new arrivals who have undergone fewer obstacles and have ''houses three times larger than (theirs) and kids who have cell phones,'' he continued. The material extravagance of the 'newcomers,' however, masks the difficulties many face in finding work. Many have poor or heavily accented English and credentials that are not recognised or confront racism. Thomas Tam of the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society says that, although some Canadians have responded positively to the rapid change in their society, others are ''very sceptical and feel threatened.'' ''It creates extra tension,'' Tam said. ''Local people expect immigrants to be less educated, to need their help, to be economically less well-off. In British Columbia, the scenario is reversed.'' As a result, the situation provokes public outcries when shops display Chinese-language signs or job advertisements proclaim that speaking Chinese would be an asset. The Vancouver Association's research also reveals that, while Chinese Canadians are 25 percent of the Vancouver tax base, they hold less than four percent of management or supervisory positions in city government. Vancouver's provincial government shows ''a genuine desire to do something'' about these issues, but the city is less responsive,'' Tam continued. Lorna McCreath, director of Vancouver's Equal Employment Opportunity Programme, admits that minorities, women and disabled persons are all ''under-represented'' in city jobs but says the government is ''in the forefront'' in developing long-term solutions. Her programme aims to remove barriers to obtaining and keeping jobs, including those in the fire and police departments, by revising qualifications, retraining managers and increasing links to diverse communities. But until decision-makers reflect the diverse society, misapprehension can lead to hardship, says Jan Walls, director of Simon Fraser University's new Asia-Canada programme. Government and academia have moved steadily toward greater ethnic involvement in decision making; in private business some have moved rapidly and some not at all. ''We need to see more colourful boards of directors,'' he declared. ''Diversity should be ethnic, gender and generational.'' Ironically, the damaging consequences of negative stereotypes applies among Chinese Canadians who also believe that the ''Chinese community is alright, that there are no poor, no dysfunctional people, that everyone's employed,'' says Wong. ''As a result, they do not to access the services they need.'' For example, Wong said that unemployed youth of Chinese ancestry miss out on job training offered only to those on welfare. Many Chinese families are too proud to let their children accept public assistance; they would rather take a loan to support them. The number of Chinese and Southeast Asians in this province has climbed to about 260,000, constituting at least a fourth of Vancouver's population. In the adjacent suburb of Richmond, they constitute a third of the population. Since 1993, nearly 40,000 people from Hong Kong, 16,000 from Taiwan, and 8,400 from China immigrated to British Columbia, where those from Hong Kong and Taiwan comprise 60 percent of all business immigrants. Despite these figures, Tam charges that job discrimination is ''considerably serious.'' For working- cla.HZ[[Z,RV+сJ́bݕɁjRdk֫W.XWV 'YV֬]YHey often take jobs well below their skill level. Most find work in Chinese-owned businesses. But professionals find that language and misunderstood credentials are serious barriers. As a result, as many as one in four Hong Kongese return home, where unemployment is typically less than four percent, Tran said. Whether a good many more will leave Hong Kong when it reverts to Chinese control in mid-1997 remains a major question. Joseph Li of the province's multiculturalism, immigration and human rights department said a year-old policy urges government and state-controlled companies ''to reflect cultural diversity'' in their hiring and requires them to report their progress. In addition, the province helped establish and fund the International Credential Evaluation Service so that immigrant job- seekers could demonstrate their suitability for public or private employment. Chinese immigrants have come in three waves: the pioneers, mid- 1800s through 1967; workers from Hong Kong and China; and recently, professionals and investors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and students from China escaping violent repression of democracy. ''We don't get hired by the mainstream. Only well-to-do Chinese hire us,'' Tran said. ''I think the system was not equipped to deal with us. I don't know if there is the political will.'' (END/IPS/BB/SW/96) Origin: Washington/CANADA-IMMIGRATION/ ---- [c] 1996, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS) All rights reserved May not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service outside of the APC networks, without specific permission from IPS. This limitation includes distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media and broadcast. For information about cross- posting, send a message to . For information about print or broadcast reproduction please contact the IPS coordinator at .