bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 4 (1990), pp. 44–46
Haven’s Gate: Canada’s Immigration
Fiasco, by Victor Malarek, MacMillan of
Canada, 1987, 262 pp., $24.95.
Victor Malarek is both thought-provoking and disturbing in his examination of the problems facing immigrants and refugees applying for status in Canada. Yet Haven’s Gate, despite its well-researched approach, is at times heterotopic and does not properly amalgamate the conclusions which the author raises.
The book begins by examining Canada’s lamentable historical record in the area of immigration, by recounting incidents involving, amongst others, Chinese immigrants and later, Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe. Malarek uses these examples to set the stage for his critique of Canada’s immigration policies, by effectively bringing the reader to the conclusion that present-day problems with the system are inherent from a faulty perspective which had been perpetuated through the decades. Malarek highlights the dichotomy our society faces by analyzing the Canadian demographic situation and Canada’s need of immigration in order to counter our declining birth rate and contrasting this with a fearful picture of the underlying racism within Canadian society, and intolerance of Canadians towards any expansion of our immigration quotas. Malarek, in his analysis of these prejudicial tones, struggles with his view that increased immigration would indeed be in the best interest of our society. While recognizing the need to replace an aging population with younger workers in order to maintain our social programs, he argues that this cannot be done without a change in the mindset of Canadians. Unfortunately, the author does not offer practical steps on how to deal with this dilemma which has become all too obvious in recent years, but rather, begins a scathing attack on those who control our immigration policies. By portraying a very serious problem within Canada toward racial tolerance and a multicultural society and then launching an attack on how Canada is failing to live up to its humanitarian image of being a haven for needy immigrants and refugees, Malarek defeats himself. The question of how Canada can assimilate more immigrants without the fearful consequences he predicts is left unanswered
His most scathing attack is reserved, however, for those senior bureaucrats and immigration officers who both formulate the policy and apply it on the front lines. He depicts senior officials in Employment and Immigration Canada as those who cannot properly deal with the multi-faceted problems that Canadian immigration presents to them. Instead, he illustrates examples of how policies which are introduced, despite their good intentions, often miss their goal. By emphasizing the missing element of pragmatism in immigration policy, Malarek concludes that all the good intentions of the senior bureaucrats and ministers come to naught in their inability to be applied on an individual basis. Thus, those who are working in the day-to-day operations of the Department are left directionless in their attempts to deal with an increased workload due to the influx of immigration applications and refugee claims.
In addition, those within the Foreign Service, who work as immigration officers in our Consulates and Embassies abroad, are also criticized for their lack of accessibility and their biased approaches to the claims of immigrant and refugee applicants. He cites examples where refugees both in Afghanistan and Central America are unable to gain access to these officers or are unable to present in the time required, legitimate grounds to qualify for immigrant status in Canada. While his depictions of individual cases draws an emotional response from the reader, he fails to balance those cases by describing the actual workload of immigration officers and the daily stress of determining the bogus from the legitimate. No consideration is given to the fact that, of the many applications that are received, the huge majority are handled both efficiently and with proper respect. There is also very little coverage given to the abuse of the system by illegitimate refugees. The cases which are cited are downplayed by accentuated descriptions of the desperation which makes people try to enter Canada illegally.
Victor Malarek also addresses the matter of immigration lawyers and consultants and the profit they make at the expense of those who make refugee claims in Canada. While the claims that in our foreign consulates, the services of lawyers and appeals are not available to those who apply for refugee or – immigrant status, he cites numerous examples in Canada where hopeful claimants pay thousands of dollars to defend illegitimate cases, only to be deported at a future date. Malarek does not adequately explain that these same unscrupulous lawyers who would take advantage of these people, have also succeeded in jamming the courts and appeal boards with so many invalid cases, that those who are legitimate claimants must wait years for a hearing. While Malarek presents a relatively accurate picture of the abuse of the system, he does not follow it to its logical conclusion.
The book underlines that there are indeed serious concerns that need to be addressed by the Government regarding our immigration system. While Malarek raises a grave concern about the level of racial intolerance in Canada and the need to accept legitimate refugees and immigrants, he has also gone out of his way to attack and criticize those who are trying to implement policies which are in the best interest of Canadians as a whole. His scathing, critical assessment of Canada’s immigration policy fails to offer viable alter-natives for the present-day situation. Haven’s Gate is an assessment based on examples of what is wrong with Canadian immigration policy without taking into account the over one hundred thousand immigrants who are processed and assimilated each year into Canadian society.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 4 (1990), pp. 44–46. Read the rest of this issue →
