By Olivia Ward.
Source: theStart.com
The UN's verdict is in: Canadians have the fourth-best quality of life in the world, behind top-rated Norway, Australia and Iceland.
And Canada again surpasses the wealthier United States, which has slid from 12th to 13th place between 2006 and 2007, the last year for which international data was tabulated. Canada's position is unchanged since 2006.
The figures are tallied by the United Nations Development Program's annual Human Development Index, which analyzes the statistics of 182 countries.
"It shows that development can be measured not just through output or economic growth," said David Morrison, executive secretary of the UN's Capital Development Fund. "Because of Canada's well-developed social systems it traditionally scores at the top of the table."
The results come at a time when the U.S. is in a bitter debate over a new medical-care system, and critics warn against Canadian-style "socialism." The UNDP's annual index weighs individual purchasing power alongside educational achievements and life expectancy.
At the bottom of the quality of life scale is destitute Niger. Only a cut above is Afghanistan, in spite of billions of dollars of development money that has been earmarked for the war-torn country. It was rated for the first time this year, after decades of conflict that made it impossible to collect vital data.
Most of the country ratings have varied little over the past few years, although the worldwide economic downturn may alter them more dramatically when 2008 results appear next year. "One or two points difference doesn't signify very much," said Morrison.
The most notable advance for 2007 was made by China, which leapt seven points on the scale to 92nd place. It was followed by Colombia and Peru, which gained five points each to 77th and 78th places. The biggest reversal was Jamaica, which plunged by eight points, while Tonga dropped by five.
The vast discrepancies in the well-being of people in the upper- and lower-scoring countries that were highlighted by the report linked up with the theme chosen by the UNDP this year. It focused on migration, and the millions of people who leave poor countries in search of safer or better lives, and create a better quality of life for themselves and their families back home.
"Most migrants, internal and international, reap gains in the form of higher incomes, better access to education and health and improved prospects for their children," the report concluded.
Although the benefits of migration are a "hot button issue" at a time of recession, said Morrison, fears that migrants will steal jobs in their host countries, or lower wages by offering cheap labour, are exaggerated.
HOW THE WORLD RANKS
The annual United Nations human development index compiled by the UN Development Program ranks 182 countries based on such criteria as life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
1. Norway
2. Australia
3. Iceland (likely to drop in next survey since 2007 data was analyzed prior to global economic crisis)
4. Canada (has one of the most open immigration policies around)
5. Ireland
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. France
9. Switzerland
10. Japan (longest life expectancy at 82.7 years on average)
11. Luxembourg
12. Finland
13. United States
14. Austria
15. Spain
16. Denmark
17. Belgium
18. Italy
19. Liechtenstein (highest GDP per capita at $85,383)
20. New Zealand
21. United Kingdom
BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT
92. China (moves up seven places from last year, rise credited to improvements in education as well as income levels and life expectancy.)
THE BOTTOM THREE
180. Sierra Leone
181. Afghanistan (life expectancy of 43.6 years, only Asian country in the bottom 10)
182. Niger
Population On The Rise
Source: Discovermoosejaw.com
More and more people are calling Saskatchewan home, that's according to new figures from Stats Canada. Just over 1,030,000 people live in the province.
So where Saskatchewan's newest residents coming from? 100 years ago, the bulk of immigrants coming to Saskatchewan were from Eastern Europe - Russians, Germans, and Ukrainians.
Like before, immigration is once again on the rise, but countries of origin are different. Today, most are coming from countries like China, Japan, and the Phillipines. Its no fluke. Doug Elliot with Sask Trends Monitor says the spike in immigration is the result of a change in government strategy, "Unlike the inter-provincial migration which is sort of up to people whether they choose to move here or not, the immigration one is more driven by government policy."
So expect to hear more accents in the coming years. Elliott says Saskatchewan is on track to have about 7,000 more immigrants just this year.
Saskatchewan Investment Minister Rob Norris hopes more foreign business people and their families will move to the province. Norris says the government has streamlined rules for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program in an effort to entice them.
He says the changes should result in more investment and jobs. Norris says the program is focused on large scale businesses willing to invest $10 million.
More and more people are calling Saskatchewan home, that's according to new figures from Stats Canada. Just over 1,030,000 people live in the province.
So where Saskatchewan's newest residents coming from? 100 years ago, the bulk of immigrants coming to Saskatchewan were from Eastern Europe - Russians, Germans, and Ukrainians.
Like before, immigration is once again on the rise, but countries of origin are different. Today, most are coming from countries like China, Japan, and the Phillipines. Its no fluke. Doug Elliot with Sask Trends Monitor says the spike in immigration is the result of a change in government strategy, "Unlike the inter-provincial migration which is sort of up to people whether they choose to move here or not, the immigration one is more driven by government policy."
So expect to hear more accents in the coming years. Elliott says Saskatchewan is on track to have about 7,000 more immigrants just this year.
Saskatchewan Investment Minister Rob Norris hopes more foreign business people and their families will move to the province. Norris says the government has streamlined rules for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program in an effort to entice them.
He says the changes should result in more investment and jobs. Norris says the program is focused on large scale businesses willing to invest $10 million.
The H-1B “Brain Drain”-- It’s NOT the Economy, Stupid
Invited Blog:
Bloggings On The H-1B Visa
by Anthony F. Siliato and Scott R. Malyk
Editor's note: Here are the latest entries from Anthony F. Siliato and Scott R. Malyk's blog.
September 25, 2009
Further to one of our more recent posts, it isn’t just the economy driving the “brain drain” associated with the ever-increasing numbers of talented workers opting to leave the U.S. Rather, the unrealistic immigrant visa quotas for employment-based green cards are also to blame as a formidable obstacle contributing to this recent trend.
The much-anticipated October visa bulletin issued by the Department of State did little to give new hope to the long line of skilled workers waiting for available immigrant visa numbers. Indeed, with quotas backlogged more than 7 years in the skilled worker category, countless thousands of talented H-1B workers are not only captive to their existing employers (with the hope that they will remain employed by their employer by the time they are permitted to file the final step of the green card process and achieve employment portability, if they wish), but are also constrained from seeking or accepting any significant promotions for fear of having to restart the green card process all over again.
A maximum of 140,000 green cards are issued to employment-based visa holders each year, and that quota is then divided into categories for classes of workers and set a percentage for each country. As such, because there are presently higher volumes of skilled workers from immigrating from India and China, those individuals are required to wait even longer than foreign nationals from other countries. This rigid system is not based on skill, merit or industry need, but simply because we have an antiquated, per country quota.
It should come as no surprise then that potential and existing U.S. H-1B workers are pursuing other options abroad—which not only avail such workers of more rapid career advancement, but an opportunity to obtain permanent residence in a far more efficient manner than the U.S. process currently offers. One need not look farther than just north of our border for an accelerated system of obtaining permanent residence for skilled workers. For example, the Province of Alberta Canada has a program which allows U.S. H-1B workers to gain permanent residency in Canada under a fast track (12 month) program. The program does NOT require the H-1B holder to have a job, employer or sponsor. The H-1B worker can apply independently. Alberta’s fast track program only requires that the applicant be working and have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United States pursuant to one of the temporary skilled worker visa categories (H-1B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3) and that the applicant’s occupation be included in the “Regional Operations Under Pressure List” For Alberta.
So, while “It’s The Economy, Stupid” has been (and continues to be) a popular refrain since the Clinton administration, perhaps we need to ask why the United States continues to perpetuate a closed-minded, isolationist approach to immigration quotas that achieves nothing but drive out some of our hardest working, most talented foreign national workers – many of whom might otherwise help the U.S. return to a healthy and vibrant global economy.
Post Authored By: Anthony F. Siliato, Esq. and Scott R. Malyk, Esq. of Meyner and Landis LLP
Bloggings On The H-1B Visa
by Anthony F. Siliato and Scott R. Malyk
Editor's note: Here are the latest entries from Anthony F. Siliato and Scott R. Malyk's blog.
September 25, 2009
Further to one of our more recent posts, it isn’t just the economy driving the “brain drain” associated with the ever-increasing numbers of talented workers opting to leave the U.S. Rather, the unrealistic immigrant visa quotas for employment-based green cards are also to blame as a formidable obstacle contributing to this recent trend.
The much-anticipated October visa bulletin issued by the Department of State did little to give new hope to the long line of skilled workers waiting for available immigrant visa numbers. Indeed, with quotas backlogged more than 7 years in the skilled worker category, countless thousands of talented H-1B workers are not only captive to their existing employers (with the hope that they will remain employed by their employer by the time they are permitted to file the final step of the green card process and achieve employment portability, if they wish), but are also constrained from seeking or accepting any significant promotions for fear of having to restart the green card process all over again.
A maximum of 140,000 green cards are issued to employment-based visa holders each year, and that quota is then divided into categories for classes of workers and set a percentage for each country. As such, because there are presently higher volumes of skilled workers from immigrating from India and China, those individuals are required to wait even longer than foreign nationals from other countries. This rigid system is not based on skill, merit or industry need, but simply because we have an antiquated, per country quota.
It should come as no surprise then that potential and existing U.S. H-1B workers are pursuing other options abroad—which not only avail such workers of more rapid career advancement, but an opportunity to obtain permanent residence in a far more efficient manner than the U.S. process currently offers. One need not look farther than just north of our border for an accelerated system of obtaining permanent residence for skilled workers. For example, the Province of Alberta Canada has a program which allows U.S. H-1B workers to gain permanent residency in Canada under a fast track (12 month) program. The program does NOT require the H-1B holder to have a job, employer or sponsor. The H-1B worker can apply independently. Alberta’s fast track program only requires that the applicant be working and have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United States pursuant to one of the temporary skilled worker visa categories (H-1B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3) and that the applicant’s occupation be included in the “Regional Operations Under Pressure List” For Alberta.
So, while “It’s The Economy, Stupid” has been (and continues to be) a popular refrain since the Clinton administration, perhaps we need to ask why the United States continues to perpetuate a closed-minded, isolationist approach to immigration quotas that achieves nothing but drive out some of our hardest working, most talented foreign national workers – many of whom might otherwise help the U.S. return to a healthy and vibrant global economy.
Post Authored By: Anthony F. Siliato, Esq. and Scott R. Malyk, Esq. of Meyner and Landis LLP
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