Sir, - The distinguished Canadian TV journalist, Mike Duffy, recently commented that of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants admitted to Canada ink 1995, only 2,000 came from Ireland. This is a record low number in the almost 200 years of Irish immigration to Canada.
Duffy commented further that the decision virtually to eliminate immigrants of Irish origin, while encouraging those of Third World countries, was not made by the people of Canada through the Parliament in Ottawa. The current Canadian immigration policy appears to have been shaped by the so-called "Mandarins" - the nickname for the unelected bureaucrats, from Deputy Minister down, who runs the Civil Service.
Many Canadians of Irish descent and origin share Mike Duffy's concern about the shutting-off of Irish immigration. It is not the intention to encourage emigration, but once a citizen of Ireland has made the decision to emigrate to Canada, he or she should have an opportunity for acceptance equal to that of a citizen of Afghanistan, Somalia or Poland. At present this is not the case, as is shown when numbers of Irish immigrants in years past are to recent figures.
Canada is one of the great democracies of the world, not withstanding the above-mentioned Mandarins who sometimes have their way, and the Government is sensitive to the will of the public. It is my intention to take the matter of discrimination against Irish citizens to the Government of Canada through my elected representative, Patrick O'Brien MP.
I would like to hear from any Irish person who applied for admission to Canada, and was not accepted. Reasons for refusal, and how you were treated by Canadian immigration officials, would be of interest. A detailed report of the whole application experience would be greatly appreciated. Even though you may have moved along with your life and are no longer interested in emigration your account may help someone else. All replies will be acknowledged. Nollaig mait agat.
Yours, etc.,
Culver Court, London, Ontario, Canada, NV5 3E8.