Non-permanent residents unfairly blamed for poor government planning, say protesters
CBC
Several dozen protesters gathered outside Province House in Charlottetown Thursday evening to protest against xenophobia and rally in support of temporary foreign workers, international students and other non-permanent residents in the province.
Maria Gomez, a community relations coordinator with the advocacy group BIPOC USHR, said non-permanent residents are being unfairly blamed for crises in housing and health care.
"Who are to blame? Immigrants, which is easy to say," said Gomez.
"In reality, it's poor planning and poor policy."
The crowd heard from several speakers who called for better protections for temporary foreign workers and a more clear path to citizenship.
"When Canada brings them [here] with dreams and hopes and positions and job offers, and when they get here with no jobs or really inhumane working conditions, it's just not fair," said Gomez.
"They often leave everything at home to come here for dreams and then they face very, very different reality."
The Charlottetown rally was one of nine held across the country organized by the Migrant Rights Network.
A city councillor is suggesting the City of Calgary do an external review of how its operations and council decisions are being impacted by false information spread online and through other channels. Coun. Courtney Walcott said he plans to bring forward a motion to council, calling for its support for a review. He said he's not looking for real time fact checking but rather, a review that looks back at the role misinformation played on key issues. Walcott cited two instances in 2024 where factually incorrect information was circulated both online and at in-person meetings regarding major city projects: council's decision to upzone much of the city, and the failed redevelopment proposal for Glenmore Landing. "Looking back on previous years, looking back on major events and finding out how pervasive misinformation and bad information is out there and it's influence on all levels of the public discourse is really important," said Walcott.