Monday, March 08, 2010

Dubai vs. Toronto: Part 2 - The Harsh Truth Facing Immigrants to Canada


Part 1: The Myths of Dubai
Part 2: The Harsh Truth Facing Immigrants to Canada
Part 3: Living in Toronto
Part 4: The Islamic and Cultural Aspect
Part 5: Dubai or Toronto?

People immigrate to Canada for many reasons. However, in my circles, the primary reason for most people (living in the UAE) suddenly deciding to come to Canada has been their children's education and the future. Let's face it, they have no future in UAE. Even after 20 years of serving there, they are not citizens. The moment they lose their jobs, they have to be on their way home. There are hardly any good quality universities in there. And university tuition in Canada for an international student is expensive. So, for their children's sake, they immigrate.

In an ironic twist, immigrants to Canada from UAE often have less savings than ones from Saudi Arabia or Iran. In those two places, there are so many restrictions that you often don't have avenues to spend money for leisure or luxury. Dubai's a very liberal place, so people buy furniture, spend on life's enjoyments, luxury and often go for holidays abroad, so savings are less when they come to Canada. The primary immigrants also tend to be older, 40-45ish.

Contrast this with immigrants arriving here from Bangladesh or India. They are mostly younger, 25-30ish, lucky to have had a good English education and somehow gotten the immigration to Canada. Anything in Canada for them is an improvement over their previous life.

That's not the case for our Dubai immigrants. As soon as we land here, yes, we have been warned that jobs are hard and standards of life will not be the same and cost of living is significant, but yes, dammit, we are from Dubai, we have some standard!

So the first thing to do is to get a nice place. Yes, the rent may be a bit high than the apartment complex down the street, but this is in a good area! And then, we have to buy some decent furniture. C'mon, why should we buy cheap? What if people visit us? What will they say? An engineer in Dubai, and now living like this?! No way!

And so these people will spend money they don't earn to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't really like. All to maintain a standard that they no longer have. But they are not worried yet, their savings will last them for five to six months! They are sure they will find a job in the meanwhile. So the husband looks at a few job requirements in the paper and says to himself, "I can do this! I used to do this!" And every day he fires in a few applications.

As the days go by, the lack of responses start to get to them. Slowly, the harsh reality and the harsh truth facing immigrants in Canada dawns on them. They do not have "Canadian" experience. Their credentials are not recognized. From top of the pile, used to commanding hundreds, they have now moved to near the bottom.

Then, after a year or two, they start to explore courses offered in colleges; a way to upgrade their skills, and a way to catch up. But by now, the years are against them, and the new technologies are against them. So, when people formerly from UAE meet at parties, no one asks each other "what do you do". It is taboo. The matrimonial bio-datas sent out still spell the father's profession as Engineer or Doctor, which is what they used to do years ago, not Security Guard or Sales Agent, which is what they may be doing now. And so, they comfort themselves in that their children will have a much better future here, they will enjoy a better life and all its comforts due to the parents' sacrifice.

Meanwhile, our immigrants from Bangladesh or India have had no ego to artificially boost or no standard to maintain. They have come here with specific plans - they will take the courses early on, do odd jobs and severely scrimp and save wherever they can, and soon, they will start climbing up the ladder. Youth and effort are on their side.

And thus, Canada loses a highly talented bunch of experienced professionals to jobs such as taxi driver or pizza delivery positions.

More than weather, culture, food or sports, it's jobs that's the big concern for immigrants.

Only 24 per cent of qualified immigrants work in a job that matches their education [Source: Global TV]. When I talked to Stephane Dion sometime ago (when he was running to be leader of the Liberal Party) he recognized this as an important issue and outlined some plans to deal with it. Then he started to run for the position of Prime Minister, forgot all this and got caught up in the 'green' movement. We all know what happened to him.

Things are changing. There are more and more immigrants in the country who are becoming rich and powerful. The Indian community in Canada is very well established, so are their business leaders and Members of Parliament. The Canadian government has continued to significantly push for more foreign credential recognition and progress is being made, however very slowly. With the recession, such concerns have been pushed aside for now, but they will come up again.

For now though, it's jobs, jobs and jobs. There is an annual difference of $20,000 in what an average immigrant family earns and what a regular Canadian family earns, even 10 years after being in Canada. People are people - they can deal with the weather, culture and other other issues in Canada. However, when they immigrate to Canada, they must make plans for the harsh reality that they will not be working in their chosen fields at their desired income levels.

There is a happy ending to this. Ten to fifteen years later, you will find most immigrant families happily settled in Canada. They may not be all doing really well, but they are living well enough, and hard work has paid to success. They love Canada, and are happy with their lives here.

Ten years, though, is a very long time.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I understand what you said by impressing people with what they have eventhough they can't afford.I believe it happens to anyone who consider immigrating unless you're super rich and you don't have to bother.
And your right,money and status matters the most!

It's sad that in gulf countries,universities don't allow intake of foreign students.My friend's nephew had to go back to India to continue with his medical degree,formerly in KSA,to become a doctor.I told myself that it is perhaps the enormous number of babies being pop out annually.The govt there has to make sure their own young population have places in the university
Lat

Muslim Girl said...

10-15 years is really accurate, and I say that from experience!

The rest of the things you mention are true; my uncle's family moved here from Pakistan over the summer and although he got a job, they changed it to only commission-based income so now he's looking for a new one but has still been unsuccessful.

Jobs are definitely the hardest thing for immigrants to adjust to.

mezba said...

Lat, I have heard it many times here from people that those who were "poor" in Bangladesh or UAE and moved here have improved the most while those that had a "standard" there faced trouble in keeping up with the Joneses. I think what happens is people don't adequately prepare for how bad the job situation in Canada for immigrants is.

As for Gulf universities, some of my friends went there, but it's of course not up to the same standard or quality it's there in the West, not by a long shot. It's enough to get employment in the Middle East though, which was their aim from the first place. However, it's not cheap! American University in Sharjah is almost as expensive as an American institution!

Muslim Girl, and not to mention, many of the jobs that hire immigrants try to take advantage of them by making them work more for less! They are most vulnerable of society.

'liya said...

Another interesting post. After reading the comments in the previous post, I have to say, I think you are perfect to be "reporting" on these comparisons since you've actually lived in both worlds, are aware of how things work in both, and know people in both. I'm looking forward to the next part now :D

rashed said...

Hey mezba read your post and found it very interesting. Great read as always! Canada immigration has definitely helped us bangladeshis in the long run. It is, as you said, the second-generation kids who have educated themselves and are now much better off. But really do feel for the parents who scarified the later part of their career and lives for their children. Desi parents will go a long way for their children and this (immigration) is a living proof.

Farah said...

You are right, it's quite a long time before immigrants can call themselves settled! An average Canadian family thinks about getting a house with 2-3 years of saving, but immigrants have to wait longer from just job savings alone! Makes me wonder WHY Canada asks qualified immigrants to come here but never uses them!

Canada is one the worst places in the developed world to immigrate to if you are a doctor. My cousin who's a doctor from a university in India moved here last year and still has to write another 2 years worth of exams before he can get a shot at some course that will certify him!

Also, my brother who's studying law in England was thinking of moving to Canada or USA. In USA he just has to write a bar exam in NY to get certified. Here, it's a year long course!

No wonder immigrants are not well placed in Canada.

Farah said...

You are right, it's quite a long time before immigrants can call themselves settled! An average Canadian family thinks about getting a house with 2-3 years of saving, but immigrants have to wait longer from just job savings alone! Makes me wonder WHY Canada asks qualified immigrants to come here but never uses them!

Canada is one the worst places in the developed world to immigrate to if you are a doctor. My cousin who's a doctor from a university in India moved here last year and still has to write another 2 years worth of exams before he can get a shot at some course that will certify him!

Also, my brother who's studying law in England was thinking of moving to Canada or USA. In USA he just has to write a bar exam in NY to get certified. Here, it's a year long course!

No wonder immigrants are not well placed in Canada.

Dave said...

Hey Mezba, I am glad you mentioned your blogsite on the "A Canadian in Abu Dhabi" site as I found your post very interesting, well-written and refreshingly honest.

Working in HR, being a resident of the UAE and an Australian national I find this topic particularly fascinating. I have daily dealings with so many nationalities (particularly sub-continent) and have spent considerable time talking to them about their aspirations and dreams of making a better life for their families in either Canada, the US or Oz (typically).

Keep up the good work and I look forward to your future posts with much interest.

luckyfatima said...

Don't want to read this right before we move...but this is what is looming in my mind. Will my husband get a good job in a reasonable amount of time? Can I find work in hijab? I have a long list of dislikes about Dubai, but Mashallah our lifestyle here is very nice. Let's see how it goes.

-Future security guard (in hijab), luckyfatima

Organica said...

I couldn't relate much to your post personally but I am enjoying learning about your experiences and knowledge.

I find that many Egyptian immigrants who live such luxurious lifestyles back home (and many do btw), find it hard to adjust to the harsh reality in America: They are nobodys!

Interesting read. Waiting for the next installment, inshAllah.

mezba said...

Got tied with up with some stuff, hope to continue this series today.

Liya, hope your trip works out well. We are also planning a trip, perhaps you can guess where when you get back! :-)

Rashed, thanks for the comments. Yes, no one can hold a candle to parents when it comes to sacrifice for their kids.

Farah, I don't understand WHY the Canadian government would not want to utilize the talent they have at their disposal with the immigrants, rather preferring they serve as taxi drivers or pizza delivery people.

Dave, thanks and welcome to the blog. Hope you find the rest of the series equally interesting!

I think most people from the subcontinent when they initially come to Dubai - their aim is to make some money in the short run and return to riches (either their own business or house etc.)

Then plans change!

Luckyfatima, I am sure you guys will find a great job and surroundings iA! When you get the time, I would like to read on why you guys decided to move.

Organica, thanks for the comments. Hope to continue the series today iA. I hope you are enjoying your trip. You still haven't said how your breakfast bill in Vegas came to $0.43! :-)