siva,
absolutely, 100% correct. these are my opinions below, and hence choose not to qualify each statement with a personal disclaimer !!
to most non white immigrants, canada is a gateway to the u.s. (either for themselves or their chldren - as the border is porous once you get your canadian passport).
i think, canada already deeply divided within itself between the french quebec, the atlantic provinces, the ontario heartland, the prairies west, alberta, and british columbia, does not have much of a future. even the most ardent canadians realize that.
history has played some cruel tricks on canada - while annhilating the aboriginal populations, there was not enough incentive to fill the vacated spots with white northern europeans ( who preferred the usa anyway). by clinging to the british crown, till 1967, it did not even have a flag or a constitution. it is not the fault of the british, but the anglos here, who are very insecure.
the anglos still dominate the money business (banking which is heavily controlled in canada - a blessing as it skirted us around the rest-of-the-western-world bank crisis), law, and politics. certain low level but well paying professions like police, firemen etc were pure anglo, but dents are being made. the french control the federal civil service and the armed forces.
so what is open to the rest? everything else. i.t - as you mention siva. also the medical profession - though an immigrant doctor will have challenges trying to practice here.
so which group of immigrants do well here? the ones who come up with nothing but ambition, like the sri lankan tamils. they come here with their backs burned and nowhere else to turn to (atleast while the civil war was on).
they are young, in their late teens or early twenties, take two or three jobs, share 10 to a one bedroom flat, save the money, and very soon into small business. this is among the friendliest countries for small businesses - the tax breaks and the government support, enables you with even $15,000 per annum in gross income, to have a decent life, as you get to keep every penny you earn, considering all the write offs and government subsidies.
the other type of immigrants who do well, are those, who have a skillset using their hands - plumbers, electricians, மேஸ்த்ரிஸ், auto mechanics - none of them 'brahmin professions'.
most of us TBs who immigrate here, are professionals, of one sort or the other. ofcourse, there is a demand, or otherwise, canada immigration would not have given you the permission to settle here. but, there is a huge cultural gap - someone in marketing or advertising, cannot relate to the local markets. interviews are a disaster.
the key to success as an immigrant, is to get an interview in the desired field first. this itself may be a challenge, as people tend to stereotype immigrants. then, to get as much input from the locals, as to how to dress, behave, respond, interact, and above all be 'liked enoug to be offered the job'. the last characterestic, ie being looked upon as 'canadian' takes years.
personally i can relate to it. initially, it took me a year to a job about 35 years ago. i started my second career, just a few years ago, and was with much trepiditions, due to remembered experiences re job hunting. the pleasant surprise, was that, after many years here, one gets to have the nuances of a 'canadian'. it is hard to quantify. perhaps it is the body language? i don't know.
siva, i think, i have posted a long enough note, to bore the public. if you would be kind enough, to give us your background, and if you be curious enough, we can dwell further into this rather inane, boring, but certainly topical issue.
thank you
