Canadian Immigration Policies on Involving Foreign-train Immigrants in the Economic Development of First Nation Communities (Part Three)

July 12, 2022

Terence is a Research Coordinator for the Foundation of HKPLTW with interests in history & traditions, social organization & inter-group relations, culture & religion, and economics & politics of Canadian Indigenous People and Visible Minorities. Follow him on Twitter: @hkpltw

In this article series, our objective is to introduce the white paper “Adjustments of Canadian Immigration Policies – Chances, Preferential policies and Benefits for New Immigrants to live and work in First Nations Communities – Developments of First Nations Communities and land resources,” researching, discussing and analyzing further in the field of
Politics (Federal & Provincial Immigration Policies, Truth and Reconciliation with First Nations, First nations Treaty, etc.)
Laws (Immigration Acts and Regulations, First Nations Treaty process, Autonomous of First Nations Community Nominee for New Immigrants, etc.)
Economics (City Planning, Basic Infrastructure Facilities Supporting, Industrial Reconstructing, Preferential policies for New Immigrant Investors & professional and skilled workers, etc.)

Introduction: Main Point

This article is part three of a series. I will discuss the potential of creating immigration policies on involving foreign-trained immigrants in the economic development of First nation communities across Canada. There is a long and difficult history to this discussion. It is only because of their race and ethnic origin that both First Nation suffer the adverse impacts,” mentioned in my previous article, adding that the discrimination perpetuates the “historical disadvantage and trauma suffered by both groups.” I hope that tangible achievement of a new immigration policy means that compensation for the systemic bias against both groups will end and cease discriminatory practices.

The Condition for Indigenous Economic Development

A sufficient base of usable land is a condition for economic opportunities in First Nation communities. Historically, First Nation has been diminished in Canada due to systemic bias and alienation. However, there have been new ways to strengthen their lands. The starting conditions in reserves may not be conducive to development, for instance, when reserves are located in remote rural areas, with few business opportunities and low levels of human capital. Besides markets, supportive institutions are needed to amplify the gains from formalization. Traditional economic plans have been ineffective for First Nation development, so a new plan is needed. The following are some struggles found in economic development in First Nation communities:

Little Land Base: Approximately 0.5 % of the Canadian land mass south of the 60th parallel.
Limited Commercial and Residential Use: The land allocation policy has largely allocated reserve lands away from high quality and urban lands as the population expanded.
Patchwork Nature: 80 % of First Nations reserves are below 500 hectares in size, which makes it harder to establish infrastructure, development projects and viable businesses.
Limited Natural Resources: Reserve lands generally have low agricultural or mineral potential.
Limited Territorial Expansion Ability: The ability of band councils to expand their land base is reduced, albeit policies such as Additions to Reserve and Specific Claims negotiation process seek to expand these possibilities.
Effects of nearby activities: Surrounding activities and development in close proximity to reserves can place pressure on reserve boundaries and/or cause environmental degradation on or around the reserve.

Augment Economic Development Through Skilled Immigrants

I believe that the most effective way to augment the First Nation land and economic development is through addition of new immigrants. By doing so, it can add economic values and diversification and develop and attract the necessary skills to support business growth and shape economic opportunities while putting First Nation peoples in a position to derive benefits and influence the direction of development.

All levels of the Canadian government can consider the regulatory framework above because it can benefit both the First Nation communities and new immigrants. An improved regulatory framework of land use would generate investment incentives and attract talents. For skilled immigrants, such as engineers and medical professionals, would mean more clarity and certainty. For First Nation communities, it would facilitate forming partnerships to invest in infrastructure projects that cut across the reserve but extend to the surrounding territory. For governments, it brings forth a more cohesive view of the territory and welcomes First Nation groups into consultation procedures, fulfilling their duty to consult, as well as strengthens existing legislative tools.

Management for Sustainable Economic Development

Since this development plan involved skilled immigrants, their socio-economic well-being must be considered by the First Nation management. On the side of the First Nation people, a community led strategic vision for social, economic and cultural development that is linked to medium- and longer-term goals and for how land should be used including the desired role of economic development. In other words, the economic development process is fully controlled in their hands. To attract newcomers or skilled immigrants, the First Nation regulatory bodies should make sure that barriers to employment are identified and removed. Here are a number of practices that they can considered:

Identify potential barriers for new immigrants; address any barriers through organizational change initiatives, such as by forming new organizational structures, removing old practices that give rise to human rights concerns, using more objective, transparent processes, and focusing on more inclusive styles of leadership and decision-making.
Take a flexible and individualized approach to assessing an applicant’s qualifications and skills; Consider all relevant work experience – regardless of where it was obtained; Frame job qualifications in terms of competencies and job-related knowledge and skills.
Give an immigrant the opportunity to prove his/her qualifications through paid internships, short contracts or positions with probationary periods.
Support initiatives designed to empower newcomers inside and outside of their organizations (for example, formal mentoring arrangements, internships, networking opportunities, other types of bridging programs, language training, etc.).

Conclusion: Removing Barriers

My advice bases on the main point, “Involve new, highly-skilled immigrants in the economic developments on First Nation lands.” Both groups are suffering in Canada — A place of opportunity. Things need to be fixed. I recommend making sure that barriers to economic development for First Nation communities and employment for highly-skilled newcomers are removed. There is a range of “tools and practices” that policymakers can implement to empower both First Nation people and highly-skilled newcomers. In the modern global economy, highly-skilled immigrants with foreign experiences and credentials can increase economic outcomes (like land use planning and leasing) and improve living conditions (like medical care and financial services). In return, there are opportunities to create jobs for newcomers and build the capacity of First Nation groups to utilize them.

Bibliography

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Economists, Fiscal R., and desLibris – Documents. Improving the Economic Success of Urban Additions to Reserves – Stage 1: Identifying Success Factors in Urban First Nations. National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, Place of publication not identified, 2014.

McGregor, Deborah. “Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal Relations and Sustainable Forest Management in Canada: The Influence of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.” Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 92, no. 2, 2011, pp. 300-310.

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OECD (2019), Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development, OECD Rural Policy Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/3203c082-en.

Larose, Gail, and George Tillman. Valorizing Immigrants’ Non-Canadian Work Experience. Canadian Council on Learning, Work and Learning Knowledge Centre, 2009.

Weiner, Nan, et al. Breaking Down Barriers to Labour Market Integration of Newcomers in Toronto. vol. 14, no. 10, Sept 2008;14, no. 10.;, Institute for Research on Public Policy, Montreal, Que, 2008.

This is an opinion article; the views expressed by me. Follow Me on Twitter: @hkpltw And @Terry_Terence97