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Make the change prospective and applicable for future immigrants. It is not fair to apply it on current migrants.

TFW here, east Asian, a couple of things:\nI am paid the provincial minimum wage, and work in the dairy industry, medium sized farm.\nI started working straight out of high school\n\nFrom what I can see and hear from across the province and largely in the western Canadian provinces, older generation farmers are at the retirement age, but the younger generation is generally very reluctant to take over. \nNot all industries, but definitely in livestock, people sometimes don't realize that, there is literally no breaks, ever! You work every day, holidays, Christmas, and if you do chose to take a few days off, your co-workers, i.e. other family members or workers, have to take up the extra workload. You barely have time for your family, you are often tired around your kids. Farmers have some of the highest suicide rates among all occupations, as well as a difficulty to find partners due to the nature of their jobs.\nThe work is hard, days long, especially during harvests, and if the ever more expensive tractors, equipment fail...\nThere used to be a lot of family owned farms, over the last few decades most have sold their generational farm and left the industry, most because of the cost to operate and because the next generation's unwillingness to take over.\nYong people my age have not been seen applying for my position in a few years now, despite ongoing hiring effort at significantly higher than minimum wage, and I have repeatedly stated that I, although love my job, am ready to step aside at any point so a Canadian PR or citizen can take my position, as required by worker rules. There were a few inquiries from neighboring areas, mostly made by parents, but their children in the end all refused to work, even part time, or seasonal.\n\nOn the other hand, there is the issue of prices: equipment costs have largely more than doubled since the pandemic, grain prices rose... and all that on top of the constant uncertainty of the weather every planting and harvesting season. Most farms don't ever make a profit after the yearly operating cost is deducted from earnings, and the little profit that on occasion appear, goes right back into paying debt or reinvesting in renewing long overdue old equipment.\n\nMy position, and all those similar to mine in agriculture, are in all fairness, very low skilled, with minimum training, and therefore is only worth minimum wage, in my opinion. I was actually offered a higher amount but in the end turned it down because on the job, I discovered the only thing I bring to the table is manual labor (I know that's not really the right way to go about wages, but I do believe that wages should be based on the irreplaceableness of one's skills, and as it stands, although no replacements were ever found, I am very much easily replaceable, skill wise). That, compared to a slightly better paid Starbucks position, with benefits (most farm workers and owners don't have benefits or pension, yes owners too), air conditioning, regular work hours. I mean, if it wasn't for my particular interest for agriculture I'd pick Starbucks any day too!\n\nI think a couple issues are at hand, \n1. Most of agriculture's profit ends up in the corporate processing and supermarkets, that needs to change, workers could benefit, as well as consumers, from distributing that profit between farmers and shoppers.\n2. Agriculture in today's context no longer fit the modern life, although I strongly think that A LOT of people can benefit from getting their hands dirty once in a while and sweating a bit, improve physical and mental health, have better discipline all that jazz. So foreign workers are the temporary solution, if well regulated so that Canadian PR and citizens are ALWAYS prioritized for hire and at a fair wage. This cannot happen unless farmers can turn a profit, stated in point 1.\n3. A new generation of farmers are needed to take over, and they need to be somehow convinced that it is worth the toil, because as it stands, it is not, financially, life style wise. Automation is one solution, although therein lies the huge, foreseeable risk of corporate takeover.\n4. On a specific note, TFW does mandate that workers are provided up to standard housing (not always followed), which puts local workers at a huge disadvantage if they are commuting to work and paying rent, although that rarely happens, and the majority of farms do offer housing to all.\n\n\nI am aware that me being treated up to regulation is not the norm among my TFW peers, which is quite sad and unacceptable. But in my opinion, even if given a leveled playing field, wages , conditions, housing, etc. Canadian citizens and PRs largely will be unable to meet the demand for these jobs, from unwillingness to work really hard physically, unwillingness to live the lifestyle, wanting a career with better prospects... these are harsh words, but I believe to be true, and they also come from a lot of older generation farmers talking about their children and grandchildren. \n\nThis is just in the agri industry, and from what I hear from farmers from all over western Canada : )

Regardless of all the mud-slinging in the comments, I strongly advise any prospective immigrants to Canada to consider their situation/ aspirations seriously before making the move to Canada. While Canada is indeed a beautiful country, especially from spring to fall, there is no doubt that it has fallen behind severely in recent years. This is a massively underperforming country and people (Canadians and immigrants alike) are struggling big time. There is a massive leadership problem in Canada, where trivial problems get 99% of the attention. Real problems (which are easily solvable by the way) get little to no attention at all. Either there is very little will or the current administration is simply incompetent. Either way, some structural changes need to happen before Canada can recover.

In 2021, I embarked on a life-changing journey with a dream to move to Canada through the Express Entry program. It was a decision that filled me with both excitement and trepidation. The prospect of a new beginning in a foreign land beckoned, and I was determined to make it a reality. The process started with rigorous research and countless sleepless nights. I gathered all the necessary documents, completed language proficiency tests, and meticulously calculated my Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. My aim was to secure a coveted Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.\nAs the year progressed, I faced moments of doubt and frustration. The pandemic had disrupted immigration processes, and the Express Entry draws became highly competitive.\nHowever, just as I was reaching the final stages of the process, something very negative and unexpected turn of events occurred in my life. My dreams were put on hold once more, and uncertainty loomed on the horizon. Although I faced setbacks and delays, I learned that it’s life and things happen for better or worse…. We just need to accept it and continue working towards our lives …. Be it in Canada or Elsewhere…!!!??? Opportunity will come but the only thing is if we are willing to grab it….!!! Acceptance is the key.

I have to respectfully disagree with you girls on the tax system in Canada. You mention that you cannot be a millionaire or a billionaire. \n\nI really think that is the problem with our generation, excessive greed, everyone wants to be a millionaire/billionaire, but the reality is most of people in this world will only live an average middle class life or below, that has been the case throughout history in every country on earth. \n\nInstead of wanting to be a millionaire you should strive follow your passion and to master your craft, and if and when you do so, the end result maybe you achieving millionaire billionaire status \n\nThis how most rich people got their wealth, they worked at their craft and had passion and eventually they got the wealth that came along with it \n\nI agree with Canada's progressive tax system, the only problems we have run into since 2010 is that the government has been misallocating taxes collected and giving co-operate tax breaks. But the principle of the progressive tax system makes sense, because up until recently (2010ish) it prevented the nation's wealth from accumulating at the top and in the process increased the velocity of money.\n\n This enabled business to thrive because money was constantly changing hands instead of being concentrated at the top. \n\nThis had an overall effect of enabling most Canadians to join the middle class and in turn make Canada an attractive destination for many immigrants including your selves \n\nIf Canadian system did not have a progressive tax system, there would be gross inequality with all the associated problems (crime/drugs etc). \n\nI really think prospective immigrants should be realistic about their expectations before moving to Canada to avoid dissatisfaction. \n\nIf you could not be a millionaire in the country you were born in and of which culture you belong, but some how you believe that you can move half a world away and become a millionaire. \n\nYou know part of the reason you could not even achieve middle income statust in Africa (I am from Africa as well) let alone be a millionaire is because all the wealth in most African countries is concentrated in the hands of a few corrupt bastards in the government. \n\nThis concentration of wealth at the top is possible when there is no progressive tax system and ensures economic equilibrium in all sectors of the economy\n\nIt is the reason why there is no jobs or opportunity for young people in developing countries \n\nDo not get me wrong you can still be a millionaire in Canada, but you will have to really earn it, there is no shortcuts in life\n\nPatience, passion and perseverance is the key.

Nice summary of the main challenges. Reading some of these comments leads me to believe that if one is motivated solely by money, Canada is not a great choice for you as an immigrant. The number of commenters hoping to move to the US from Canada due to greater opportunities to make money while ignoring the real and substantial disadvantages of living south of the borders just emphasizes this. My family are immigrants from the US and we didn’t face the same challenges as immigrants from countries further afield but I do understand the differences between the two countries very well and can state unequivocally that moving to Canada was the best decision our family made. Lower crime, better health care (yes even with the wait times), a fairer system and a “boring” but sane political system more than compensate for the few extra dollars I would make south of the border. In terms of where better prospects going forward for children and grandchildren, with the looming threat of climate change, Canada wins hands down. Extra income means little if you have to spend all of it on personal security and health care deductibles. So if you are only motivated by top line items like gross annual salary, Canada might not be for you and you would be better off looking elsewhere and leaving that immigration spot open to someone who can appreciate the more balanced offering that a new life and future in Canada can offer.