Minister of Employment, Social Development and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney and lawyer-negotiator and former politician Bob Rae go at it on Twitter over temporary foreign workers controversy.
It all began with a tweet from @BobRae48:
TFW issue has roots in Reform’s anti-immigration bias – explosion in “temporary” category is all about segregating and excluding. #cdnpoili
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) April 30, 2014
To which Kenney replied:
That’s obscene & beneath you, @BobRae48. We’ve increased immigration to record levels, the highest per capita level in the developed world.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Then the Employment and Multiculturalism Minister decided to ‘school’ Rae on Twitter about hard-hitting facts.
in its first 5 yrs in office, Chretien govt *cut* immigration levels by 32%. Our govt has increased average annual levels by 14% @BobRae48.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Average annual admission of permanent residents 1994-2005 = 222K. Average levels 2006-2013 = 255K, @BobRae48. “Anti immigration bias”????
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We created an entire new immigration category, the Canadian Experience Class, specifically to allow TFWs to transition to PR, @BobRae48.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We tripled settlement funding for newcomers from $200M in 2005 to $600M now, @BobRae48. That reflects an "anti-immigration bias?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
In 1995 Liberal govt imposed a $1000 Right of Landing Fee on new permanent residents, @BobRae48. In 2006 we cut it in half.Anti-immigration?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We increased 8-fold the Provincial Nominee Programs, which are often used to transition lower skilled TFWs to PR, @BobRae48. Anti-immigrant?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Our 8x increase in prov nominees has brought huge diversity to many rural western communities, tripling immigration to prairies, @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
And he didn't stop there.
We're also admitting record numbers of foreign students & visitors, @BobRae48. Is that all about "segregating and excluding?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We're also admitting record numbers of foreign students & visitors, @BobRae48. Is that all about "segregating and excluding?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Kenney also mentioned the increase in government support for foreign workers.
The # of "temporary foreign workers" coming to do academic research & studies has tripled to 11K since 2005, @BobRae48. They're "excluded?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
4 of the top 5 source countries for the TFWP are the US, France, UK & Australia, @BobRae48. Germany & Ireland also in top 10. "Segregated?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
The # of TFWs entering Canada has gone from .7% of workforce in 2006 to 1.1% of workforce in 2012, @BobRae48. This is "anti-immigration?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Kenney hit home by mentioning participation of different ethnicities in government offices and community development in the past years.
If Reform Party had an "anti-immigration bias" why did it elect the 1st Muslim, 1st Hindu, & 1st South Asian woman to Parliament, @BobRae48?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
The Reform Party consistently won a plurality of the votes of immigrants in Western Canada, @BobRae48. Were they "anti-immigration" voters?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Kenney ended his Twitter rant on a strong note:
Your tweet is typical of Harper Derangement Syndrome:tendency on left to ascribe worst possible motives, even contrary to evidence @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Since Jason Kenney's tweets, Bob Rae had one update:
News item that Twitter stock has plunged. Jason Kenney better ease up. #cdnpoIi
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) April 30, 2014