National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
Press Release

Filipinos say Statistics Canada study no surprise

January 30, 2007

A national alliance of Filipino Women in Canada says a new study released by Statistics Canada today on the poor economic situation of new immigrants comes as no surprise. (http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070130/d070130b.htm)

The issue of accreditation of foreign-trained professionals will be one of four key issues discussed an upcoming regional consultation. “Making the Filipino Community Count in BC” will be hosted by local members organizations of the NAPWC in Vancouver, BC this February 9-11, 2007 at the YWCA (535 Hornby St.) Issues of chronic poverty in the Filipino community, the use of cheap immigrant labour and the Live-in Caregiver Program will also be tackled through testimonials and speeches from Filipino youth, women professionals and migrant workers. The consultation is expected to gather about 100 Filipinos from across BC and Canada.

The media is welcome to attend the consultation program on Saturday, February 10, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

According to the study, in 2002 low-income rates among immigrants during their first full year in Canada were 3.5 times higher than those of Canadian-born people. These rates were higher than any time during the 1990s, suggesting they “had more problems adjusting over the short-term during the years since 2000.”

“This study reinforces what we have documented through our community-based research amongst new Filipino immigrants,” says Cecilia Diocson, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC). “The lack of accreditation and recognition of foreign-trained professionals despite their high level of education and skills traps them into low-income jobs and has not only short-term, but many negative long-term impacts on them and their families’ economic and social status,” says Diocson. 

An earlier Statistics Canada study found Filipino immigrants to Canada highly-educated yet low-paid, with average incomes $2000 lower than those born in Canada.

Diocson says, “Over a decade of community-based research, education and mobilizing amongst Filipino immigrants points to policy gaps, systemic racism in government institutions and professional associations and ultimately the lack of political will as the reasons behind the economic marginalization and segregation of Filipinos and other immigrants in Canada.”

-    30 –

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call: Sheila Farrales at 604-215-1103 or e-mail: pwc@kalayaancentre.net