Anyone living in Canada can expect to enjoy a world class lifestyle supported by the funds that Canadian taxpayers have invested in our social programs. However, short-sighted governments have failed to consider the economic repercussions of mass immigration on these finite resources.

It is an illusion to think that we can both drain our resources today and still have them available for future needs.

What a tragedy to hear on the news that immigrants are arriving in Canada anticipating homes, jobs, security and expecting to become contributing members of Canadian society only to find themselves living in the streets and shelters.

Accepting immigration requests from those who do not have a marketable skill needed by Canada is unfair to both Canadians and to the prospective immigrants.

Medical care is essential to all people but the sheer volume of new people entering Canada has overwhelmed our medical care and social services. This has left both Canadians, who have paid a lifetime into medical care, and new Canadians, unable to access doctors and resorting to attending hospitals for non-emergencies thus overwhelming our hospitals.

Reunification of families—obviously a desirable goal in itself—has pushed immigration numbers much higher under recent governments. This has contributed to our current crises in healthcare, housing and to shortfalls in the Canada Pension Fund. While there are some protections built into CPP . . . how much you contributed, and how long you made contributions between ages 18 and 65* . . . family reunification has put a strain on CPP funds. Simple math reveals that using the funds of those who paid into CPP to cover the costs of those who didn’t is an untenable burden on CPP and has impoverished our anticipated retirement years.

Canada Pensions (CPP) and Old Age Pensions (OAS)

The CPP and OAS were designed to reward Canadians who have contributed throughout their lifetimes in taxes and community service so that—in their old age when they are no longer able to work—they would have sufficient income to meet their needs.

When large numbers of recipients are added to the rolls, there are not enough contributors to offset the demand. That’s where we find ourselves today.

The requirements to become eligible to receive OAS are very few; you must:

• be 65 years of age or older
• be a Canadian citizen or legal / permanent resident of Canada (or landed immigrant) when your pension application is approved, and
• have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18”

You do not need to have worked or paid into the system to receive OAS.

To qualify for CPP, “You must be at least one month past your 59th birthday. You must have worked in Canada for a period of time and have made at least one qualifying contribution to the CPP/QPP.”

(Note that the period of time you must have worked is not defined but you only need to have made “one qualifying contribution to CPP/QPP.) Canada is a land of opportunity both for its natural resources and for the benefits that have been created through our Christian world view of equal rights, responsibilities and God-given freedoms. It’s time to think about our children to ensure that our current practices are safeguarding their future.

CHP Canada would closely monitor the labour market needs in Canada and match those needs with immigration applicants possessing those skills. This will help new immigrants to readily establish themselves as contributing members of Canadian society and prevent a drain on social services for immigrants who cannot find employment.

Studies conducted by the C.D. Howe Institute and the Fraser Institute confirm that there are greater financial, economic and social benefits to be gained by shifting the priority in population management away from immigration and toward domestic growth.

CHP Canada would place greater long-term emphasis on strengthening Canadian families, and increasing the national birth rate, coupled with short-term goal of prioritizing the immigration of skilled and qualified immigrants.

Canada does not currently have in place the infrastructure to properly house the exceptional number of immigrants coming into our country. The numbers of immigrants are too high to assimilate them into our culture. Too many immigrants are arriving only to find themselves living in the streets, hotel rooms, church basements or other temporary lodging.

In order to bring balance to our immigration system, Canada must enact policies that will reduce pressures on housing, jobs, education, healthcare and Canada’s soaring debt.

Under a CHP government, we would:

• require a marketable skill in Canada prior to approving immigration


• Limit immigration until our social services has caught up to demand


• Remove family reunification as an acceptable reason for immigration


• Provide adult immigrants with pension payments commensurate with their years in the Canadian workforce.

 

Updated: April 16, 2025