In Europe, thousands of desperately poor African and Arab immigrants are washing up on the shores and are being aided with housing, help and hope by countries that are facing austerity themselves.
In Malaysia and Indonesia, average citizens are rushing to help poverty-stricken migrants fleeing war and persecution in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
In Vancouver, meanwhile, there are calls for a crackdown on wealthy immigrants coming in who simply want to invest in businesses, put their kids in good schools and buy a nice house.
Such a crackdown should be unthinkable in a free, open and capitalist society like Canada.
Proponents of restrictions on immigrant investors point to Australia, citing its rules against foreign ownership. The truth, though, is that Australia’s attempt at controlling foreign buyers has been an abject failure, underlined by the government’s desperate threats to jail those who had bought property “illegally.”
The most recent changes see foreign buyers in Australia charged a $5,000 fee to enter the real estate market, as well as increased fines and possible jail terms for investors who breach foreign ownership laws – and the agents who help them do so.
Australian real estate agents, lawyers and accountants could for the first time face hefty fines simply for helping a foreign buyer – like, say, you or me, for instance – buy a house.
The simple reason why the Aussies now feel they have to get tough is that there is virtually no way to stop foreign buyers, especially when the foreigner has families and friends to act as proxies.
We all know who the Aussie rules – and those being considered for BC – are aimed it. It is all about restricting Chinese buyers. A century ago it was called a head tax. Now it would be an “entry fee” but it remains odious by any name.
What Vancouver residents have to get their head around is that the city is changing rapidly and forever. Foreigners have actually bought into the non-stop marketing pitch that this a world-class city, the most livable city in the world. Vancouver is already the largest Chinese city outside of China and the Chinese population, now at 40 per cent in the metro region, will increase. And, judging from those that are arriving, the city is attracting the cream of the crop.
The solution is not to throw up xenophobic, unworkable barriers but to welcome all newcomers – as most of our ancestors were welcomed - and harness their investments and bright minds to come up with solutions for to create affordable housing and a more just society.
