Toxicity Scores & Embeddings

I was the lawyer invited to this interview, and after reading some comments celebrating the end of the PEQ, I feel the need to clarify a few things. The people affected by this are not “abusing the system.” this was the program for people that came here legally and are working. To qualify for the PEQ, they had to be working full time, they pay taxes, they speak the language. They’re fixing our roads, keeping hospitals running, welding, machining, doing the jobs most of us take for granted every single day. The hard truth is that Canadians have stopped having enough children, and we simply don’t have enough young people with the skills to fill these roles. Yes, we absolutely should invest more in education and trade programs for our youth — my employer clients are begging young people to become mechanics, welders, skilled workers, often in the regions. Most don’t take those jobs, and even when they do, training takes two to three years. Our industries need people now, or parts of the economy will stall, and that affects all of us as Quebecers and Canadians. These workers are not asking for charity. They are already on the front lines keeping key sectors alive. Ending programs like the PEQ doesn’t punish “illegals” or “free riders”; it punishes people who are already integrated, working, and contributing to the society we all share. Also, all they are asking is for the new rules to not be applied to them retroactively, only for those coming new into the country, otherwise it is rug pulling those already here that played by the rules, and when the government does it to us we don't like, on principle of fairness, whatever you think of the numbers, too high too low, doesn't matters, it is the least we can all get behind as humans.

I am a Korean international student studying in Canada. These types of news makes me really frustrated.. I heard that due to these reasons, immigration officers has been taking very long time to process study visa permits. I 100% agree with immigration officers that they need to carefully review the applications, because I also think things like this shouldn’t happen in any countries. But, I’m getting frustrated because this is delaying innocent international students’ visa process as well. I’ve finished my undergraduate studies and I decided to pursue master’s under a professor i met in my current university. I was very excited to study the field, and i applied for study extension visa months ago, and still haven’t gotten any updates from IRCC. So I couldn’t get enrolled in Fall semester. I’m still waiting, and i really hope that i can continue studying.. luckily my professor understood this situation and he said he can hold a position for me, but i’m still very anxious about all the situation. I hope all people who come to Canada are honest and don’t do illegal things. I really want them to realize that they are affecting students who just want to study. They are taking away the opportunity for others to learn.

The sad thing is for years we made jokes about "Bramladesh" thinking that it would somehow just stay somewhat contained. I don't think people realize how fast the demographics can change. By 2040 the entire GTA and even beyond will be like Brampton is today. It will be unliveable.

As a Canada who speaks both French and English and who follows politics quite closely, I have to say that the headline and some of the reporting here is quite misleading. A reduction in immigration has broad support across Canada. I wouldn't say that notion is dividing the country in any significant way. You do have certain industry groups that disagree, but among the population these reductions have broad support. This is a historic change in public opinion in Canada, but it has been driven by the unprecedented increase in immigration under the last term of the Trudeau government. To put this in context, non-permanent residents in Canada numbered around 1.5 million on Q3 2023, but by Q3 2025, that number sat a just over 3 million. The previous government increased immigration targets by 3 or 4 times over what they had been for years, which caused a number of economic issues. Essentially, the volume was simply too high for the economy and society to support. This was unfair to both Canadians and new comers, many of which could not find employment or afford a decent place to live. The changes being suggested are largely bringing Canada back to what the targets were for over a decade before, though a bit lower to account for the sudden surge. Canada remains one of the most pro-immigration countries in the world. However, and this is where I think DW's reporting is misleading, there is a distinction to be made between policies at the federal level and policies at the provincial level. Immigration, per our constitution, is a federal matter, however, Quebec in particular is distinct from other provinces. I don't mean only culturally and linguistically, but also in the powers that have been devolved to it by the federal government. On the question of immigration, Quebec has more powers and more ability to set its immigration targets and programs than any of the other 9 provinces. The particular program discussed here, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), is a particular immigration stream that only existed in Quebec. So what is happening with that program cannot be labeled as a whole-of-Canada thing. Where the changes to the PEQ are controversial, unlike the general changes at the federal level, is that people who immigrated under that specific program were promised certain things. There was a multi-year time line to Permanent Residency and then Citizenship. Many of those people have been in Quebec for 5-8 years already. However, the changes made to the program were done in such a way where people who many years into the program, had gotten an education, started a career, had children, ect. are now being told they can't continue and must leave Canada. There are even stories of people who married Canadians, now have children, and the one parent who was under this program now faces the possibility of having to leave Canada and be separated from their family. All through no fault of their own. That is what many people see as unfair, and I agree, however limiting future applications under the program, to bring in less people, that is not controversial. Canada has no responsibility to bring in people who are not already in Canada, but Canada does have some responsibility towards people who uprooted their lives to move to Canada and built new lives here based on promises and representations made to them by the Canadian and Quebecois governments. We should no simply kick those people out of the country.

Lately, I’ve felt this gap between what I study and what the market actually throws at me||. I’d love to learn from someone who doesn’t sugarcoat anything and can explain how they think when things get volatile for real...

I agree that immigrants should adapt local culture and assimilate but I do not think immigrants have to be exatcly the same. bruce Lee adapted local culture while adding something new and beneficial for the locals. If the things you bring is beneficial to the locals, then I do not think it is problematic if you bring them in while keeping ur original identity. I’m an exporter, if your exports align with destination country’s customs and at least certain aspects of it. It increases your export success rate. On contrary, if there is nothing that connects the locals, it will doom to failure.

My parents immigrated in the early 90s and I was born in Canada. It’s very hard to relate to the new immigrants in the last 10 years because we’re so different. The families that immigrated in the 80s and 90s had to assimilate and become “Canadian” which in hindsight was for the best. I learned about my culture and language at home, but my parents, emphasized the importance of being “Canadian first” and being a part of society and “fitting in.” This wasn’t at all a bad thing. I learned to ski, skate, make ice lollies with snow and syrup, went camping, played sports… I feel embarrassed when Indians are looked at in this light, but its true. 90% of this new wave of immigrants on “student visas,” dont intend to actually obtain any sort of an education, instead they use it as a pathway for permanent residency. I know this because I have relatives who say this out loud behind closed doors. I don’t agree with any of it, and quite frankly it’s very embarrassing, but most of us first generation Indian Canadians feel very upset about how its all played out and the negative light in which our people are now viewed under. Personally, I agree they arent interested in becoming culturally Canadian, they just want to be in Canada for financial reasons. They stay in their groups, dont integrate and think somehow this will play out well. It isnt discrimination when your own people also feel this way. I have yet to meet a first gen Canadian who disagrees

I think it is important to give some scrutiny and take a thorough look at things. Some give free food but it does not mean they are contributing net to our society. In the past many local Canadians volunteered extensively in our community. That has gone away in present day. Dont let someone giving a free lunch fool you into thinking they do nothing wrong

there is one way to solve this problem and that is financial punishment for rule breaking. it's the only thing these people understand. and i think whoever opened the flood gates understands this very well also

I came here 25 years ago from India. While growing up, I would go to the terrace of my home and turn the antenna to get Cbc at night. I watched Air Farce One, the green show, NFB and Cbc and was always fascinated with Canada. I knew then when I was 20 that I will make Canada home. I wrote my IELTS ENGLISH test, studied here with good grades. And I did. I have an amazing career and young kids. And I have loved everyday of it. I have watched rerun of trailer park boys about 10 or so times already, watched Corner gas, watch hockey, I have embraced the weather, the people and the values this nation stands for. I have travelled coast to coast and to the great north. Heck I have been to more places in Canada with my job than other Canadians who are born and raised here. Now all I see there these ignorant, entitled effs thinking they can come and change the way of life. Like how Don Cherry said, they want the milk and honey but won't respect the values. I am effing done with this immigration and the government. Steven Harper was the prime minister when I got my citizenship and it was the proudest moment of my life. I really hope Canadians wake up. I know exactly why the racism has gone up and I don't blame the Canadians at all. These clowns bought it on to themselves. I just had enough and wish things would back to how it was 20 or so years ago.

Bernier was probably the closest thing to a chance to deal with this democraticly that we had. And I didn't think he had a chance in FPTP from the get go. Anyone remember Trudeau's promise to end FPTP? Yeah I had a little hope for that, that could have saved Canada.

Strange how Canada has finally stepped up to order military equipment, military personal, borders in the North and with USA borders putting more man power and technology. Changed and removed provincial boundaries for trade, liberal party wants to change like the dems in the USA. Leaders should go in and do a good job and not just think about them selves. Maybe Trump has helped in that way even when we don’t want to admit it. Leaders has got away with things for along time.