b'IMMIGRATION POLICYTHE SOURCEand enhance our standard of living? HowBoost the numbers of skilled workers and What, then, is behind the falling levelimmigration contributes to maintaininghigh-income earners, create an expanded of support for immigration? To call outand growing living standards in the facetax base, and win a war for global talent. racism or xenophobia is simplistic; a moreof falling levels of productivity needs to beThese and related challenges, many credible factor driving the decline is thatpersuadably explained. governments insist, can best be overcome current government programs promotethrough a larger, and younger, domestic priorities increasingly out of step withFor the public, the overriding issue is thepopulation. With falling birthrates those of their electorates.protection and enhancement of standardsthrough much of the developed world, of living. OECD citizens want such stan- such growth, experts assert, can only be Immigration policy is an expression ofdards to continue, and to grow. Is such aachieved through immigration. the social contract between governmentstance selfish? Perhaps, but it is real, and it and its electorate. The crux of the socialis prevalent.Much of the public, when assessing this contract governments must answer is:reasoning, is less than confident that the how does an increase in permanent orWhat are governments seeking to achievecompromises required today will result in temporary immigration levels protectthrough expansive immigration policies?meaningful benefit tomorrow. Their faith in the social contract with their govern-ment has soured. Simultaneously, the generosity of public welcome recedes.Too often, in response to questions about their immigration policies, national governments responded only vaguely or emotionally. What is required is a vigorous effort to detail current demographic chal-lenges, to outline the gains to be realized tomorrow from todays policy choices, and the benefits to be realized through a broader, affluent consumer and produc-tion base. The public is left with the pain and consequent frustration of these choices, minus the vision or the context.In turn, the quantum of public trust in decision makers is in increasinglyshort supply.Business is not immune to these factors. SETTING THE STANDARD INIn todays environment, it will be increas-ingly challenging to secure admissions to CANADIAN VEHICLE TRANSPORT meet corporate needs; the scrambling by governments to reduce admission levels 43 Years of transportation excellence across the board has only begun. It should be expected that the hurdle for domestic 250 trucks augmented by rail service across Canada employers to justify their need for foreign workers will become only more difficult Our Move Management technology keeps you in theand complex.drivers seat throughout your vehicles journeyMature team of dedicated employees always ensuresResponsible, beneficial, and growth-consistent and dependable service oriented immigration requires advocates as rarely before. Program abuses must be Hansens fleet of seasoned professional drivers treatrecognized and addressed, meaningful your vehicle like their own and transparent border controls must be enacted, and the genuine need to tackle Flexible pick-up and delivery options to suit yourlong-term demographic and related chal-every move type lenges outlined and debated. Equally important, the well-founded fear and Local, regional, long-distance, and cross-borderunease of residents concerning impacts moves performed upon current quality of life issues should be respected and acknowledged. Failure to do any of these things will serve only to Online quotations at www.LHF.com or callfurther curtail trust in the intention, judg-1-888-420-8888 for more information ment, and priorities of governments. James P. Egan is Senior Counsel atEY Law LLP.20PERSPECTIVESSummer 2024'