[Benn]

Brenda wrote:

And how many applicants actually TALK to immigration officers?? Only during an interview, and NOT every applicant has to attend to one. Then again, that is the second last step anyway (medical is last) before your visa is issued.

I don't know where you worked, but I can tell you Berlin is NOT reachable for applicants. Emails are not answered, the 2 hours, 3 days a week the phonelines are open, you get an answering machine. If you ask questions BEFORE you send in your application, the answer is: "send in your application, it is all part of the application process, so we will find out on the go."

So much for your story, as far as I am concerned...

LMAO, actually I worked in Berlin

Wir hatten eine sehr gute vorzimmerfrau

Damn, I knew I forgot to return someones call, musta been you! What's the chances of that eh? Entschuldigung!

[Brenda]

How would you know I called, when you can never leave a message?

[EyeBrock]

Benn wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

Which foreigners are we talking about here Benn? And which police services?

People who are not citizens. Thought I made that clear. So permanent residents, they are not citizens and have sworn no loyalty to Canada. I'm not being prejudice here, the fact of the matter is until they make the commitment to Canada they are not Canadians and are still citizens of a foreign country, therefore, foreigners who reside legally in Canada.

I have no problem with them working or living here, I love the culture they add. However in certain jobs, like upholding our laws and protecting the country I feel there needs to be more of a commitment than being allowed to live here.

As for the police services, I know there are others but I don't have time to go through them all for you sorry.

Regina:

"Citizenship

* Legally entitled to work in Canada" In other words a PR how is a non-citizen.

http://www.reginapolice.ca/2007r_requirements.html

Edmonton:

"Canadian citizenship or legal permanent residence"

http://www.joineps.ca/ApplicationProcess/MinimumRequirements.aspx

Winnipeg:

"Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant/Permanent Resident"

http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/HumanResources/selection_process.stm#qualifications

Toronto:

http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/careers/minreq.php

DND also allows non Canadians to join, but only in "exceptional circumstances"
http://www.forces.ca/html/index.aspx?m=0&lang=en&sid=162&sm1=4&sm2=0&tab=1&subTab=0

I kinda agree and disagree with you but I got hired 12 months before I became a citizen.
When you are hired you have to swear an oath of loyalty to Canada and swear an oath of office.
Also police are regulated by various federal and provincial acts which are much more restrictive than most other civilian employment.

Also I might add that Calgary and Edmonton actively hired in the UK because they weren't getting enough domestic applicants with the required skill set.

I know in my service that Brits make up a sizeable minority, probably the biggest 'ethnic' minority in most GTA services. Brits are a good fit in Canadian police services and I feel that I should add that we make loyal and productive Canadians, despite the many barriers Brits now face in emigrating to Canada.

I don't think we can say the same about a lot of other ethnic groups that are coming here in their thousands.

[Benn]

Brenda wrote:

:lol: How would you know I called, when you can never leave a message?

I'd answer your question but you didn't ask during regular calling hours sorry

I know there was frustrations with that and I don't want to sound callous to it or overly justify it but I'll be honest, if those who took calls ( I never dealt with the public) had to take them all day long they would not get the rest of their jobs done. There was simply not enough staff. If they hired two people to answer phones all day as their only job they may have been able to keep up.

I know its no consultation but Berlin was one the better run (more efficient) offices around.

[BartSimpson]

EyeBrock wrote:

When you are hired you have to swear an oath of loyalty to Canada and swear an oath of office.

And that alone is sufficent to determine citizenship for many countries and courts. You become a defacto citizen when you swear loyalty.

[Benn]

EyeBrock wrote:

[]

I kinda agree and disagree with you but I got hired 12 months before I became a citizen.
When you are hired you have to swear an oath of loyalty to Canada and swear an oath of office.
Also police are regulated by various federal and provincial acts which are much more restrictive than most other civilian employment.

Also I might add that Calgary and Edmonton actively hired in the UK because they weren't getting enough domestic applicants with the required skill set.

I know in my service that Brits make up a sizeable minority, probably the biggest 'ethnic' minority in most GTA services. Brits are a good fit in Canadian police services and I feel that I should add that we make loyal and productive Canadians, despite the many barriers Brits now face in emigrating to Canada.

I don't think we can say the same about a lot of other ethnic groups that are coming here in their thousands.

Heh, ok you threw me a loop there and I'm wandering into dangerous territory here but I think Brits and most commonwealth citizens are a bit of a different story. Our core laws basically are the same, the oath (at least when I took it for my job in Public Safety Dept) was to the Queen, the same Queen as you. Lets face it, the UK is still like a big brother to us. We quite simply owe the fact we are Canada to your native country. We trusted you with our protection before and helped you with yours so I think all that sets you apart from other Permanent Residents.

[Brenda]

Benn wrote:

Brenda wrote:

:lol: How would you know I called, when you can never leave a message?

I'd answer your question but you didn't ask during regular calling hours sorry

I know there was frustrations with that and I don't want to sound callous to it or overly justify it but I'll be honest, if those who took calls ( I never dealt with the public) had to take them all day long they would not get the rest of their jobs done. There was simply not enough staff. If they hired two people to answer phones all day as their only job they may have been able to keep up.

I know its no consultation but Berlin was one the better run (more efficient) offices around.

I am glad you mention "was". When we applied in 2004, the waiting time was 9 months. It took 27 months to get our visa...

[Benn]

BartSimpson wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

When you are hired you have to swear an oath of loyalty to Canada and swear an oath of office.

And that alone is sufficent to determine citizenship for many countries and courts. You become a defacto citizen when you swear loyalty.

So they are entitled to vote and carry Canadian Passports?

[EyeBrock]

Benn wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

[]

I kinda agree and disagree with you but I got hired 12 months before I became a citizen.
When you are hired you have to swear an oath of loyalty to Canada and swear an oath of office.
Also police are regulated by various federal and provincial acts which are much more restrictive than most other civilian employment.

Also I might add that Calgary and Edmonton actively hired in the UK because they weren't getting enough domestic applicants with the required skill set.

I know in my service that Brits make up a sizeable minority, probably the biggest 'ethnic' minority in most GTA services. Brits are a good fit in Canadian police services and I feel that I should add that we make loyal and productive Canadians, despite the many barriers Brits now face in emigrating to Canada.

I don't think we can say the same about a lot of other ethnic groups that are coming here in their thousands.

Heh, ok you threw me a loop there and I'm wandering into dangerous territory here but I think Brits and most commonwealth citizens are a bit of a different story. Our core laws basically are the same, the oath (at least when I took it for my job in Public Safety Dept) was to the Queen, the same Queen as you. Lets face it, the UK is still like a big brother to us. We quite simply owe the fact we are Canada to your native country. We trusted you with our protection before and helped you with yours so I think all that sets you apart from other Permanent Residents.

I appreciate your sentiment but Canada used to have, (up until the late 1980's in fact) a provision for police etc that you had to be a Canadian 'or British' citizen.
In the mad rush to strip as much of the inherent UK culture from mainstream Canada as possible, this was changed to Canadian citizen or permanent resident because various HR bodies saw Brit's getting favourable treatment.

I actually know quite a lot on this topic as I have discussed the issue at length with recruiters all over Canada.

The reality is that Canada has moved on from it's UK links in it's efforts to embrace multi-cult outside of Quebec and the efforts of Quebec to be uni-cult and eradicate any reminders of the hated British.

Even though many Canadians have a warm fuzzy feeling for the UK and it is reciprocated, the days of close ties are long gone. Thank Trudeau, Hellyer and all the others who were dedicated in their efforts to rid us of any Imperial ties, and the Brits just let it all happen. The same is happening in Australia although there are stronger cultural ties there and the Aussies still let Brits in.

Canada's immigration from the UK makes up .75% of total immigration these days........

[Brenda]

Hey Benn, do you know a lady by the name of Marguerite or Marguarita oh crap, whats her last name...