Alberta polls to influence Filipino migration wave

ALBERTA is getting ready for elections. The preparations, though a far cry from what many Filipinos have grown accustomed to, are nevertheless underway. The stakes are high not just for Alberta but for Canada as well. This is, after all, the nation’s oil and gas capital. It is also a hotbed of anti-liberalism where a big slice of the population hates Justin Trudeau and his party.

But I look forward to the elections because of the opportunities that the polls present to the growing Filipino population in the province. Aside from the fact that there are three Filipinos running for MLA seats, the outcome of the elections will dictate the directions that the province will take in the coming years.

Issues in sectors such as healthcare and immigration are top-of-mind for many Filipinos. How these issues are dealt with, and how policies will be drawn up and implemented, will influence the Filipino migration to Alberta.

The fact that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently opened a new application processing centre in Manila reflects the focus of the federal government on the Philippines as a source of

Bing J. Jaleco bingjaleco@yahoo.com

Raleigh “Bing” Jaleco was a veteran journalist and public relations consultant in the Philippines. He started out as a correspondent for Ang Pahayagang Malaya and then moved on to be a reporter, and then an editor, of The Manila Chronicle. He also served as news editor of The Manila Standard, business editor of The Manila Times, and sub-editor at the Manila Bulletin. He landed as a permanent resident in Canada in 2016.

immigrants and contract workers who can contribute to the Canadian economy. The federal government’s “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” a diplomatic and economic pivot towards one of the fastest growing regions in the world, gives the Philippines a big boost and allows for a more streamlined processing of immigration applications.

So where does this policy fit into Alberta’s own growth strategy, and how will Filipinos fit into this picture?

Simply put, Filipinos can collectively be a driving force in Alberta’s push for economic development. Our technical skills born out of a relatively high literacy level, our communication proficiency, and our sense of purpose to be part of Canadian society, make us very good candidates for workforce warriors.

Which leads us back to the Alberta elections this month. Who we support, and who we elect into office will have a direct bearing on where we will find ourselves in the next few years. If we cannot yet vote because of our status here in Canada, then at the very least we can choose to support our candidates—the men and women who we believe can best serve our interests.

Investing in the future is the underlying incentive behind every free elections. Unfortunately, it is a concept that has been corrupted back in the motherland which, in turn, has left many of us disillusioned and frustrated. As Filipinos in Alberta, the biggest challenge now is how to disabuse our minds of Pinoy politics and put our faith back in the electoral process. The good thing about immigrating to Canada is that we see how political institutions are actually working.

If we find ourselves pushed to the political fringes or somehow feel that we are left out, it is not because we are discriminated against. It is more likely because we continue to sit on the fences and adopt a wait-and-see attitude so reminiscent of home. Let’s forget this nonsense and get involved.