Latest news with #Schow
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta concerned over Ottawa plan to accept newcomer parents, grandparents this year
EDMONTON – Alberta's immigration minister says he's concerned about the federal government's plan this year to accept thousands of parents and grandparents of immigrants already in Canada. Joseph Schow responded Tuesday to a federal notice that Ottawa plans to take in 10,000 applications from those who have previously expressed interest in sponsoring family members. In a statement, Schow said provincial health-care systems, housing and social services don't have the capacity and could be overwhelmed. Schow took issue with the 10,000 figure. Federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab's office said the federal government's actual countrywide target for approvals this year for the parent and grandparent immigration stream is higher at 24,500. Diab's office said Schow was responding to a notice that the ministry is preparing to take in 10,000 applications for consideration from already settled immigrants who expressed interest in 2020 in sponsoring their parents or grandparents. 'Family reunification is an important part of Canada's immigration system, helping Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor their loved ones to live and work alongside them in Canada,' a spokesperson for Diab said in an email, adding that the federal government is committed to reuniting as many families as possible. 'Opening intake for 10,000 applications will help us meet this commitment and will not increase the target.' Schow's office said it was under the impression the 10,000 was the 2025 target, and his concern remains the same. Schow said in the Tuesday statement that he understands 'the importance of family reunification, (but) inviting large numbers of parents and grandparents into the country without proper co-ordination with provinces places disproportionate strain on already busy health systems.' 'This creates serious concerns for both Albertans and the newcomers themselves, who may not receive timely care if our system is overwhelmed.' The minister didn't directly answer questions about whether he wants to see the parent and grandparent target reduced or eliminated. In an email, he said the 'root issue' is the federal government setting immigration targets without provincial input. 'The more direct concern with this program is its impact on health care,' Schow added. 'Seniors are more likely to require medical and long-term care, and bringing in thousands more without additional supports increases pressure on a system already managing high demand.' Diab's office said since parents and grandparents accepted under the program require a sponsor to financially support them, it doesn't put any excessive burden on provincial services. 'Family reunification not only leads to social and cultural benefits but also economic benefits,' said the spokesperson. 'Those coming through this program are often supporting the household in Canada, including by providing childcare. This helps parents enter the workforce and strengthen Canada's economy.' Schow said Alberta's government wants overall immigration reduced to below 500,000 per year, and that provinces need to 'have a stronger role in selecting newcomers to meet local needs.' Under targets set last fall, Ottawa is aiming to approve just over 1 million immigration applications this year, including temporary residents on work visas, international students, refugees and new permanent residents like parents and grandparents of newcomers. On Wednesday, premiers from across Canada collectively called on the federal government to engage more with provincial governments on immigration targets and increase the share of economic immigrants each province is allocated under the provincial and territorial nominee program. The joint federally and provincially run program works to fast track the permanent residency process for workers in sought after sectors. For Alberta, that includes health care, technology and law enforcement. 'Provinces and territories are best positioned to understand their local labour market needs and call on the federal government to support their respective priorities,' reads a joint statement from premiers following their three-day meeting in Ontario. Schow's comments also come as a panel chaired by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is touring the province to hear from citizens on a number of topics, including whether Alberta should create its own immigration permitting system and block non-approved newcomers from accessing services like health care. At the panel's most recent town hall in Edmonton, a member of the public accused Smith of 'punching down on immigrants.' Smith said the province is trying to find solutions to housing affordability, hospital capacity, classroom sizes and 'increasing pressure on our social programs.' 'There has to be a reasonable amount of newcomers that are able to come here, fit into the economy, be able to be self-supporting,' Smith told the audience. 'That is, I think, a bit high at the moment.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
Global News
23-07-2025
- Health
- Global News
Alberta concerned with federal plan to accept newcomer parents, grandparents
Alberta's immigration minister says he's concerned about the federal government's plan this year to accept thousands of parents and grandparents of immigrants who are already in Canada. Joseph Schow says he understands the importance of reuniting families, but provincial health-care systems don't have the capacity and could be overwhelmed. This year Ottawa plans to approve just over 24,000 parents and grandparents of newcomers this year before reducing its target for the next two years. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Schow says provinces should have more say on immigration targets and that overall immigration should be reduced to no more than half a million people per year. He says Alberta and other provinces should also be more involved in determining which immigrants they accept. Federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab's office says the government is committed to reuniting as many families as possible and that this immigration stream has social, cultural and economic benefits. Story continues below advertisement Schow's comments come as a provincial panel currently touring Alberta has heard from citizens on a number of topics, including whether some newcomers should be entitled to social services like health care. — More to come…
Calgary Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Alberta commits $2.8 million to small- and medium-sized businesses
A $2.8-million investment in the Trade Accelerator Program aims to help Alberta-made companies and businesses expand their reach to markets around the world. Article content In an announcement on Wednesday, the Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration Joseph Schow announced the province's commitment to help Alberta's small- and medium-sized businesses and companies expand their reach into international markets. Article content Article content Article content TAP was established nationally in 2017, with Calgary Economic Development administering the program within Alberta in 2018. Article content Article content Over the last seven years, 550 Alberta-based businesses were provided with knowledge, mentorship and resources to help their ventures grow and reach international markets. Article content 'This means bigger revenues, and more jobs for Albertans across the province,' Schow said. 'And of course, we get to showcase Alberta's economic success to the rest of the world.' Article content Schow said the province values small businesses and wants to see them succeed beyond Alberta's borders. Article content 'Our government is fulfilling a gap to fund the Trade Accelerator Program by providing Calgary Economic Development with $2.8 million,' he said. Article content The investment will continue to support TAP for the next five years. Over this period, the program is expected to assist 650 more companies, while expanding services and resources for businesses looking to grow. Article content Article content 'Increasing trade is a priority for our government, which is why we are helping small- and medium-sized businesses grow,' Schow said. 'More than ever, we need to diversify our global trade and give businesses the tools they need to succeed.' Article content In return, Schow said Alberta will see more jobs, investments, and a stronger economy through programs like TAP. Article content 'Those are businesses that supply families with good, mortgage-paying, grocery-buying, sport fee-paying jobs,' Schow said. 'Those are supporting families right here in Calgary, right here in Alberta.' Article content By doing their part to empower small businesses, Schow said the province sees great things happening from their success. Article content President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, Brad Parry, said this is an important step forward in helping local Alberta and Calgary businesses grow, scale and compete on a national and global scale.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Memorial Day reminder to look out for the veterans among us
'I got you.' Terry Schow was on the phone with a young woman who had experienced an episode of sexual trauma when she was serving in the armed forces. She had filed a claim with the Veterans Administration, but the counselor she talked to only made her feel worse about her situation. Desperate, at her rope's end, she called Terry, a former Green Beret who served in Vietnam and in the 55-plus years since has made it his life's work to help fellow veterans. 'Mr. Schow,' she said, her voice choked with emotion, 'this is too hard, I just don't know if I can do this. I don't think I can move on.' That's when Terry uttered the three words that started this column. When he hung up, he sprang to life like he was back on the battlefield. He called his contacts at the VA. He gave them his opinion in no uncertain terms: 'This woman needs a sympathetic counselor, preferably a woman this time, she needs to be listened to, she needs to be taken care of.' A few weeks later, his phone rang again. 'Mr. Schow,' the woman said, 'thank you.' There was life back in her voice. She had been heard. She was moving on. She wanted to live instead of wanting to die. Schow is telling this story not to pat himself on the back, but to draw attention to a problem all too prevalent for veterans: suicide. The statistics are alarming. While suicide affects all aspects of the population, those who served in the military are especially hard hit. As a group, veterans make up 6% of the adult U.S. population, yet account for 20% of all adult suicide deaths. The yearly number has hovered above 6,000 for 22 straight years. What that equates to is that every day in America, 18 to 22 veterans, almost one per hour, end their own lives. And the majority aren't the aging and infirm. The highest percentage is among those aged 18 to 45. The reasons, as Terry explains, are many and varied, but a common denominator, he believes, is the sense of isolation when you leave full-time service and are faced with assimilating back into regular civilian life. This is especially true for those who have been in combat. 'In the military you're part of a team,' he says, 'and if you lose any part of your team in battle, it's awfully hard, it takes a heavy toll, because that person was a piece of you. And when you get out and come home, you can just kind of feel like you're wandering around alone.' It doesn't help, he adds, that 'many folks live inside their devices these days,' compounding the isolation. As a counterbalance, Schow is using Memorial Day as a backdrop to tout a suicide prevention program recently set up by the American Legion. It's called Be The One. 'Today, the No. 1 issue facing the veteran community is suicide,' states the American Legion on its website. 'The mission of the Be The One initiative is to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. We're actively working on lessening the stigma associated with mental health treatment and empowering everyone to take appropriate action when a veteran or service member is at risk — one life at a time.' The Legion's goal is to train 100,000 people in suicide prevention by the end of 2025. Anyone and everyone can get involved, says Terry, who is on the American Legion's national board of directors. It can be as simple as putting your arm around a veteran — ones you know and ones you don't know — and thanking them for their service. 'I'll go through an airport and see a guy with a hat on that says World War II or Korea or Vietnam and ask them how they're doing, where did they serve,' says Terry. 'I've never had anybody push me away. In fact, most of them are so willing. It sounds trite, but a simple thank-you can mean so much to these folks, because you don't know what demons they carry.' Terry points out that the VA 'has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on mental health. They've got a suicide team, they've got a PTSD team.' But for a veteran to take advantage of all the help and treatments available, sometimes what it takes is for someone else to step in and say, 'I got you.' 'If I knew the answers to all the questions about why (veterans consider suicide), I would be a wealthy man,' says Terry. 'But I'm just doing the Lord's work looking out for veterans. It is noble work. There's no pay, but you are rewarded manyfold by making a difference. 'Be The One is a great program. With Memorial Day coming up, it's a good reminder to look out for veterans and the sacrifices some of them carry we can't even see.'
