Your Cab Driver Is A Doctor? Layton Should Talk To Dion

Immigration rules miss the point
Desperately needed unilingual tradesmen don't make grade
By ANGELO PERSICHILLI

NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal leader Stephane Dion are right when they ask for a faster recognition of foreign credentials. But their request doesn't address the cause of the problem -- created by the Liberals almost a decade ago -- for thousands of foreign professionals driving taxis in Toronto and Montreal.

As Mike Colle, Ontario's Minister of Immigration, said last week, the root of the problem is in the point system adopted by the federal government 10 years ago that favours the immigration of people with a university degree and speak the two official languages.

"We need carpenters, not engineers," Colle said.

The point system includes six factors with a maximum of 25 points for education, 24 for the ability to speak English and French, 21 points for work experience and 10 points each for age (the best is between 21 and 49), arranged employment and adaptability. Out of the 100 points available it used to take 75 to pass. In 2003, the pass mark fell to 67.

Need hewers of wood.......