The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Canada accepts refugee applications at four times the rate of the United States, he added, and 40% of new immiâ€" grants settle in Southern Ontario, espeâ€" cially in the Torontoâ€"Hamilton hub. Although public school teacher David deBelle questioned why immiâ€" gration targets were being increased when at the same time services were being cut. "The bulk of immigrants who come don‘t go through the point system," said Carl Fiamelli, a community liaison offiâ€" cer with the department of Citizenship and Immigration in Hamilton.. In 1993, of the 254,662 newcomers to the country, 110,654 were from the family class, 30,000 were refugees, 31,00 were from the business class, and 46,740 were independent. The remainâ€" der came under other classes such as retirement and assisted relatives. In 1994, according to department of Citizenship and Immigration literature, about 250,000 new residents will settle in Canada. Fortyâ€"five per cent are expected from the Family Class which includes sponsored spouses, fiance(e)s, dependent children, parents and grandâ€" parents of Canadian citizens or permaâ€" nent residents. Fortyâ€"five percent are expected from the Independent Class who are selected on a point system based on skills, busiâ€" ness expertise or investment capital which can benefit Canada‘s economy. The remaining 10% are refugees. "Stop, close the door, and refocus," he said. "Cut back immigration until we get policies in place and deal with the backlog." Immigration has increased from 128,000 in 1981 to the present target of "Immigration must not cost the social welfare system anything," said Jim Gill, of Bronte, who claimed to be of United Empire Loyalist stock. His sentiments were echoed by George Richardson, a local property manager, who wants the policy on famiâ€" ly reunification of immigrants tied to the unemployment rate, but "would like to see the (current) policy stay the same for refugees." Real estate agent, Vic Yates felt the immigration policy should fit present needs. Gill said Canada needs immigration, but added, levels should rise and fall depending on the level of unemployâ€" ment and not be tied to 1% of the popuâ€" lation. Concern for the economic impact present immigration levels place on Canada‘s social programs was repeated throughout the forum. " needs to revisit and (' ‘change its immigration policy to _ the economic times and to ensure criminals aren‘t lost in the sysâ€" tem. That was the message, loud and clear, residents gave Oakvilleâ€"Milton MP Bonnie Brown to deliver to Sergio Marchi, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration at a public forum sponâ€" sored by Brown and the Halton Muilticultural Council last Saturday Their recommendations ran the gamut from shutting down immigration immediately to expanding the family reunification category of immigration to include siblings, nieces and nephews. But most agreed on one thing â€" the immigration status quo has got to go. Fifty people passed up Waterfront Festival celebrations Saturday morning to participate in one of a series of "Public Consultations" being held across the country to discuss the longâ€" term plan for immigration. By CHERYL ELLIOT Special to the Beaver Federal immigration policy needs overhaul deBelle, a Grade 3 North York teachâ€" er, said 90% of the students in his school have parents born outside of Canada. He said government money is used to replace library books to reflect the changing culture of the community, translate report cards, and provide herâ€" itage language courses. C(~UEECG c> L 1 lUl.Y 2"" 9 C e 6 pm WManiressi Sleep Factory Available in Black White DELUXE FUTON "You can‘t increase the number of SINGLE DOUBLE MATTRESS MATTRESS HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED POCKET COILS CONFORM TO YOUR BODY SHAPE AND WEIGHT PROVIDING MAXIMUM COMFORT, SUPPORT AND DURABILITY. SET $644 QUEEN MATTRESS SET $744 VISA LABLE IN KING SIZE SET $704 PERSONAL CHEQUES Includes ou bestsellin mattress foundation Sleeps ADJUSTABLE 4 _ BED Poet Di Dutoit wants immigration applicants, including adopted children, screened for HIV. Brown said a proposâ€" al for HIV testing of immigrants is curâ€" rently before the Citizenship and Immigration minister. children coming into the education sysâ€" tem and cut transfer payments for eduâ€" cation," he said. Nicholas Ross, a pharmaceutical Mon.â€"Wed. Thurs.â€"Fri. Saturdays Sundays (Burtington only) 359 set 609 524 set 889 .......... DOUBLE ......309 st 519 10â€"6 p.m. 10â€"9 p.m. 9â€"6 p.m. 11â€"5 p.m. Includes mattress 329 set 559 479 799 MAIN ST. sales representative, was concerned that sponsored parents, who come from countries that don‘t have health stanâ€" dards similar to Canada‘s, could place a burden on the health care system. In the wake of the recent killings of Constable Todd Baylis and Georgina Leimoni, both crimes allegedly commitâ€" ted by immigrants slated for deportation, the relationship of crime to immigration 209 set 364 Includes 1 mattress frame «+109 frame FAIRVIEW $7. NEW ST. Solid wood single over double Sleeps 3 189 se 314 ‘"‘There has been an abberation in the department of immigration," said marâ€" keting consultant Barbara Forsythe in reference to the Clinton Gayle case â€" an immigrant, ordered deported two years ago, who is now accused of murdering Constable Baylis in Toronto. "The (See ‘Three‘ page 9) was a reoccurring theme during the forum. DOUBLE‘* ~" QUEEN