Aging Newcomers at Loss for Jobs

By Raveena Aulukh, The Toronto Star

March 24, 2009

Canada

Maniben Patel's dreams were pretty straightforward. 

The 58-year-old yoga teacher came from India two years ago to be with her son, see the grandkids grow and be independent. 

But the active woman had a hard time finding work. Six months ago, she landed a gig teaching yoga at the Rexdale Women's Centre twice a week – it paid her about $500 a month. "It wasn't much money but it kept me busy," she said. 

Then grants to the centre were cut and the class was discontinued. Now, Patel doubts she will ever find work. "Not as long as there's a recession," she said.

 
Adjusting to life in Canada can be tricky for any newcomer but it is especially tough for aging immigrants, most of whom are reuniting with sons, daughters and grandchildren. They have always faced age and language barriers and finding work was tough – they are too old to go back to school and learn new skills but too young to retire.

With the economic slowdown, they are now unable to find even part-time, low-paying jobs. 

"Senior immigrants are mostly sponsored by their kids but they don't want to be a drain or a burden," said Rod Beaujot, a professor of social science at the University of Western Ontario who specializes in immigration issues. "They like to do their bit, especially in times like these. And if someone in the house loses a job, it puts pressure on everyone in the family." 

Laws restrict government benefits for elderly newcomers, most of whom are sponsored by their children. "If they (parents) are sponsored, they will not be eligible for anything until the sponsorship expires," said Geri Sadoway of Parkdale Community Legal Services. 

Sponsorship undertakings for parents are usually for 10 years; children agree to be financially responsible for them. 

In cases where sponsorship breaks down – when there are dramatic changes in circumstances – people can apply for Ontario disability, but the sponsor gets the bill if they qualify. Sadoway says she has a "real problem with these undertakings. I think it's necessary to have some kind of provision where seniors can be eligible for help if the sponsorship breaks down. It won't happen with all cases but some (people) do need help." 

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 15,813 parents and grandparents were sponsored in 2007, and 16,598 in 2008. 

When seniors move to Canada to be with their children, they sell most of their possessions and bring money with them. Usually, that doesn't last for more than a few months. At the most, a year. Then they scramble to find work. 

Bhupinder Kaur, 62, came with her husband to Toronto in 2006 to live with their son. Since then, she has emailed dozens of resumés. She upgraded her computer skills and in August 2007 started volunteering at the Brampton Neighbourhood Resource Centre in the hope of eventually finding work. 

She still hasn't. 

Some companies asked if she had any Canadian experience – she didn't, and never heard back from them. "When I came here, I thought I would work part-time and retire in a few years," said Kaur, who lived in Punjab, India. 

After a year, her husband found labour jobs but even that was not regular. The cost of living is high in Toronto, said Kaur, who recently completed a course and became a registered education savings plan agent. 

"My son and daughter-in-law are very caring but we can't live off them," she said. "It's not good to ask for money for every little thing. I am not very choosy; anything will do for some pocket money." 

But with every grim headline announcing more layoffs and impending bankruptcies, she knows it will get tougher to find work. "I think about it all the time. I'll keep trying and the hope will be there." 

The few seniors who do get jobs rarely find something in their field. They are mostly in the service industry – coffee shops and grocery stores – or as security officers. 

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