I get e-mails from my Canadian relatives about the unjust welfare…

Please explain your question a bit more.

Are you asking about who can and cannot get social assistance?

The email seems to reflect someone who is very angry and while there may very well be situations like this I think it's important to remember that Canada is such a mult-cultural country and there will be all different types of people from all over receiving social assistance.

The truth is that it's not at all easy to immigrate to Canada and being financially stable is a very strict pre-requisite for all applicants except for those that are being sponsored by a spouse or child.

So, this email is not really correct most of the time.

As well, as far as I understand it immigrant workers tend to have a harder time finding jobs in Canada most of the time than do native born Canadians.

So, on the whole I think this email is not correct generally but I am sorry that your relatives are having such a hard time.

I am not aware of that perception.

I have heard that employers would rather hire non-Canadians who are on temporary work permits because generally they can be paid less but these are not immigrants. Visitors or those working here on work permits cannot get social assistance.

Why not review the government website and see what is needed to immigrate here. You will then see that it's not easy to do so and not possible without a certain amount of money.

Here's a link to get you started:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp