February 2010 Parliamentary Report

A REMARKABLE MAN

Recently I met a remarkable young man at a reception I held to welcome new Canadians.  His name is Imran Hussain and here is his story:

ARRIVAL IN CANADA

Mr. Hussain arrived in Canada in September 2002.  In his homeland he had earned a Masters degree in Computer Science and worked for the Central Bank as a computer consultant.  He heard that Canada was a land of opportunity and risked everything to start a new life here.  He applied for many jobs in his field after arriving in Canada but was frequently turned down.  Although prospective employers were impressed by his resume, they wanted Canadian experience.  A classic dilemma!

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Meanwhile Mr Hussain wanted to support himself.  To pay his bills he took a job soon after arriving in Canada in a call centre for the collections department of a Canadian corporation.  Not a very nice job!

Mr. Hussain moved to England where he married, but after a year returned to Canada.  It was the right place for him, he decided.

This time, he took a job delivering pizzas to support his wife and himself.  He also found a job part-time at a retail computer store, repairing and selling.  He and his wife started their family with a beautiful baby girl in December 2005.  In May 2005 he got another job at the call centre, this time in computer support.

Finally in January 2007, Mr. Hussain landed a job in Welland as a Software Quality Analyst.  Unfortunately it was short lived due to a lay-off in December 2007.  So he went back to his part-time job at the computer store, where they welcomed him back.

SUCCESS

But now, with hard-won Canadian experience, things were looking up, so he kept trying.  In June 2008 he was hired by RIM as a Software Quality Test Specialist, where he has been employed to this date.

Mr. Hussain's qualities of risk-taking, responsible work ethic, tenacity, and hope for a better life are inspiring, and so I share his story with you. 

CANADA AND THE FUTURE

Our own Canadian colleges and universities produce quality graduates every year. However, all the demographic trends tell us that Canada will be unable to sustain its prosperity unless we attract additional skilled workers to our land.  Our government is alive to this need and crafting effective policies to meet the need.

I'm glad we are able to welcome new Canadians of such quality as Imran Hussain and trust that he and his family will continue to embrace his adopted country and its ideals in years to come.