Opinions Archives - Ratna Omidvar

OPINION: Permanent Residents Need to Follow Impaired Driving Act Law Carefully

Ratna Omidvar and Mobina Jaffer Canadian Immigrant December 21, 2018 Bill C-46, impaired driving, Opinions, permanent residents

One month after the passage of Bills C-45 and C-46, Senators Omidvar and Jaffer are looking for important solutions for Canada's permanent residents. Read more about how these new laws impact this group of immigrants.

OPINION: Ottawa just quietly launched a new kind of capitalism

Yung Wu and Stephen Huddart The Globe and Mail November 29, 2018 charities, NonProfits, Opinions, Social Finance

"It’s now essential that entrepreneurs, investors, non-profits and businesspeople step up with innovative ideas to tackle social and environmental issues."

OPINION: Government Has a Role in Strengthening Canada’s Charities and Non-Profits – Senators Mercer, Omidvar

Ratna Omidvar and Terry Mercer The Philanthropist October 16, 2018 charities, CSSB, NonProfits, Opinions

"What our work has already told us, however, is that the charitable and non-profit sectors are in serious danger of falling behind unless the government takes swift action to make it more sustainable and fairer."

OPINION: Multiculturalism doesn’t divide. It encourages belonging

Michael Adams and Ratna Omidvar Globe and Mail September 13, 2018 Diversity, Environics Institute, inclusion, Michael Adams, multiculuralism, Opinions

If Mr. Bernier intends to attack Canadian multiculturalism, his opponents will include Canadians from every corner of the globe, and plenty of Canadians whose families have been here for generations. In other words, they’ll look a lot like Canada.

OPINION: Canada needs a government-backed social finance fund

Ratna Omidvar and Art Eggleton Hill Times August 27, 2018 Opinions, SOCI, Social Finance

We need to become more imaginative in the ways we find the money to tackle social issues. A federally-backed social finance fund could be an effective way of connecting untapped private capital with solutions for important social issues.

OPINION: On Asylum Seekers, Canada Needs Solutions — Not Semantics

Ratna Omidvar Huffington Post July 27, 2018 asylum seekers, Opinions, refugees, triple win migration

"In the short term, Canada must ensure that Canadians have public confidence in the system. Regardless of the numbers of asylum seekers crossing into Canada, it is essential to demonstrate that our systems work, in ordinary and in extraordinary times."

OPINION: Asylum seekers are not causing a crisis for Canada

Ratna Omidvar Toronto Star May 2, 2018 asylum, immigration, Opinions

We can handle the number of people coming through “irregular” border crossings. The only real crisis is the rhetoric that is picking up as the weather finally improves, writes Ratna Omidvar.

OPINION: UN Global Compacts For Migration And Refugees Lack Ambition

Ratna Omidvar and Khalid Koser Huffington Post April 12, 2018 Global Compacts, migration, Opinions, refugees

"At best we have written a five-year perspective at a time where a global vision for the next half century is needed."

OPINION: What Oscar-winner Frances McDormand can teach corporate Canada

Jennifer Wells Toronto Star March 6, 2018 Bill C-25, corporate governance, Diversity, Opinions

The point to glean is this: in hauling the Act into the modern era a group of senators supported the view that publicly traded corporations be compelled to set internal targets to boost diversity, the very ethos of the governing Liberals. The Senate voted against the amendment, 37 to 30, in third reading last Wednesday.

OPINION: Amazon HQ2 Would Be Yet Another Great Canadian Immigration Story

Ratna Omidvar Huffington Post February 12, 2018 Amazon HQ2, Diversity, immigration, Opinions, Toronto

In Toronto, Amazon's HQ2 would be yet another successful immigration story. This year, Amazon must choose whether to stay in America or apply for dual citizenship in Canada, where the right types of investments are underway. All they have to do is say "yes."