Ottawa should fund overseas travel: Ignatieff

I am unsure how I feel about this...

No fucking way.

Ruez knows how I feel about it!

If it was like the US Peace Corps or something, as in young Canadians working overseas in some kind of structured plan, I think it has merit.

The travelling I have done has really opened my eyes to the real world out there. The experiences gained by living in a country for a few months and interacting with people from various countries is just good shit.

I don't think we should poo-poo it just because it comes from Iggy.

I agree the living overseas for a little while is a great opportunity to gain life, cultural and othber experience. However we started moving and working overseas in our mid 20s and didn't require special programs to do it, we found a job that would allow us the chance. All the Canadian I knew overseas got there because they wanted it so they went and got it, no need for the government to point the way.

We have a wealth of native Canadians (native as in born here) living and working abroad. I can't quote a link but heard when I worked for the government overseas that we had more native Canadians working overseas per captia than most G8 countries, certainly more than the US. So whats the rush to waste tax money on some kind of incentives?

Its a good thought and gesture, just not needed at this time IMO. Money best spent elsewhere.

Living abroad was the best thing I ever did, and it really opened my eyes up to how things work on this planet, as well as just how great Canada really is. I know people who have never left Alberta and they are insular and not open to trying new things. Some of them have 'broadened' their horizons by going to the States, but even that is too similar to Canada for it to really affect someone. Given how closed off and provincial most of them seem now, I hardly talk to them anymore. For anyone who's seen some of the conditions people live in in the 3rd world, it's a real eye-opener.

I agree it would be a good idea to have some sort of federal program that funded it. There are already small programs like that already (such as the Vimy Ridge program), but it should be larger, say a few hundred to a thousand people a year. We don't necessarily have to fund everything, maybe just pay for things like passports, visa applications, and maybe the flight home at the end of their contract.

Sorry Eyebrock but the peace corps was a bit of a freakin cluster. Idealistic kids with no proper training for the environment they ended up in, were sent to countries that neither wanted them or needed them. The only reason they were ever accepted was because they came bundled with a US aide package.

So the only way Canada could ever implement something similar to the Peace Corps is to bundle it with aide packages which would make us as big a bunch of hypocrits as the Americans in the 60's.

If these kids want to travel all over the world the can earn their keep by joining the Military, instead of having the Government fund their holiday.

Most of those who were in the Peace Corp. were unskilled labourers. The countries they were sent to have no shortage of unskilled workers. What is needed is a plan that recruits young professionals and tradespeople who are in short supply in these places. Civil, electrical and mechanical engineers and all their related techs would be great. Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals as well as teachers and managers. Unfortunately these people are in high demand in developed nations as well and it would be hard to convince many to give up a year or two of their time, especially at the crucial start of a career.

A friend of mine, who is an internist plans on giving three years to doctors without borders after he retires from the military in a few years. He's done time in Afghanistan already and feels that he needs to give more time like that back. He figures, since he'll only be in his 40s he'll have plenty of time to further his career, as he's already established.

Forget it. Make the fund for one free overseas trip for everyone over 55 and put it out for offer again Iggy.
Can't even sell a freakin' giveaway. Jeez we're stuck with Harper again.

You know you love him, or better yet he's the least of all the apparent evils to chose from. We all know Kenmore expresses hostility towards Harper, only because he can't come to terms with his homo erotic feelings for Stevie, and will forever be a 'closet' Conservative.

You want people to 'stay' in Canada, not leave it.

Be a dual-citizen.