Rahim Jaffer (Photo as it appears on http://rahumjaffer.com)

Conservative Party of Canada's Rahim Jaffer, 34, first elected from the province of Alberta to the Canadian Parliament in 1997, believes if his party could win a majority in the January 23 elections, it would reform the immigration system and mend relations with the powerful neighbor to the south. And that's not just an empty election promise, he emphasizes, because he has been working on it for years in the Opposition.

In this 39th election, his party, led by Stephen Harper, is fielding almost the same number of South Asians as the Liberal Party of the beleaguered Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"Since the last election, more and more people have become more familiar with our leader (Stephen Harper), with our party, and many of our policies, and I think that is having a positive impact," Jaffer told News India-Times in an interview.

The issues where he thinks Conservatives have made an impact is getting The Federal Accountability Act, that he thinks will stave off the kind of corruption that the Liberal Party currently stands accused of letting happen. "People would like to see that accountability and ethics restored in the government," he said, signifying the window of opportunity Conservatives are said to have exploited as the Martin government struggles to regain some legitimacy following inquiries that have uncovered scandals relating to alleged misuse of government funds..

"That's something I hear regularly, even from Liberal voters in my riding. Even they are saying we need a change. So that's what is different in this campaign," says Jaffer, whose parents belonged to Kenya and who came to this country when he was 11 years old.

He points to the increasing visibility of Indo-Canadians in the Conservative fold.

"The good thing is that over the years, and especially in the recent past, there's been more and more of a presence of Indo Canadians in various parties and in Ottawa, and they have played significant roles. And I am confident that if we are given the opportunity to serve in the next government of this country, that based on the experience that I've seen from the candidates that are running and the MPs of South Asian background, we are going to have some really excellent representation in the future government.

But he says it was not as if the Conservative Party made a concerted push to rope in South Asians. "But we would have encouraged them to run. We would have encouraged their participation. And I have found over the years because of the work I have been doing, especially building bridges to various communities - that more Canadians from those communities have warmed up to our party. They like our policy - especially on immigration, and on a number of criminal justice issues, tax issues. I think they are becoming more comfortable."

Jaffer, who was one of the ethnic faces that appeared on national TV standing just behind Harper in what analysts figured was the party's effort to appear multi-ethnic, has been a vocal parliamentarian since his first election back in 1993 when hardly any Indo-Canadian was in public office.

He sounded particularly passionate about immigrant policies.

"Our immigration policy is the reason many have shifted to us, the frustration they feel with this government. If you ask anyone that has been dealing with the Immigration Department in the last 15 years, they will tell you the conditions in the department continue to decline. That it is getting more and more difficult to bring people to this country, even for family reunification, let alone, grandparents, or parents reunification. Also, the fees, the process, the security, is almost working against Canadians bringing their families," he complained

"What we've tried to do is focus on the resources in the department and the process to allow for a positive flow of immigration but also facilitate the integration of many of these people coming - because especially in the South Asian community, many people are well educated, they are in professions, and when they come here, what happens is they end up driving taxis or doing menial jobs that don't put their skills to work," Jaffer said, voicing the anger of many South Asians who immigrate to Canada.

"So even when we've actually tried to bring more skilled people into this country, we have failed them when they get here because they can't really integrate into the economy."

Today, he said, 80 percent of his case work as a legislator, is immigration, and it was 50 to 60 percent some 10 years ago. He talked of streamlining the process of bringing skilled immigrants here, of screening them better, of evaluating their foreign degrees, of allowing them to get Canadian-recognized education back in their home countries, and of allowing them to get "Canadian experience" by giving incentives to employers here to hire immigrants.

"We are looking to give significant tax credits to employers to give apprenticeships or even for doctors," he said.

Jaffer also railed against the Liberal Party's occasional confrontational stance with Washington, on issues like softwood lumber where the U.S. has levied high tariffs, and on national security as well as Ottawa's opposition to unilateral action in Iraq.

On the other hand, Conservatives have been accused of pandering to Washington. "Just because you say you want to work with the United States, does not mean you have sold out. You can have a respectful attitude without affecting your sovereignty," Jaffer contended.

"What I disagree with over the last few years by this government, is the attitude they have against the Americans - disrespect. If you really want to have a significant sovereign foreign policy - you can respectfully disagree with our biggest neighbor to the South and not have any consequences as long as you don't put them down or call them names. ...That is unproductive and has become a real albatross around the neck of Canadians," he asserted, promising to do things differently.

"We would make sure, that yes, when we are on the same page with the Americans, and on many issues, we are, then we can get positive results and ensure that our interests are heard. But when we are not on the same page, then we would be able to stare them down and say, look, this is where we fundamentally disagree, but we can try to find consensus but by no means are we going to follow your lead on this. But we can do this in a very respectfully way."

Jaffer hopes he can win this time round as well from a constituency where Asians form a small group. "I always find I have to spend a lot of time in my riding. Even though we have a comfortable win, my victories have never been with as wide a margin my colleagues."