Bait-and-Switch: Canada’s Immigration Retention Problem

Introduction

Over the last few decades, thousands of individuals from all over the world have chosen to call Canada “home,” envisioning it as a nation of opportunity, prosperity, and a new life. In 2022 alone, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants, a prominent record in the nation’s history [1]. However, while immigration rates are rapidly increasing, emigration rates appear to be rising simultaneously. A recent report titled “The Leaky Bucket: A Study of Immigrant Retention Trends in Canada” by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) for the Conference Board of Canada found that onward migration – defined as immigrants leaving their destination country for another – surpassed historical averages in 2017 and 2019 [2].

This information sheds light on the reality of new life in Canada. Some refer to it as a “battle for survival” [3], while others view it as “falling out of love” with the nation [4]. This rarely addressed truth raises important questions: If Canada is a dream for those hoping for a better future, then why is there a lack of retention among immigrants? What reasons make them leave, and why now more than before? What can be done better to improve the current experience for new immigrants? In this informative article, we aim to present the current landscape encompassing emigration and onward migration in Canada alongside important health-based considerations related to social determinants such as social support, employment and labour opportunities, and economic stability. We emphasize the large implications associated with this issue and call for greater holistic public health policy solutions aimed at addressing immigrants’ needs.

Background and the Social Determinants of Health

The decision to migrate is complex and influenced by a wide range of push and pull factors that determine whether individuals opt to stay in their origin countries or are attracted to new destinations. Immigrants from the Global South are primarily drawn to Canada in search of a “better life,” an aspiration that aligns with improvements within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) social determinants of health. These determinants are the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health. In other words, they are the non-biological factors that are widely recognized within global health as affecting health to a greater extent than biomedical causes [5]. Factors such as education and employment opportunities, a safe and secure environment, access to health services, and social inclusion, among many others, not only influence health outcomes and wellbeing, but also affect the decision to immigrate [5]. In the case of onward migrants, there are various conditions where these factors interact and negatively shape a vision for a sustainable future in Canada, thereby contributing to many individuals leaving the country.

Reception

Canada’s approach to fostering cultural diversity is often represented through the metaphor of a “mosaic,” wherein various groups coexist within society [6]. This approach differs greatly from other nations, such as the United States, which takes a cultural “melting pot” approach in favour of assimilation [6]. Nonetheless, while Canada’s intentions of celebrating diversity seemingly encourage immigrants to embrace their cultural practices, values, and traditions, immigrant experiences have shown that this is not always the case. Researchers have emphasized the barriers that immigrants face, such as racism and discrimination, which in turn impact their mental health, sense of belonging, and overall social integration [7]. These systemic issues therefore not only impede immigrants’ initial experiences in Canada, but also build up over time, negatively influencing health and wellbeing and affecting the decision to resettle.

“Researchers have emphasized the barriers that immigrants face, such as racism and discrimination, which in turn impact their mental health, sense of belonging, and overall social integration”

Employment

Despite Canada claiming to recruit a vast number of migrants to address the labour gap, high levels of unemployment and a shortage of high-wage work opportunities remain. Immigrants report challenges related to career setbacks due to provincial accreditation issues, leaving them to settle for lower-paying jobs in industries they are not educated or trained in. Such barriers are rooted in various issues such as implicit bias, discriminatory practices, unfamiliarity with foreign degrees, and/or perceptions of inadequacy or irrelevancy with international education and experience [9,10]. Therefore, the lack of employment opportunities and economic integration negatively impacts migrants’ working conditions, satisfaction, and ultimately, quality of life [11]. As a result, these factors likely play a role in shaping the decision for onward migrants to leave Canada.

Cost of Living

In early 2023, an article in the Toronto Star reported the “state of shock” that immigrants experienced upon their arrival [12]. The high cost of living, encompassing expenses like housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, and entertainment, puts newcomers in very difficult situations when it comes to building a sustainable future. In turn, individuals are often left with no choice but to pay high costs for homeownership and daily living expenses, leaving less money for savings and discretionary spending. As a result, these cost of living crises disproportionately impact vulnerable groups such as racialized communities and newcomers, leading to unhealthy habits and conditions such as poor nutrition and mental health [13]. Thus, not only does a high cost of living affect health and well-being, but also deters immigrants from remaining in Canada.

Permanent Residence and Citizenship

Given these unsuitable conditions for immigrants upon their arrival, finding a full-time, well-paying, and sustainable job often proves to be difficult. As a result, many fail to meet the 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience required for permanent residence eligibility. Yet, even individuals who acquire permanent residence status do not have a guaranteed path to citizenship and a secure future in Canada. Data from the 2021 Census shows that only 45.7% of permanent residents became Canadian citizens within 10 years. This statistic represents an alarming 40% decline in citizenship uptake in the past 20 years [2], suggesting a reason for the growing presence of onward migration.

“Data from the 2021 Census shows that only 45.7% of permanent residents became Canadian citizens within 10 years.”

Impact and Implications

Altogether, the lower standards of living and quality of life bring attention to the reality of living as an immigrant in Canada. This difficult truth refutes Canada’s reputation as a safe haven, which may be affecting the changing migration patterns. These trends present alarming social and economic implications for Canada's growth. Socially, the challenges that immigrants face are deeply entrenched in systemic structures. Present barriers such as racism, discrimination, and exclusion suggest that immigrant populations do not feel welcome, nor compelled, to build their future in Canada. Addressing these widespread issues is important not only to change future migration patterns, but to improve experiences of other marginalized groups in the country. Economically, immigration is a key part of Canada’s labour strategy. With slowing population growth and an ageing population, immigrants play a key role in boosting the economy by filling gaps left by many Canadian-born workers and forming the backbone of many critical sectors like healthcare [14]. Though depending on immigrant labour is a temporary and often exploitative strategy [see 15], the declining retention of immigrants places many essential industries at risk and negatively impacts long-term economic sustainability.

Next Steps

To create evidence-informed policy, greater research into onward migration is critical. Current research on onward migration is extremely limited, hindering comprehensive understanding of the landscape and its implications. Particularly, employing qualitative approaches to examine firsthand perspectives of immigrant experiences, including those who are leaving Canada and their reasons for leaving, are crucial for contextualizing statistics and developing effective immigration retention strategies. Given the heterogeneity of immigrant experiences, collecting demographic information to see if specific communities are more affected by onward migration is important for identifying cultural trends and potential disparities within the phenomenon. Furthermore, the federal government must look toward adopting holistic solutions that go beyond simply attracting migrants, with a key focus on improving quality of life and health by addressing the social determinants of health outlined above. This approach would not only improve health outcomes but would also increase the retention of this integral group.

Overall, while Canada as a nation prides itself on its multiculturalism, its immigration strategy represents a bait-and-switch tactic: a promise of a better life compromised by a grim reality upon arrival. Greater care must be put towards how immigrants are being retained, supported, and integrated into society. Ensuring these individuals have adequate support and incentives to stay in the country is essential for Canada’s economic growth, addressing labour shortages, and ensuring that the government is accountable for its responsibility to provide a sustainable, high quality of life for all.

Chloe Panganiban (she/her) is a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. Her programs of study include a Specialist in Global Health and minors in Science and Society. Her research focuses primarily on migration, mobility, health, and well-being.

Maarib Kirmani Haseeb (she/her) is a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto pursuing a double major in Psychology & Health Studies and minor in Political Science. Her research interests lie in migrant health & human rights and youth mental health.

References

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[2] Dennler, K. The Leaky Bucket: A Study of Immigrant Retention Trends in Canada. Institute for Canadian Citizenship. The Conference Board of Canada. https://inclusion.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/print_the-leaky-bucket_2023.pdf (2023).

[3] Lone, W. Canada’s surging cost of living fuels reverse immigration. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadas-surging-cost-living-fuels-reverse-immigration-2023-12-09/ (2023).

[4] Newcomers falling out of love with Canadian citizenship. Institute for Canadian Citizenship https://inclusion.ca/article/newcomers-falling-out-of-love-with-canadian-citizenship/ (2023).

[5] Social determinants of health. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1.

[6] Schneider, H. CANADA: A MOSAIC, NOT A MELTING POT. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/07/05/canada-a-mosaic-not-a-melting-pot/8a4998ed-b04b-491e-b72e-1ef4d8e96d84/ (1998).

[7] Fung K, Guzder J. Canadian Immigrant Mental Health. in: Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Migration, (eds. Moussaoui, D, Bhugra, D, Tribe, R, & Ventriglio, A). (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2366-8_11 (Springer, 2021)

[8] Beiser, M. The Health of Immigrants and Refugees in Canada. Can J Public Health 96(2), S30–44 (2005).

[9] Houle, R, & Yssaad, L. Recognition of newcomers’ foreign credentials and work experience. Perspectives (75), 18–33 (2010).

[10] Building a Corporate Ladder for All. TRIEC. https://triec.ca/research-and-insights/immadvancement/

[11] Berry, JW, & Hou, F. Immigrant acculturation and wellbeing across generations and settlement contexts in Canada. Int Rev Psychiatry 33(1–2), 140–153 (2021).

[12] Alsharif, G. ‘State of shock’: As Canada ramps up immigration, unsuspecting newcomers are running into inflation shock from soaring prices. Toronto Star https://www.thestar.com/business/state-of-shock-as-canada-ramps-up-immigration-unsuspecting-newcomers-are-running-into-inflation-shock/article_cb274d89-56da-50e5-afc7-b5bab319c390.html (2023).

[13] Kilfoyle, M. How is the cost of living crisis affecting public health?. Economics Observatory. https://www.economicsobservatory.com/how-is-the-cost-of-living-crisis-affecting-public-health (2023).

[14] ImmigrationMatters: Canada’s immigration track record. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/immigration-matters/track-record.html (2018).

[15] Migrant Workers - the issues. Canadian Council for Refugees. https://ccrweb.ca/en/migrant-workers-issues