Canada has earned a strong reputation over the past 50 years for embracing immigrants and promoting multiculturalism. Nearly one-quarter of the country’s population is made up of people born abroad, marking the highest proportion in over 150 years and one of the highest among Western industrialized nations. Immigrants have played a key role in addressing Canada's aging population and boosting its economy. However, some Canadians have voiced concerns about the increasing pressure on housing and social services.
Over the past decade, Canada has grown increasingly attractive to immigrants, particularly following the stricter U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump, which greatly limited access to the United States. Although President Joe Biden has reversed many of those policies, his administration has collaborated with the Canadian government to reduce the number of refugees and asylum seekers crossing the northern U.S. border into Canada. Simultaneously, Canada is grappling with a prolonged labor shortage, worsened by a lack of skilled workers. Its immigration system also faces various challenges, including a rise in asylum claims, increased deportations, and labor exploitation of temporary visa holders.
Historical Role of Immigration in Canada
Immigration has been essential in shaping Canadian society and culture, but it hasn’t always been inclusive. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Canadian policies often excluded or discouraged certain groups, including those from non-European or non-Christian backgrounds, as well as the poor, ill, and disabled. The postwar period saw a shift as Europe faced mass displacement, leading to more open attitudes towards immigrants and an increased need for a larger workforce. Cold War dynamics also affected Canadian policies, favoring immigrants from anti-Communist and Soviet-bloc countries.
Significant changes occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, laying the foundation for Canada’s current immigration system, which embraces multiculturalism. In 1967, Canada introduced a points-based system to assess applicants, resulting in a rise in immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The 1971 policy marked a commitment to cultural diversity, and the 1976 legislation underscored Canada’s dedication to refugees, requiring collaboration between federal and provincial officials to set immigration targets. This legislation also positioned immigration as a means to achieve the country’s cultural, economic, and social goals.
Immigration has long been crucial to Canada’s economy by providing a younger workforce. As the native-born labor force ages and the fertility rate remains low—around 1.3 births per woman, compared to the global average of 2.4—immigrants have become increasingly important. Despite some improvements by mid-2023, Canada still faces a significant shortage of skilled labor across various sectors.
Canadian Views on Immigration
Canadians have generally held positive views on immigration for many years. However, recent trends show a slight shift as increasing migration has raised concerns about affordability and housing. A 2023 survey by the Environics Institute found that 44% of Canadians felt there was too much immigration, an increase from 27% the previous year.
Despite these concerns, Canadians still tend to view both immigrants and the immigration system more favorably compared to Americans. This positive outlook is partly due to Canada's commitment to multiculturalism and diversity as core elements of its national identity. Additionally, Canada does not experience large-scale unauthorized migration, which has been a source of backlash in other countries, including the U.S. Nonetheless, public support for immigration could waver, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where Do Canadian Immigrants Come From and Where Do They Live?
In 2022, Canada welcomed over 437,000 new permanent residents, and preliminary data for 2023 indicates that this number exceeded 471,000, marking the highest number of new arrivals in a single year. The largest groups of new immigrants in 2022 came from India, China, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The current Canadian government plans to continue increasing immigration levels, aiming to admit 500,000 new permanent residents annually by 2025. After reaching this target, Ottawa intends to stabilize immigration numbers.
Ontario has traditionally been the top destination for immigrants in Canada. From 2016 to 2021, the province welcomed 44 percent of all new permanent residents, with most of these individuals settling in and around Toronto, Canada’s largest city.
How the Canadian Immigration Process Works?
Canada admits new permanent residents through four main categories. In 2022, the breakdown was as follows: 58 percent entered through economic pathways, 22 percent through family sponsorship, 17 percent as refugees and protected persons, and 2 percent for humanitarian or other reasons.
Economic Pathways:
Canada’s economic immigration system is highly regarded internationally. The federal government offers various economic programs, most of which are managed through the Express Entry system. This point-based system favors younger candidates with job offers, high education levels, work experience, and strong language skills in English or French. About every two weeks, the government invites the top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residency. This process, which includes language tests and biometric screening, is detailed and costly. Most applicants receive a decision within six months. Recently, the Express Entry program has lowered the minimum score required for applicants to sixty-seven, down from the previous threshold of seventy-five.
Other Immigration Pathways in Canada
In addition to economic pathways, Canada offers various other immigration routes:
1. Regional Economic Programs: This includes the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which represented about 35 percent of economic admissions in 2022. Through the PNP and similar programs specific to Quebec, individuals apply to individual provinces, which select candidates who meet their specific economic needs. The federal government must approve immigrants nominated by provinces, but most of them are granted permanent residency.
2. Family Sponsorship: This pathway allows Canadian permanent residents to sponsor their spouses, partners, and children to join them in Canada. Applicants must apply to sponsor their relatives, who must also seek permanent residency. Same-sex couples are recognized for this program, even if they are not legally married, provided they can show evidence of a long-term relationship. Occasionally, the government prioritizes family reunification applications for individuals from conflict zones, such as Afghanistan and Ukraine.
3. Refugees and Protected Persons: Canada has been a leading country in resettling refugees, welcoming over 47,000 in 2022, primarily from Africa and the Middle East—a 133 percent increase from the previous year. Refugees are categorized as either government-assisted or privately sponsored. Government-assisted refugees are referred by the UN refugee agency and receive government support during their transition. Privately sponsored refugees, who make up about half of the resettled refugees, are brought to Canada by approved citizens and organizations that take on legal and financial responsibility for them. Refugees cannot apply directly for resettlement; they are selected through a rigorous screening process and typically arrive in Canada with permanent resident status.
4. Humanitarian and Other Grounds: Canada also grants permanent residency to a limited number of individuals based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. This includes cases where applicants face severe hardships if returned to their home countries. To apply under this category, individuals must first receive permission. Canadian officials consider various factors, such as the applicants' ties to Canada and the potential difficulties they would face if not admitted.
Canada’s Policy on Asylum Seekers
Canada is generally known for its openness to asylum seekers, who often flee conditions similar to those faced by resettled refugees but do not have government approval before arriving in the country.
Asylum seekers can make their claims at any border crossing, airport, or designated government office within Canada. In 2022, nearly 40,000 asylum seekers entered Canada between official ports of entry without authorization, a significant increase from the previous year. This rise is likely due to worsening conditions in migrants' home countries and the easing of pandemic-related travel and border restrictions. The process to determine protected status can take up to two years. Once granted, most asylum seekers can immediately apply for permanent residency. In some cases, unsuccessful asylum seekers might qualify for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds.
Critics, including some immigrants who entered Canada through standard immigration channels, argue that asylum seekers can "jump the queue" and enter through what they perceive as "backdoor immigration." While their claims are being processed, asylum seekers receive health care and may also receive housing assistance, social welfare, and work rights. Although the government generally avoids deporting failed asylum claimants, some do remain in Canada illegally. In 2022, Canada deported over 8,500 individuals, averaging about 23 deportations per day.
How Immigrants Adjust to Life in Canada?
Canada offers extensive support to help immigrants adjust to life in the country. The federal government invests a significant portion of its immigration budget—about three-quarters—into settlement programs. These programs include orientation, skills training, social services, and pathways to citizenship, which contribute to Canada's reputation as a highly desirable destination for immigrants. As a result, many immigrants achieve high levels of satisfaction and integration, with some reaching prominent positions, including roles in the prime minister’s cabinet.
Despite these efforts, immigrants often face challenges compared to native-born Canadians. Even though economic disparities between immigrants and native-born Canadians have lessened over time, many immigrants still face challenges in finding jobs that match their skills and qualifications. According to Daniel Hiebert, a professor at the University of British Columbia who has advised on Canadian immigration, "Immigrants do have to work incredibly hard to find their footing in the Canadian economy, especially those who face language barriers."
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programs
Canada operates several temporary foreign worker programs designed to meet specific industry needs and support the country’s economic and cultural development. In 2022, Canada issued 604,382 new temporary work permits, covering a range of roles from agricultural laborers and in-home caregivers to highly skilled professionals. Beginning in 2024, the government will start placing limits on the number of temporary foreign workers admitted to Canada for the first time.
The temporary foreign worker system generally involves two main pathways:
1. International Mobility Program (IMP): This program provides work visas to foreigners who meet broad criteria. Employers can hire these workers without first considering Canadian applicants. However, some visa holders may face restrictions on the type of work or the locations where they can work.
2. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): This program allows businesses that are unable to find suitable employees domestically to recruit from abroad. All foreign workers under this program receive labor protections, and their workplaces are subject to government inspections to prevent mistreatment. Despite these measures, the system has faced issues with abuse and corruption, partly due to inadequate government oversight and the fact that work permits often tie workers to a single employer. These issues were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The length of time foreign workers can stay in Canada varies. While some skilled temporary workers may eventually become permanent residents, low-wage laborers generally do not have this opportunity..
Challenges of Illegal Immigration in Canada
Canada’s geographic features and its well-regulated immigration system, including stringent visitor-visa requirements, have helped the country manage undocumented immigration. Estimates suggest that between 300,000 and 600,000 undocumented individuals reside in Canada. To address this, the government announced in 2023 a plan to offer certain undocumented workers a pathway to citizenship, aligning with its broader immigration targets.
Despite this, a survey by Canadian polling firm Leger showed that over half of Canadians think the goal of admitting 500,000 new immigrants each year is too high. Additionally, 75 percent of respondents are concerned that increased immigration could lead to greater demand for housing and social services. In response, some Canadian cities have adopted sanctuary-city policies and "access without fear" initiatives, which limit cooperation between local police and immigration authorities and ensure that undocumented individuals can access public services. Furthermore, enforcement of laws against hiring undocumented workers by Canadian businesses is rare.
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