In recent years there has been an increase in the number of immigrants leaving Canada. A new study shows a record number of immigrants left Canada between 2016 and 2019. The study emphasized the need for the government to prioritize retention of newcomers as a means of improving the country’s economy.
The report, conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, shows that the number of immigrants leaving Canada has been increasing slowly for decades but suddenly increased in 2017 and 2019. Recent data suggests so.
The report also found that the risk of onward migration is particularly high between four and seven years after arriving in Canada.
According to the survey, an average of 9.9 percent of people who were granted permanent residency in 1982 or later leave Canada each year. In 2019, it increased to 1.18 percent.
In terms of actual numbers, the report’s researchers said during an Oct. 31 press conference, about 67,000 people have left Canada. In 2019 and 2017, this number was about 60 thousand. The study also highlighted that the tendency of migrants to leave the country has generally been increasing since the 1990s.
The report also emphasizes the potential consequences of not meeting the expectations of newcomers to Canada who are struggling with challenges such as declining housing affordability, a cramped health care system and underemployment issues, among others.
Daniel Bernhardt, CEO of the Institute on Canadian Citizenship, said, ‘As Canada increasingly relies on immigrants to fill acute shortages in critical sectors such as housing and health care, their ability to retain them becomes a critical issue in our national interest.’
“Simply put,” he added, “if Canada can’t facilitate newcomers and help them become Canadians in their passports and in their minds, we may soon be talking about our past prosperity.”
“Canada’s future prosperity depends on immigration,” said Stephane Fournier, executive director of the Conference Board of Canada. Our research in this area shows that migration is associated with economic growth. Even less immigration creates a labor shortage that increases inflation. But our research shows that attracting immigrants is only one part of the equation, retaining them once they come to Canada.”
