I’ve been talking about how immigration is an important aspect to finding a solution for the situation whereby our population has become top-heavy with senior citizens and less represented by productive wage-earning taxpayers. We need more people in the country if we’re to continue supporting and maintaining our social security net in Canada. Health care and pension costs are rising, yet there’s fewer people around to pay into these programs, putting the entire system at risk.
That said, my investigation into the benefits of immigration revealed to me something that caught me by surprise somewhat: that a large number of immigrants, once accepted by Canada and living among us as fellow Canadians, will leave Canada, mostly for the the United States, but also return home, sometimes not long after arriving here, and sometimes after twenty years has passed.
So what gives? Why would a person invest everything they had to make a difficult journey to a new country in the hope of a better life, only to leave that country once arrived? Is it the allure of something better somewhere else? Is it something as basic and as common as home-sickness? Or is it part of a realization that life in Canada, while good comparative to the rest of the world, can still be difficult for an immigrant, especially one with a different language, ethnic background, and cultural and religious practices.
Whatever the reason, the fact remains that more and more immigrants are leaving Canada. That can’t be a good situation, either for the immigrants or for Canada.
Immigrants may leave Canada for various reasons, just as people from any country might decide to relocate.
Maybe there’s the possibility of better or more economic opportunities elsewhere. Immigrants often come to Canada in search of better job opportunities and economic stability. But honestly, if they don’t find suitable employment or face difficulties in their chosen field, they might consider moving elsewhere to improve their financial prospects. When you think of the number of trained immigrant doctors driving taxis or Ubers or delivering parcels and pizzas, you can get a sense of the level of frustration that must exist within such a person, especially in the face of a doctor shortage here in Canada. The solutions to this aren’t easy. Immigrant doctors, while having an education and training, have for the most part credentials from universities that don’t have the professional reputation that western schools have, so it calls into question whether they’re “qualified” to serve in a western hospital, at least without some form of additional training. For someone who has already spent years in school, it’s a big ask to expect that same person to return to school just to qualify to work in a Canadian hospital, not to mention the high costs associated with this additional qualification. And how does one pay the bills when going back to school? Honestly, it’s just a very difficult scenario for an immigrant to face, and while some work their asses off to make it work, others throw up their hands and wonder why they bothered coming to Canada in the first place. Maybe the solution is to sneak across the border into the United States and try your luck in the so-called land of opportunity.
There would also be family and social reasons for leaving. Family considerations, such as reuniting with relatives or supporting family members back in their home countries, can lead immigrants to leave Canada. Additionally, issues related to cultural integration, social isolation, or not feeling a sense of belonging can influence someone’s decision to move. It’s tough being in a new place and maybe even sticking out, so those barriers to integration probably play a huge role in any decision to stay. Not to mention the very real circumstances of being faced with racism, either casual or aggressively overt, that can have a devastating effect on a person. After being told to “go home” or “go back where you came from” often enough, you probably feel like going home or just going back to where you came from. It sucks that racism actually does work, that it’s actually effective, but as sad as that is, it remains true.
There are also immigrants who might intend to stay in Canada temporarily, either to gain work experience or education, but then return to their home country to contribute or be closer to family. Also, as with everyone else, life happens and things can change, and those changes might be things having to do with family or circumstances back home. Things that may require your presence or intervention. A sick family member, a death in the family that changes the lives of the people remaining, a family business with no leadership, environmental or political tragedy, these are all things that can result in an immigrant suspending their stay in Canada and returning home.
Is it possible that quality of life can be a reason for an immigrant to leave? In Canada? While Canada is known for its high quality of life, hell it’s regularly ranked as being one of the best places in the world to live, even with this, some immigrants might find that certain aspects of life, such as climate, cost of living, or personal preferences, are not aligned with their expectations or desires. Also, if you’re being treated like dirt because of your accent or skin colour, what does it matter what the United Nations says about the best countries in the world? The best country in the world is the one you feel home in, accepted in. If existing citizens are making life tough for you or for your family, who cares where Canada ranks? Plus, there’s always Norway.
It may be that career and educational opportunities may exist elsewhere, other than in Canada, and immigrants, like any Canadians, have the right to pursue those opportunities wherever they may present themselves. Immigrants who initially came to Canada for education might decide to leave after completing their studies if they receive attractive job offers or educational opportunities in other countries. This actually happens quite a bit, with the United States being the main destination after a stay in Canada.
In Canada, it seems you need references for everything, but especially so for employment and even for housing. When you’re new to a country, where do you get these references from? I mean, you have to get started somewhere, right, but it’s tough at the beginning because the only experiences you have, and the only possible references, might be people back in the home country. And that’s just not going to cut it for a lot of prospective employers or landlords. Also, when seeking out employment and shelter, immigrants are often faced with discrimination, language barriers, or other social issues that make them possibly reconsider their decision to stay.
Policy changes with respect to immigration, both here and elsewhere, can lead to people leaving Canada after successfully arriving. If Canada enacts policies that make things more difficult for immigrants, or if another country offers more favourable immigration policies, immigrants might choose to move to the place that offers greater advantages.
Have you ever experienced a Canadian winter? Because if you haven’t, it might come as a big shock, especially if you come from a place that’s more tropical or sub-tropical in climate. Forty centimetres of snow in the driveway or temperatures dropping well below freezing might be too much to handle for recent immigrants, prompting them to seek out places that aren’t so extreme during the winter season.
So, as important as immigrants are to the health of the nation, and as significant a role they play in helping to drive the national, provincial, and local economies, simply being in Canada does not guarantee lifelong happiness and security. It may well be that another place may offer better and more positive opportunities. Immigrants, of course, would not be the only people seeking out a better deal for themselves and their families.
As for Canada, it appears the challenge doesn’t stop with getting immigrants to come to Canada in the first place, it continues to be a challenge to keep them here once they arrive.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 