It’s comeback time for immigrants in Canada

“The number of immigrants who left Canada between 2017 and 2019 was a staggering 31 percent above the historical average.”

According to a new study from Statistics Canada, about 17.5 percent of immigrants who arrived in Canada between 1982 and 2017 ended up emigrating from the country within 20 years of landing on these shores, reported indianexpress.com. The study noted that the likelihood of leaving was higher between three and seven years after arrival.

“This period may reflect the time immigrants spend trying to integrate into Canada by seeking employment, finding a place to live, and adapting to life in Canada. Some immigrants may also emigrate if they encounter challenges in integration or if they had intended to do so from the outset,” the StatsCan report said.

It further stated that immigrants from certain countries were more likely to migrate again. More than 25% of immigrants born in Taiwan, the United States, France, Hong Kong, or Lebanon emigrated within 20 years of admission. On the other hand, the report noted that emigration by people from India was lower.

The study is based on data until 2017. While the influx of immigrants from India to Canada has significantly increased, recently – at least anecdotally – a number of Indians are choosing to return home or move to other countries.

This aligned with another study last year by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, which showed that newcomers were emigrating in search of better opportunities elsewhere.  That study revealed that the number of immigrants who left Canada between 2017 and 2019 was a staggering 31 percent above the historical average.

While the influx of immigrants from India to Canada has significantly increased, recently – at least anecdotally – a number of Indians are choosing to return home or move to other countries

The institute’s CEO, Daniel Bernhard, said it was a major cause of concern for Canada, which heavily relies on immigration to grow its population and widen the tax base. “If we don’t shift our mindset, we will never solve these problems,” he was quoted as saying by Global News. “What immigrants are telling us is actually, maybe you’re not as hot as you think.”

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