A Realistic Look at the Present Situation
- Stats Canada predicts that by 2031…
South Asians may represent 28% of the population
Chinese will constitute 21%
Canada's Black and Filipino populations, which were the third and fourth largest visible minority groups in 2006, could also double in size.
- The Canadian fertility rate is now at 1.57 children per woman (replacement level is 2.1 births per woman), and our population is inevitably aging.
- By 2030 if recent trends continue, each year Canada will have more deaths than births. As a result the contribution of international migration to Canada's population will (must) increase in the decades to come.
- Between now and 2031, the foreign-born population of Canada could increase approximately four times faster than the rest of the population.
- According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC, 2008b) Calgary continues to be the fourth choice of destination for new immigrants.
- Recent statistics released for permanent residents in the country show that 8.8% of the total immigrants in Canada in the year 2007 selected Alberta as their new home with 4.7% choosing to settle in Calgary.
- Close to half (48.1%) of the Calgary’s population aged 15 years and over were either first or second generation Canadians (Statistics Canada, 2008d, 2008e). This percentage is noticeably higher than provincial or national percentage.
- The number of immigrants arriving each year is exceeded by an even greater number of temporary residents: international students, temporary foreign workers, visitors (can take up to 6 months of training without a student visa), refugee claimants.
- International students can now apply for permanent residency without having to leave the country. The new Off-Campus Work Permit Program for International Students makes it easier to apply.
- In 2008, Alberta led all the other provinces in demographic growth, posting a rate of 0.72%, nearly twice the national rate. The province's growth was partly attributable to a strong increase in its number of non-permanent residents.
- Alberta's rate of growth in non-permanent residents has been the highest of all the provinces since the fourth quarter of 2006.(www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/081219/dq081219b-eng.htm )
- Recent immigrants have been selected on a point system, favoring the highly educated, who have studied English (likely learned from other non-native speakers). On arriving, they are shocked to find themselves disoriented by unwritten cultural assumptions and being unable to understand our spoken English and our idioms.
- If Calgary does not succeed in meeting the challenge of immigration, the negative outcomes may include: increased poverty, social and economic polarization, racism, neighbourhood segregation, school dropout and crime.
- Even with the economic downturn there are ongoing labour force shortages in skilled workers causing serious negative economic spin-offs.
Immigration Categories
Citizenship and Immigration Canada admits people to Canada as permanent residents and as temporary residents.
Permanent Residents are classified as follows:
- Family Class,
- Economic Immigrants, Refugees and
- Refugees and other Immigrants (admitted as Humanitarian and Compassionate Cases).
Economic Immigrants are the largest number (approximately 60%) of permanent residents, while Family reunification makes up just over 25% of the total number of permanent residents admitted to Canada. Each year Canada takes approximately 15% as Refugees and special humanitarian and compassionate cases.
Economic Immigrants are primarily skilled workers with their spouses and dependents. Others are business immigrants which include entrepreneurs and investors along with their spouses and dependents. There are also live-in caregivers and self-employed persons with their spouses and dependents.
In the past few years, in an attempt to address the specific worker needs of Provincial and Territorial economies directly, a new group of Economic Immigrants called Provincial and Territorial Nominees has emerged.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has developed a Point System to assess applications for immigration. Applicants are assessed based on their educational level, language ability in French or English, amount of work experience, and age (21 to 49 is considered the prime working age). They are also assessed on their adaptability. Higher points are given to those applicants who have a spouse with a high educational level, those who have a spouse or other family member who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and to those who have already worked or studied in Canada. Applicants who have arranged employment in Canada also receive higher points.
Temporary Residents are classified as:
- Temporary Foreign Workers,
- Foreign Students,
- Refugee Claimants, and
- Visitors.
Want to learn more about Calgary's immigrants? For more up-to-date information including charts and top immigrant origin countries check out our Immigrants in Calgary Fact Sheet.