Millions of people from around the world have chosen to settle in Canada and continue to do so today. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, almost a quarter (23.0%) of the population, were or had ever been landed immigrants or permanent residents in Canada. This was the highest proportion since 1921, as well as the highest proportion among G7 countries.
But why does Canada invest so much in immigration? What do the new measures of Trudeau’s executive actually offer and who can come and settle freely in Canada?
While European democracies are closing in on themselves, on the other side of the Atlantic, Canada is adopting a diametrically opposed policy. The Liberal executive led by Justin Trudeau has said it wants to put immigration at the center of its policy.
Canada, the second largest country in the world, has a population of only 40 million. Indeed, this country has been facing a serious shortage of manpower which is paralyzing the development of the country. According to the government, as Canada’s population continues to age and fertility is below population replacement level, immigration is currently the main driver of population growth. If these trends continue, according to recent population projections from Statistics Canada, immigrants could represent 29% to 34% of Canada’s population by 2041.
But despite growing labor shortages in the world’s wealthiest countries, despite population aging jeopardizing long-term social programs, few states are turning to immigration to face these challenges, especially for political reasons. If Europe seems to prefer the safety approach, Canada sees immigration as a precious resource synonymous with prosperity. An example of the gap between these countries could be summed up in a simple fact: when at international immigration summits, Canada sends its Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, European countries send their Ministers of the Interior ( the American equivalent of the United States Secretary of the Interior).
But this approach is not only a government’s will, Canadians are in favor of this policy and recognize ethnocultural and religious diversity as an asset. According to the 2020 General Social Survey, 92.0% of the population aged 15 and over agreed that ethnic or cultural diversity is a Canadian value.
This favorable approach is strictly linked to the long history of immigration that this country has known and continues to know.
From the end of the 19th century, Canada devoted great importance to immigration. The first step towards immigration regulation dates back to 1869, when the first laws and regulations governing the admission of immigrants to Canada were introduced. Immigration law then evolved and changed over time, shaped by the changing social, political, and economic climate, as well as prevailing beliefs about ethnicity, desirability, and integration. The “Open Door” approach that marked the end of the 19th century gradually gave way to more restrictive and discriminatory measures. Discrimination remained present in Canadian immigration policy until the second half of the 20th century, when, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, immigration policies were significantly overhauled. After extensive consultations, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau – Justin’s father – passed the new Immigration Act of 1976. The law, which came into effect in 1978, was a radical break with the past. It established for the first time the main objectives of Canada’s immigration policy: which included the promotion of Canada’s demographic, economic, social and cultural objectives, as well as priorities for family reunification, diversity and non-discrimination. Among other things, the Act authorized federal agencies to cooperate with the voluntary sector to help newcomers better adapt to Canadian society. This act also defined refugees as a distinct group of immigrants in Canadian law, obliging the government to meet its obligations to refugees under international agreements.
A selective immigration
Even if the objective of 500,000 new migrants per year is demanding, Canada does not intend to soften its selection criteria. Today, skills and education have become the primary criteria for determining entry to Canada.
To be admitted to Canada, you must belong to one of four categories of immigrants: independent (persons who submit their own application); humanitarian (refugees and other persecuted or displaced persons); family (having immediate family already living in Canada or being sponsored by a family member in Canada); and economic (people with highly desirable job skills or those who are ready to open a business or invest significantly in the Canadian economy). The government’s wish is, unsurprisingly, to favor this last class of migrants. Migrants selected for their ability to contribute to the Canadian economy through their ability to meet labor needs, own and manage or establish a business, invest a significant amount of money or create their own job. In addition, to apply for permanent residence, a skilled worker must create a profile, choose a program, and meet the eligibility criteria: language skills, education, age, work experience, income, job offer, etc. His skills give him points. If the total points are deemed sufficient, his application is placed in a pool of candidates for immigration. He could receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency, depending on his score and ranking in the pool.
But a few criticisms remain
The plan proposed by the Ottawa executive has sparked fears among Quebec politicians, who say the changes would reduce the province’s influence in the country and make it harder to protect the French. Quebec provincial deputies recently passed a motion declaring Canada’s plan – to welcome 500,000 permanent immigrants per year by 2025 – incompatible with the protection of French in Quebec. The motion also stipulates “that it is up to Quebec alone to make its own choices” in terms of immigration.
On the other hand, NGOs and migrant associations argue that the government is doing too little and that it only volunteers with selected immigrants. One of the practices these groups most vigorously contest is the practice of allowing migrants to enter one country on a travel visa and claim refugee status at the border of the other through the Canada-States Agreement, an illegal practice in Canada since 2004.
Massenzio Marè
Image: New Canadians wave their new national flag during a citizenship ceremony in Toronto. Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star/Getty Images