More Than 80% of Newcomers Say Canada Is Bringing in Too Many Immigrants

New Canadian citizens take an oath at a ceremony hosted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at Government House in Halifax on Nov. 20, 2017. Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press

Four in five immigrants to Canada say the country is letting in too many people without adequate planning, according to a new in-depth study.

The Pollara Strategic Insights study was done for CBC News and released on Jan. 8. It surveyed 1,507 newcomers to Canada about their experience and thoughts on Canada’s immigration system.

The new arrivals said they believe immigrants are good for the country, but 82 percent said Canada accepts too many people “with no planning for adequate housing, infrastructure, or having sufficient job opportunities,” according to a Pollara news release.

Broken down by province, 86 percent of those in Alberta said they believe Canada has accepted too many immigrants, and 85 percent of newcomers in Ontario agreed. Just 68 percent of those in Quebec felt the same way.

Nearly nine out of 10 surveyed (89 percent) said Ottawa needs to take steps to better regulate immigration lawyers and consultants to prevent them from taking advantage of immigrants.

Immigrants also said those new to Canada should focus on adopting the country’s cultures and traditions (75 percent), while 88 percent said they have made efforts to adapt to the Canadian way of life.

Additionally, 81 percent said they are satisfied with their life in Canada, but two in five said they would leave if they had the opportunity. Possible reasons, according to the report, are the cost of living and housing as well as recent arrivals longing for their home country and for family or friends left behind.

Younger newcomers are more willing to leave, with 48 percent of those aged 18-29 and 44 percent of those aged 30-39 ready to move. Of those aged 40-19, 32 percent said they would be willing to move out of Canada, compared with 23 percent of those 50 and older, according to the full study, released in November.

Asked whether they would recommend moving to Canada, 66 percent said they would, while 29 percent said they would not.

Two-thirds (67 percent) of survey participants said it costs too much to immigrate to Canada and that they spent more than they expected. Seventy-four percent said only those with money can afford to move to Canada.

Reasons for Dissatisfaction

The study cited several reasons for immigrations’ dissatisfaction with life in Canada, including the cost of housing and the inability to find a job in their field.

While 68 percent said they live in a home suited for their family, that number dropped to 55 percent when affordability was considered. Asked about the cost of living in Canada, just 37 percent said they are satisfied.

Of the majority of immigrants in Canada who are working (72 percent), just 44 percent said they are employed in their field of expertise while 25 percent are not, the survey found. Those in Quebec and Atlantic Canada were the most likely to say they are working in their field.

Those from Southeast Asia (66 percent), Europe (62 percent), and South Asia (61 percent) reported higher satisfaction with getting jobs that fit their background compared with those from Latin America (47 percent), Africa (46 percent), and Middle East and Central Asia (41 percent).

The report found those who are unhappy with life in Canada are unhappy with several aspects of it, including personal finances (87 percent) and social connections (59 percent).

Provincial Breakdown

Newcomers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada reported higher levels of satisfaction (86 percent to 88 percent), compared with 81 percent in Alberta, dropping to 80 percent for immigrants in B.C., and 79 percent in Ontario.

Digging deeper, the study found that 74 percent of newcomers to Toronto are satisfied with their new life, compared with 76 percent in Vancouver and 74 percent in Edmonton. New immigrants living in Winnipeg reported the highest satisfaction levels at 87 percent, followed by Montreal and Calgary at 84 percent, and Saskatoon at 81 percent.

The study noted that newcomers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec have the highest employment rates at 80 percent, 78 percent, 78 percent and 72 percent, respectively. The lowest rate of employment for immigrants is in Alberta at 59 percent.

Ontario saw the highest number of newcomers who reported feeling safe (69 percent), while immigrants to Atlantic provinces reported feeling the least safe, at 57 percent. In Quebec and Alberta, newcomers feel they have more freedom, at 64 percent and 66 percent, respectively.

Those in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Atlantic Canada said they found it easier to build a social circle than those in other regions.