Canada Immigration Update From Ontario, British Columbia & Alberta

While the Canadian provinces are large and varied, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario stand out as examples of successful immigrant retention. As the country accepts people from all over the world, these provinces have distinguished themselves by drawing immigrants and, more importantly, by making sure that those who arrive do so permanently.

Their status as leaders in immigrant retention has been largely attributed to the complex interplay of economic possibilities, social integration, and collective support. In this investigation, we examine the distinctive elements that have placed British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario at the forefront of promoting a sense of belonging among immigrants.

Canada Immigration

Statistics Canada’s provincial variance in the retention rates of immigrants 2022 study, released on February 14 this year, shows that Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta did the greatest job of any province in keeping their immigrants who came to Canada between 2012 and 2016.

Immigrants who settled in such provinces, according to the Statistical and Demographic Services Agency, enjoy their time there so much that they stay for at least five years. The majority of immigrants accepted between 2012 and 2016 who planned to live in British Columbia, Ontario, or Alberta did so for five years following their entrance.

Note Statistics Canada

In particular, the 5-year retention rates for immigrants who were admitted in 2016 were 84.5% in Alberta, 87.3% in British Columbia, and 83.1% in Ontario. The 5-year retention rate for the 2016 entry cohort in Quebec was 81%.

With the introduction of the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), which was first implemented as a pilot project in 2017, the Atlantic Canadian provinces—which have historically had some of the lowest immigrant retention rates in the nation—saw a noticeable improvement in their one-year retention rate.

Even though public health and travel restrictions significantly decreased the number of new permanent residents entering Canada in the early stages of the pandemic, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic nevertheless negatively impacted the retention rates in the Atlantic provinces. In general, the skilled immigrant retention rate for the 2020 admission cohort after a year in the Atlantic provinces was greater than it was before the AIP was introduced.

The province with the biggest gain in skilled immigrant retention was Nova Scotia, where it went from 21.5% for the 2016 cohort to 63.9% for the 2020 cohort, a 42.4 percentage point increase. When comparing immigrants who came to New Brunswick in 2020 to those who arrived four years earlier during that time, the province’s one-year retention percentage improved, going from 50 to 65.8%.

The skilled immigrant retention rate in Newfoundland and Labrador increased from 31.3% to 50% in just one year. Retention rate on Prince Edward Island increased from 10% to 40%. From 2017 to 2018, all of the Atlantic provinces saw a minor decrease in the retention of skilled immigrants accepted in 2020 as compared to the admission cohort of 2019, except Prince Edward Island.

Note Statistics Canada

Additionally, among immigrants who came to the Atlantic area in 2016, Canada’s 5-year retention rates improved. The 5-year retention rate for immigrants admitted in 2016 saw an increase in both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. After remaining largely constant for immigrants accepted from 2012 to 2015, New Brunswick achieved its highest 5-year retention rate for those admitted in 2016.

Atlantic Canada’s retention rates are rising. According to the report, Prince Edward Island had the lowest retention rate among immigrants admitted in Canada in 2016 at 30.9%; nevertheless, this figure was 5.7 percentage points better than that of the 2012 cohort.

The five-year provincial immigrant retention rate for Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador was 25.2% throughout that time, showing comparatively consistent trends.

The majority of provinces and territories showed a decrease in their 5-year retention rates for immigrants admitted between 2012 and 2016, with notable exceptions, like British Columbia and Ontario. The territories and the Prairie Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba saw the biggest declines in the 5-year retention rate of immigrants.

Statistics Canada Report

In Saskatchewan, the 5-year retention rate decreased from 72.2% in the 2012 entrance cohort to 57.9% in the 2016 cohort, a decrease of 14.3 percentage points. The 5-year retention rate in Manitoba decreased by 11 percentage points, from 75.1% for immigrants admitted in 2012 to 64.1% for those admitted in 2016.

Statistics Canada released data earlier this year from its longitudinal immigration database, showing that 82.5% of immigrants to Canada stayed in the nation for 20 years after arriving. A multitude of factors influence the decision of individuals who immigrate to Canada to leave, such as employment prospects inside the country, fluency in French or English, age at arrival, and events occurring in their home country.

When a loved one passes away back home, a lot of immigrants depart Canada; nevertheless, the majority of those who decide to go do so within the first few years after arriving. The likelihood of immigration is that newcomers are far more likely to do so in the initial years following admission.

Further Report

Most immigrants who depart Canada do so within the first five years of their arrival. The likelihood of immigration increases annually between three and seven years after admission, peaking at about 1.4% in the fourth and fifth years following admission.

After that, there is a continuous decline in the annual chance of immigration, staying between 0.6 and 0.7%. Canada offers a two-tier immigration system that enables foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency through the Federal Express Entry system, the Federal Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program, and the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

Immigrants can apply online for permanent residency in any of the ten Canadian provinces covered by the Express Entry program. Their profiles are then compared to one another using a points-based methodology known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The applicants who score the highest will be invited to apply (ITA) for permanent residents.

After getting an ITA, applicants have 90 days to complete their application and pay processing fees through a network of PNPs. When they possess the particular talents needed by regional economies, nearly all of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories are also able to recommend skilled worker candidates for entry to Canada.

After being nominated by a province or territory, qualified applicants can subsequently apply to the federal immigration authorities for permanent residency in Canada.

Conclusion

It becomes clear that British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario have done more than just welcome immigrants; they have also been successful in fostering environments that allow immigrants to flourish and leave enduring roots. Their admirable accomplishments highlight the significance of a multipronged strategy that includes community support, social inclusion, and economic opportunity.

Canada remains a popular destination for those looking to start over in the world, and these provinces’ experiences demonstrate the beneficial effects of inclusive policies and programs on immigrant retention. In Canada’s continuous effort to create diversified, dynamic, and integrated communities, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario serve as role models.