In: Economics
Canada provides various open immigration policies and financial support to refugees, is it good for Canada? Is it fair to native-born Canadians? Why?
Answer
IMMIGRATION means, It is the process through which individuals become permanent residents or citizens of another country. ... Historically, the process of immigration has been of great social, economic, and cultural benefit to states.
CANADA’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES
As in the United States, immigration has significantly shaped Canadian society and culture. Following its independence from the United Kingdom in 1867, Canada used immigration to help develop vast tracts of land. Government-sponsored information campaigns and recruiters encouraged immigrants of that era to settle in rural, frontier areas.
Immigration has long played a vital role in Canada’s economy, providing a relatively young stream of workers. Immigrants have become increasingly important as the native-born labor force ages and the fertility rate remains low, at roughly 1.5 births per woman. However, Canada continues to suffer a shortage of skilled workers despite attempts to attract this category of immigrants. Today, immigrants account for nearly one-quarter of Canadian workers
The Canadian public has held favorable views of immigration for decades. In a 2019 poll, only about one-third of Canadians felt immigration levels were too high. Canadians generally view both immigrants and their country’s immigration system more positively than their counterparts in the United States. This is due in part to the Canadian government’s efforts to promote and embrace a policy of multiculturalism and make diversity part of the national identity. Canada also does not have large-scale unauthorized migration, a challenge that has fueled backlash against immigrants in many other countries, including the United States. Still, some research suggests public support for immigration could slip easily.
Canada is also known for its relative openness toward people arriving in the country seeking asylum. Asylum seekers often come to Canada for similar reasons as resettled refugees, but they differ from the latter in that they have not obtained government approval before arriving
Migrants can make a claim at any border crossing or airport, as well as certain government offices inside Canada. As of 2017, about two-fifths of asylum seekers enter the country without authorization, which does not lead to criminal prosecution once they claim asylum.
Canada welcomed roughly 340,000 new permanent residents in 2019, the highest number in more than a century. The United States, with a population nearly nine times larger, accepted 577,000 permanent residents that year. The greatest share of new Canadian permanent residents came from India, and many were skilled professionals. In addition, Canada admitted about eight hundred thousand temporary workers and international students last year.
Canada admits new permanent residents under four main categories. In 2018, 58 percent of new permanent residents were admitted through the economic stream, followed by 27 percent through family sponsorship, 14 percent through protected persons and refugees, and 1 percent through humanitarian or other.
CANADA IMMIGRATION BENEFITS
CANADA’S IMMIGRATION DISADVANTAGES