Immigration Resources
Understanding the context behind the stories
Brief History of Immigration to Canada
Pre-Confederation (Before 1867)
Indigenous peoples inhabited Canada for thousands of years. European colonization began in the 16th century with French and British settlers establishing colonies.
Nation Building (1867-1914)
Post-Confederation Canada actively recruited immigrants to populate the West. The 'Open Door' policy welcomed Europeans, particularly from Britain and Northern Europe.
Restrictive Era (1914-1960s)
Two World Wars and the Great Depression led to restrictive immigration policies. The Chinese Immigration Act (1923) and other discriminatory policies limited non-European immigration.
Points System Era (1967-Present)
Introduction of the points-based system removed discriminatory barriers. Immigration became based on skills, education, and economic contribution rather than country of origin.
Economic Migration to Canada
Canada's economic immigration programs aim to attract skilled workers to address labor market needs and support economic growth.
Key Points
- Express Entry system launched in 2015 manages applications for skilled workers
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow provinces to nominate immigrants based on local needs
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program addresses short-term labor shortages
- International Mobility Program facilitates work permits for specific categories
History of Refugee Policy
Canada's refugee protection has evolved from ad-hoc responses to a comprehensive legal framework.
Timeline
Canada signs the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
Immigration Act explicitly recognizes refugees as a distinct class
Supreme Court grants refugee claimants Charter rights (Singh decision)
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) comes into force
Balanced Refugee Reform Act introduces changes to refugee determination system
Key Statistics
Immigration Statistics Over the Years
Canada aims to welcome over 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025
Unemployment and Underemployment of Newcomers
of new Canadians say living in Canada is worse than they expected
of employed newcomers couldn't find a job in their field of study
had difficulty finding a job due to non-recognition of credentials or lack of Canadian experience
cumulative professional experience among just 5 Uber drivers interviewed (Microsoft, IBM, TCS, provincial bureaucracy, pharmaceutical)
of immigrants with foreign credentials report working in jobs below their skill level within the first year
higher unemployment rate for recent immigrants compared to Canadian-born workers
average time for skilled immigrants to find employment matching their qualifications
average annual income gap between newcomers and Canadian-born workers with similar credentials
of regulated professionals (doctors, engineers, etc.) never work in their field in Canada
Newcomers in the Gig Economy
of landed immigrants work in personal transport/delivery apps (2023)
daily driving hours for some participants, seven days a week, just to meet bare minimum expenses
common phrase explaining why participants drive Uber in spare time on top of full-time jobs
length of time one participant was separated from newborn daughter during COVID while driving Uber
job hunt duration before finding relevant employment after driving Uber full-time
of rideshare drivers in major Canadian cities are recent immigrants (arrived within 5 years)
of rideshare drivers have post-secondary education, many with advanced degrees
overrepresentation of immigrants in gig economy compared to traditional employment
of gig workers use this as 'temporary' employment while seeking work in their field
average earnings after expenses for rideshare drivers, below living wage in most Canadian cities
Newcomers and Formal Support Systems
collected from Uber drivers who initially expressed interest in Driving Canada project
when project details were finalized, and 3 of those 4 eventually dropped out (2 on day of interview)
of eligible newcomers access government settlement services
report not knowing about available employment support programs
cite language barriers as reason for not accessing services (even when services available in their language)
Many professionals feel ashamed to seek help, viewing it as admission of failure
of newcomers access foreign credential recognition services, despite 80% needing them