Canadian Citizenship portrayed as predominantly a practical advantage in a newly released study, challenging the commonly held belief
Immigrant Commitment to Canada Shines in New StatCan Report
Stop the myth-busting, folks. Contrary to popular perception, Canadian citizenship isn't a ticket for a quick escape to greener pastures. Instead, it symbolizes an immigrant's dedication to the country, not a convenient passport to leave.
Statistics Canada's latest findings debunk the "Canadians-of-Convenience" narrative. Immigrants from developed nations and those taking longer to become citizens are more likely to depart Canada post-naturalization, according to a report released on Friday.
"In the 10th year after immigration, active presence typically exceeded 90%," the report states. "It showed minimal variation across educational levels, language abilities, age, and immigration classes."
So, don't believe those 'citizens for convenience' tales. Andrew Griffith, an expert on Canadian citizenship, believes: "It destroys the idea that people just get citizenship for the passport and leave the country to chase opportunities."
The study analyzed the link between citizenship and an immigrant's "active presence" in Canada, using immigration and income tax data. While an absent tax record could mean an immigrant has left or stopped filing taxes, it's unlikely one who lived in Canada would abandon tax filings after obtaining citizenship since it grants access to local benefits and services.
Immigrants from the 2008-2012 period, aged 25-54, demonstrated an 93% active presence in Canada ten years following citizenship as opposed to 67% for non-citizens. This reveals that recent immigrants tend to stay longer.
Immigrants from developed countries showed lower active presence after ten years compared to their counterparts from developing countries. For example, 97% of Filipino naturalized citizens remained in Canada a decade post-immigration - approximately 10 percentage points higher than American and French citizens, and six points above those from the UK.
However, among non-citizens, whether they stayed or left was related to other factors, such as possessing a graduate degree, speaking English or French, or entering as an economic immigrant. Lower active presence after ten years can be found in these immigrant groups.
With the decline of Canadian citizenship uptake[1], the question remains: how to persuade immigrants with global options to settle here for the long haul? Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, believes: "Highly educated people are mobile, and we select more of them. Furthermore, changing circumstances can make it challenging to achieve success, buy properties, and advance here."
Interestingly, the report also accounted for immigrants with no tax records and found that about 28% of them held Canadian citizenship. Inactive immigrants from Iran, Pakistan, and Colombia accounted for 50%, 39%, and 36% of inactive citizens, respectively. Conversely, only 14% of inactive American immigrants were citizens.
To become a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident must have lived in Canada for at least three years out of the last five, demonstrate language proficiency, pass a citizenship test, and take an oath. The new report suggests these prerequisites are working effectively, according to Griffith.
[1] www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program[2] www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/iepu/about/index.html[3] http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/policy-briefings/cope-pblct-2015-06.asp[4] https://www.mccallumdenney.com/library/regulatory-compliance/citizenship-and-immigration-canada-comprehensive-major-initiatives—appr-3q-2019.pdf
- The Statistics Canada report on immigrants' active presence in Canada, part of the 'education-and-self-development' category, reveals that recent immigrants, especially those who are highly educated, are more likely to stay in the country for the long term, challenging the stereotype that immigrants only acquire Canadian citizenship for convenience and subsequently leave.
- The media, as a source of 'general-news', should note that contrary to common beliefs, immigrants from developed countries, such as the USA and France, have a lower active presence in Canada after ten years compared to their counterparts from developing countries, including the Philippines.
- In an article discussing the challenges of persuading immigrants with global options to settle permanently in Canada, the CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship highlighted the importance of education and economic opportunity in retaining these immigrants, suggesting that these factors play a significant role in an immigrant's decision to stay or leave Canada, shedding light on the intersection of 'education', 'arts', and 'immigration' issues.
