“Go back to your country!”

A man in a truck shouted at me as he sped past my bus stop. I didn’t know how to react, but the experience stayed with me.

Fortunately, people like him are a loud but small minority. According to the latest Statistics Canada research on Canadians’ Attitudes Towards Immigration (as of Nov. 2023), only 35% of Canadians say that there are too many immigrants coming to Canada, while 48% say that the number is just right, and 12% say there are too few. Despite this majority, misunderstandings and stereotypes continue, shaping a false narrative about immigrants.

Let’s look at five common myths about immigrants—and the facts that dispel these myths:

1. Immigrants are a burden on the Canadian economy

   Economist Arvind Magesan calculates that an average immigrant pays $10, 803.73 in federal income tax while receiving only $7,776.80 in government services. Aside from paying taxes, immigrants contribute to a stronger labour force. In fact, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC,) immigration accounts for almost 100 per cent of Canada’s labour force growth. A stronger labour force means a stronger economy, especially since Canada’s population is growing older, retiring, and not having as many children as before.

   Immigrants spur growth by contributing to every sector of Canada’s economy. The top occupations invited to immigrate under the “Express Entry program” are software engineers and designers, information systems analysts, computer programmers, financial auditors and accountants, as well as advertising, marketing and public relations professionals. Immigrants also account for one out of every four healthcare sector workers, including 37% of pharmacists, 36% of physicians, 39% of dentists, 23% of registered nurses, and 35% of nurse aides. In scientific research and development services, immigrants make up 34% of the workforce. Meanwhile, over 36% of workers in the accommodation and food services sector are immigrants, along with 38% in transportation and warehousing, and over 20% in construction.

2. Immigrants take away jobs from Canadians

   Immigrants don’t take Canadian jobs, they actually expand the job market which stimulates the economy. Aside from filling labour gaps, immigrants also build businesses, thereby creating jobs for Canadians.

   In 2022, Statistics Canada figures show that recent immigrants who have been in Canada for five years or less have an unemployment rate of 8.2%, compared to five per cent for non-immigrants. Aside from having a tougher time getting employed, many immigrants are also underemployed. Data from 1993 to 2001 showed that immigrants who have lived in Canada for 10 years or less had a greater percentage of overqualification. Such immigrants are unable to compete for jobs with Canadians with comparable qualifications (YMCA Blog).

3. Immigrants bring crime

   Immigrants go through rigorous processes and checks before they are allowed to enter Canada. Refugees who flee their countries in search of safety, on the other hand, are more likely to be victims of violence that its perpetrators (Citizens for Public Justice).

   Recent studies on immigration and crime, both in the US and Canada, have shown that immigration actually lessens crime. As Frank Comier of the University of Manitoba said, “In just about every country, immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than the people who were there before them.” This is supported by the fact that crime rates in Canada have decreased since the 1970s, paralleling the increase in immigration.

4. Immigrants don’t want to integrate into “Canadian society”

   What does “integrating into Canadian society” really mean? When critics say this, they usually mean not speaking English or French, and not getting involved in the community.

   But immigrants actually do speak the official languages. In fact, most immigrants must take challenging English tests as a requirement to receive permanent residency status in Canada. Statistics Canada also reports that a vast majority (92.7%) of immigrants can conduct a conversation in English or French. And as immigrants stay in Canada longer, the percentage speaking English or French regularly at home is a high 76.4%.

   In terms of civic participation, about one-third of immigrants in Canada have volunteered, and two-thirds are part of social organizations. According to Statistics Canada, “the immigrants and their descendants who are integrated into a local personal network and participate in community activities, such as religious practices, are more likely to have a higher number of acquaintances with neighbourhood residents, to trust their neighbours and to volunteer.”

5. Immigrants, particularly refugees, receive more financial support than pensioners do

   Refugees do not get more money than Canadian pensioners. Government-sponsored refugees get minimal financial support for their basic needs for only up to a year. Meanwhile, refugee claimants receive Interim Federal Health, limited legal aid in some provinces, and some social assistance. Refugees who are privately-sponsored do not get money from the government at all. They are not eligible for social assistance and are supported by the sponsoring citizens.

Why are immigrants important to Canada?

As the flip side of these myths show, immigrants are actually crucial to Canada’s growth and future. As mentioned, the country’s aging population is below the population replacement level. With immigration as the primary driver of population growth, population projections from Statistics Canada show that immigrants could represent from 29.1 to 34% of the population of Canada by 2041. This could also mean that Canada’s worker-to-retiree ratio will improve from 7 to 1 to 2 to 1.
 
Sources: 8 common myths about hiring newcomers to Canada, Career Edge; Dispelling myths about immigration to Canada, YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka; Busting myths about refugees in Canada, Citizens for public justice; and Immigration Matters: How immigrants are relevant to Canada’s development, IOM UN Migration; and Breaking down the myths about immigrants in Canada, Tihana Radojcic, Immigrant Services, Calgary. Accessed October 17, 2024.