One of the top destinations for expats from around the world for decades, Canada continues to welcome foreign nationals despite its recent immigration reforms. However, a growing number of Canadians are choosing to move abroad.聽While this is not a new trend, it has been steadily increasing, which is聽quite聽troubling for聽a nation grappling with an aging population and seeking to retain its citizens.聽So why are more and more Canadians moving abroad?
Understanding the context of Canadian emigration
There's聽a common misconception that Canadians,聽like the British, who rely on the ubiquity of their language and see no need to learn another,聽aren't聽so keen on moving聽abroad聽given their聽country's聽status as a historical haven for immigrants. The fact is,聽"everyone wants to live in Canada."聽However, just as聽it's聽mistaken to believe that English natives speak only English, it would be wrong to think Canadians do not seek greener pastures.
In both instances, these assumptions聽are based聽on distorted facts.聽Speaking聽English聽is not enough聽to integrate聽in聽all countries worldwide.聽While Canada is indeed a favorite destination among expats, it also faces criticism. Those who decide to leave often cite the continuously rising cost of living as a significant factor. Their reasons for moving mirror those of many other nationals who leave their countries to secure better jobs, earn higher incomes, and enjoy better living standards. According to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), the United States, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, China, and Japan聽are the countries with聽the highest numbers of Canadian expatriates.
Who are these Canadian expats?
Around 4 million Canadians, approximately 11% of the population, live abroad鈥攁n increase of 36% since 1990. These figures聽were revealed聽in the latest report by Statistics Canada, published on April 22, 2024, and prepared by聽McGill's聽Institute for Canadian Studies. Experts note that more recent data聽isn't聽available, a concern that prompted Senator Yuen Pau Woo to commission the study. Senator Woo believes the country聽isn't聽doing enough for its nationals abroad and urges the government to establish a support plan for overseas Canadians.
The report indicates that 51% of Canadian expatriates are citizens by descent, 33% were born in Canada, and 15% have聽been naturalized. The study observed a gradual increase in emigration among naturalized citizens after spending 4 to 7 years in Canada. Another report by Statistics Canada in February 2024 showed that over 15% of immigrants leave Canada within 20 years of arrival, with higher departure rates among individuals born in France, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Lebanon. Entrepreneurs and investors are also more likely to return to their countries or move elsewhere.
The reasons for departure
Beyond the rising cost of living, the report highlights a significant issue for foreign nationals who have become Canadian or reside in Canada: the challenge of聽having foreign credentials recognized. This difficulty聽is compounded聽by numerous other obstacles, such as the struggle to secure employment without having had a聽"significant first experience with a Canadian employer,"聽being underemployed relative to聽one's聽skills, and low wages. These are lesser-known aspects of immigration in Canada that have disappointed many immigrants, who face bureaucratic hurdles and struggle to find good jobs despite their qualifications.
According to聽Statistics Canada, people who leave the country within 4 to 7 years do so for these reasons, making it nearly impossible to integrate when struggling to find a job, housing, and stability.聽This聽is why Immigration Minister Marc Miller聽decided to reform聽the Immigration Plan, adopting a new approach of welcoming fewer immigrants but better.聽The aim is to understand foreign聽nationals'聽profiles聽better, more accurately meet their expectations, and provide more effective support.
Economic reasons are not the only explanation for departures. Canadians living abroad cite other motives similar to those mentioned by expatriates聽in general, such as being attracted by another country, having聽broader career prospects, or having a desire to build a career abroad. However, faced with the critical issue of an aging population, the government hopes to reverse or at least slow down this trend as a聽key聽strategy to sustain its economy and remain attractive.
