Canada: Trudeau Finds Himself In More Immigrants Related Trouble As He Weaponizes Them For Political Gains

Recent research suggests that an increasing number of newcomers to Canada are choosing to leave, raising concerns for a country that heavily relies on immigration to drive population and economic growth.

As reported by The Economic Times, A study on immigrant retention conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada reveals that the rate of immigrants leaving the country, also known as onward migration, has been on a steady rise since the 1980s and is particularly pronounced among recent cohorts.

The report comes at a time when the Justin Trudeau government stands accused of weaponizing the immigrant Sikh community for the political gains of his allies, the Jagmeet Singh-led NDP.

This trend raises questions about whether newcomers are not experiencing the expected benefits of living in Canada.

The report, published on Tuesday (31 October), underscores the potential risks of Canada failing to meet the expectations of newcomers, who face challenges such as worsening housing affordability, a strained healthcare system, and underemployment, among other issues.

It also emphasises how disillusionment among immigrants can hinder progress, even in a country that consistently sets new records for population growth.

Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a pro-immigration advocacy group, expressed his concerns about this trend, stating, "If immigrants are saying 'no, thanks' and moving on, that's a real existential threat to Canada's prosperity. We need to wake up and recognise that if we don't deliver, people will leave. And if they leave, we're in trouble."

Canada's government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has used immigration as a means to rapidly add more workers to counteract economic decline due to an aging population.

However, the recent surge in population growth has resulted in criticism of policies exacerbating housing shortages and placing additional pressure on infrastructure and services, including healthcare.

The report revealed spikes in the annual rates of immigrants leaving Canada in 2017 and 2019, reaching 20-year highs of 1.1 cent and 1.18 per cent, respectively.

This is in contrast to the average of 0.9 per cent of people who were granted permanent residence after 1982 and left Canada each year.

While the individual numbers may appear small, their cumulative impact can lead to a significant attrition of 20 per cent or more within an arrival cohort over 25 years.