Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework The Canadian Immigration System: Policy and Patterns

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Outline of Presentation: The Canadian Immigration System History of Canada’s Immigration Policy – Forms and Periods Immigration in Canada Today: A General Picture Immigration levels Regions of origin Types of immigrants Where immigrants settle Policy Challenge: Immigrant’s skills and credentials are not utilized – The Foreign Credentials Gap

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework MAJOR HISTORICAL TRENDS 1. Economic Shift from an “Agricultural” to a “Post- Industrial” base. 2. Policy Shift from “Closed” to “Open” to ‘Restricted’ Policy. 3. Administrative Shifted From “Absorptive Capacity” To “Adaptive Capacity.” 4. Demographic Shift t a more “Complex Social Differentiations” in Society. 5. Cognitive Shift from a “White Settler Colony” to a “Post- Racial Society”

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework History of Immigration Policy: The Three Forms The Forms of Immigration: From a White-Settler Colony to a Post-Racial Society & From an Agricultural to a Post-industrial Society “Closed Policy" – [designated country immigrants] of ‘preferred’ European stock. “Open Policy" – [mapped by a ‘point system’], supporting the rise of a “Post-Racial Society” mentality. “Restrictive Policy“ – [labour market matrix] characterized by the rise of “Designer immigration.”

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Chinese Head Tax Certificate

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework History of Canada’s Immigration Policy: The Eight Periods “When I speak of quality, I have in mind something that is quite different from what is in the mind of the average writer or speaker upon the question of immigration. I think of a stalwart peasant in a sheep-skin coat, born on the soil, whose forefathers have been farmers for generations, with a stout wife and half-a-dozen children, is good quality.” Sir Clifford Sifton, 1922

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework "The Last, Best West"

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period One: 1867 –1913 Immigration part of a general set of national policies ( Department of Agriculture; Department of Interior) Main goals. securing farmers, farm workers and female domestics. populate, farm and settle the Canadian West Search for farmers was concentrated in Britain, the U.S. and Northwestern Europe The highest levels ever: 330,000 in 1911 and 400,000 in Demand for labour high, source countries begin to include Eastern and Central Europe – and give away land to White-settlers. Head tax on Chinese immigrants in West doubled, to $100. tax increased again to $500, then immigration outlawed in 1923

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Two: 1919 – 1929 Industrialization and Urbanization 1919: Immigration Act revised (reflecting growth of class- based cleavage/social stratification) First official division of source countries into preferred and non-preferred groups Formal acknowledgement of “short-term absorptive capacity”

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Three: 1930s and 1940s déjà vu Capitalism 1931: Canadian unemployment rate over 11% Financial [déjà vu Capitalism and the ideological distain for market regulation] system crisis comparable to today. Effectively ended six decades of active immigrant recruitment Door closed to most newcomers except those (of European descent) from Britain and the US.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Four: 1946 – 1962 The Transition to an Advanced Industrial Society Two main events: large influx of displaced persons from Europe, establishment of clear ethnic and economic goals for immigration policy. 1947: Prime Minister Mackenzie King stated that immigration had the (1) purpose of population growth, and(2) improved Canadian standard of living The 1952: New Immigration Act – strict admissions control.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Immigration Is A Privilege And Not A Right Canada’s Postwar Immigration Policy "The policy of the government is to foster the growth of the population of Canada by the encouragement of immigration. The government will seek by legislation, regulation and vigorous administration, to ensure the careful selection and permanent settlement of such numbers of immigrants as can be advantageously absorbed in our national economy. It is a matter of domestic policy [...] The people of Canada do not wish as a result of mass immigration to make a fundamental alteration in the character of our population. Large scale immigration from the Orient would change the fundamental composition of the Canadian population" – William Lyon MacKenzie King.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Five: 1962 – 1973 Liberal Universalism and Difference Blind-ness 1962: Canada abandoned its all White racist immigration policy. Admission to be based on individual personal characteristics; not nationality 1966 Immigration under Department of Manpower and Immigration (directly tie immigration and labour market). 1967: Point system created to facilitate and encourage the flow of skilled migrants Family class was still prioritized Additional immigration posts were opened in third world areas; resulting shift in region of immigrant origin

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Selection Grid for Economic Immigrants (Point System) Factor One: Education Maximum 25 Factor Two: Official Languages Maximum 24 1st Official Language Maximum 16 2nd Official Language Maximum 8 Factor Three: Experience Maximum 21 Factor Four: Age Maximum 10 Factor Five: Arranged Employment in Canada Maximum 10 Factor Six: Adaptability Maximum 10 Total Maximum 100 Passing Mark 67

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Selection Factor: Adaptability Factor Six: AdaptabilityMaximum 10 points Spouse’s or common-law partner’s education3 - 5 Minimum one year full-time authorized work in Canada 5 Minimum two years full-time authorized post- secondary study in Canada 5 Have received points under the Arranged Employment in Canada factor 5 Family relationship in Canada5

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Six: 1974 – 1985 A period of big swings in the business cycle; immigration inflows were adjusted accordingly. 1976: New Immigration Act defines the 3 main priorities of the immigration policy:. Priority 1: family reunification. Priority 2: humanitarian concerns. Priority 3: promotion of Canada’s economic, social demographic and cultural goals These goals/priorities still form the core of our immigration policy

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Seven: 1986 – : Report to Parliament on future immigration levels.fertility in Canada had fallen below replacement levels.economic component of the inflow should be increased but not at the expense of social and humanitarian streams 1992: Family class was reduced; government committed to stable inflows of about 1% of the current population 1993: Size of the inflow increased to 250,000 in spite of poor labour market – a major shift from the absorptive capacity policy to adaptability (labour market indicators) The switch to long term goals and the desire to increase the numbers of skilled workers continued through the 1990s (the birth of “designer immigration”)

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Period Eight: 2002 – 2002: 1976 Immigration Act replaced.A few changes to the skilled workers category in order to attract younger and educated workers.More points to applicants with a trade certificate or a second degree; more points for language (French and English); fewer points for experience with greater weight on first two years of experience; and changes in age factor.Common-law partner in the family category (conjugal relations).More powers of detention.Undocumented protected persons category eliminated

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Immigration in Canada Today: Components of Immigration Intake Family ReunificationMembers of the Family Class HumanitarianConvention Refugees; Members of Designated Classes; Persons eligible under special humanitarian measures EconomicAssisted Relatives* Business Immigrants: Entrepreneurs Self-employed persons Investors Retirees Other Independent Immigrants*

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 28 June 2002 – The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act comes into effect. It emphasizes the importance of immigration to improving Canadian society and economy and creating a culturally diverse nation. 12 December 2003 – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is created. It is part of a broader package of programs designed to deal with the security concerns raised by the 11 September attack on the WorldTrade Center. The CBSA’s mandate is to facilitate the legal movement of goods and people across Canada’s borders while stopping illegal or threatening shipments. 31 December 2003 – Introduction of the Permanent Resident Card. The card is required for permanent residents leaving and re-entering Canada. It is designed to increase border security.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Canadian Immigration in 2005: By Admissible Category Economic 56.1% Family 28.5% Refugee 12.8% Other 2.6% Total Number of Immigrants 262,157 (100%)

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Annual Distribution of Permanent Residents By Source Area (%) In the 1950s, 84.6% of immigrants were European by birth By the mid 1980s immigrants born in Europe slipped to 28.6% Now its about 15% Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada 2007, 27. Source Area Africa and the Middle East Asia and Pacific South and Central America Total for the Above United States Europe and UK TOTAL100.0

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Canadian Immigration Source Countries 2005Number of Immigrants China42,291 India33,146 Philippines17,525 Pakistan13,576 United States 9,262 Columbia6,031 United Kingdom5,865 South Korea5,819 Iran5,502 France5,430 Romania4,964 Sri Lanka4,690 Russia3,607 Taiwan3.092 Hong Kong1,784 Yugoslavia (Former)272 Top 10 Source Counties144,447 Other117,789 Total262,236

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Where do Permanent Residents settle in Canada? Province/Territory2005% Nova Scotia1,9290.7% Other Atlantic Provinces*1,9180.7% Quebec43, % Ontario140, % Manitoba8,0973.1% Saskatchewan2,1060.8% Alberta19,3997.4% British Columbia44, % Territories** % Provinces/Territories not stated 19>0.001% Total262,236 * Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island ** Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement The first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement was signed in November The Agreement signals a new era of federal-provincial collaboration in the integration of newcomers to Ontario..Over the next five years, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to invest $920 million in new funding for settlement and language training programs and services in Ontario..The federal and provincial governments will jointly develop settlement and language training strategies (service gaps and optimal ways of delivering and measuring the effectiveness of integration services).The overall goal of these strategies is to support the successful social and economic integration of immigrants in Ontario.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework New Developments Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) are also in place with 10 jurisdictions (the Yukon and all provinces except Quebec), either as an annex to a framework agreement or as a stand-alone agreement. Under the PNP, provinces and territories have the authority to nominate individuals as permanent residents to address specific labour market and economic development needs. Canada Experience Class program will allow temporary workers as well and international students to apply to become permanent residents.Aimed at people who want to immigrate to Canada and already have Canadian work experience or Canadian academic credentials.. Perhaps as many as 12,000 – 18,000. The Immigration Backlog is now report as 900,000. (This effectively means that newcomers face long processing delays, perhaps as along as five years).

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Policy Challenge: Immigrants’ Skills Are Underutilized Immigrants tend to start at a significant earnings disadvantage,.In 1980, the income of male immigrants represented 89% of the income of workers born in Canada.In 2000, the income of immigrants fell to 77% relative to the income of workers born in Canada Unemployment rate shows the same trend.In 1981, the unemployment rate of immigrants (7.1%) was lower than the unemployment rate of Canadians (7.9%).20 years later, the unemployment rate of immigrants is 12.7% compare to 7.4% for workers born in Canada The economic condition of newcomers in the country has worsened; the immigrants who are most affected belong to racial minorities Annual cost of this problem: $2 billion

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Salary Gap Disparity in median incomes among recent immigrants Recent Immigrants from 2001 to 2006 University educated, $26,301 Non-university educated, $19,280 Immigrants from 2000 and before: University educated, $37,647 Non-University educated, $29,301 Canadian-born: University educated, $57,695 Non-university educated, $39,586.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Policy Challenge: Immigrants’ Skills Are Underutilized Principal Cause: the non-recognition of foreign education and foreign experience Canadian workers are increasingly educated, employers have access to a qualified workforce and prefer to hire Canadian- educated workers with domestic experience Professional associations are often accused of placing too many barriers in front of otherwise qualified immigrants Even with a work authorization given by a professional association, there is still an earnings gap of 15% between newcomers and the Canadian-born – limited access to senior/management positions The earnings gap for workers outside the knowledge economy (mostly regulated by professional association) represents a 30% difference Most newcomers will not be part of the knowledge economy Cultural hegemony is the new head tax to exclude the ‘undesirable,’ and to perpetuate oppression in Canada.

Foster Immigration The Public Policy Framework Potential Solutions The Canadian government has recently announced that it will increase immigration – yet, most of our newcomers today are visible minorities To help mitigate possible social tensions, governments (federal, provincial and municipal) have a role to play in establishing coherent policy Some potential initiatives include: 1)Better sources of information for immigrants, before and after arrival 2)Bridge-training programs to “top-up” immigrants’ skills or fill in the gaps 3)Subsidized workplace internship and mentoring programs 4)More support for credential assessment services to improve labour market effectiveness 5)Improved public awareness of the problems faced by skilled immigrants in integrating into the Canadian labour market and the consequences for Canadian society