Keeping Canada's Doors Open

Even during a recession, welcoming immigrants and integrating them into the workforce is key to Canada's economy.

In economic times like these, immigration can become a low priority, or worse, a target. This would be a tragic mistake. The Great Recession is no excuse for Canada to turn its back on the nation-building task of attracting immigrants to bolster our economy and enrich our society.

Like most developed countries, Canada’s fertility rate is below the “replacement” rate. The current fertility rate is 1.58, compared to a replacement rate of 2.1. That means that within the next 20 years, our population would begin to decline without immigration to bolster it.

The low fertility rate is not our only demographic problem. Our population is comparatively old, and getting older. As Canadians retire and leave the labour market, we are left with worker shortages. It may not be as visible in the current recession, but it is a problem that is only going to get worse.

There is a very clear lesson to be drawn from this: Canada will continue to need immigrants, even more than our current intake levels. And we will continue to have to successfully integrate them into our economy and our communities. We know that the biggest factor in successful integration is positive labour market integration.

It is therefore critical to have programs and services in place. Common sense says that if immigration is inevitable, we should embrace it and make it work well. There is no reason to make things more difficult for immigrants, to create hoops to jump through, or barriers to get around. That won’t help either the immigrant or Canada.

What is giving a number of people pause these days is the Great Recession. We have people out of work, and many of those lucky enough to retain their jobs have found their pay cheques shrinking. As the unemployment rate has crept up, some have suggested we reduce or even suspend immigration so as not to put even greater pressure on jobs.

This is exactly the wrong thing to do.

We should be helping people begin that journey, to let them know that we want them, that we want to help them succeed, that we want them to live beside us and work with us. We are not the only country in the developed world that is dependent on immigration, and there is a growing competition for the brightest and the best.

Canada at least has a distinct advantage over other countries: we have had a system for attracting and choosing the best immigrants that has been in place for almost half a century. Certainly the system isn’t perfect, and there are a lot of ways it could be improved, but it tends to be well regarded by the rest of the world. Other countries are starting to develop similar systems, and compete with us for the most talented immigrants. Getting out of the game now, just as the rest of the world is gearing up for it, would be unwise.

The results of immigration and integration are not seen in the short term. It can take an immigrant years to feel truly settled: to be in the right job at the right level; to be settled in a good neighbourhood; to have their kids in good schools and community activities; to have a broad and diverse set of relationships; and to participate fully in the life of the community, including its political life.

We need to make sure that the apparatus of government is improved, and aimed at finding the next best generation of Canadian citizens, not just temporary job fillers to be sent home at some future date. Now is the time to improve community programs that help immigrants make a living and make a life.

Employment councils across Canada need to help the labour market open itself up to immigrant success. It is easy to get spooked by scary economic news. But this is our moment to rise to the challenge, and put in place a key building block for the 21st century.