What do new immigrants like and dislike about Canada?
Survey results from the Canadian Citizenship Institute.
In late February 2022, the Canadian research and analysis company Leger, commissioned by the Canadian Citizenship Institute, interviewed 1,519 immigrants who had recently arrived in the country and compared the data with the results of a survey of 2,103 new Canadians carried out by the Institute itself in the same period of time. Most of those surveyed had already become Canadian citizens, meaning they were people who had lived in the country for at least three years.
30% of new Canadians aged 18 to 34 and 23% of new Canadians with a college degree say they are likely to move to another country in the next two years. The two main reasons for not going to or moving to or from Canada are government policies and the high cost of living.
Immigrants with higher education tended to be more negative about employment opportunities in Canada and wage fairness. Having a college degree also influenced attitudes toward the three-week demonstration in the Canadian capital — most new immigrants said the event diminished their sense of pride in being Canadian now, but the most negative reaction was among those with a university degree.
It is interesting to see how differently immigrants who have settled in different regions perceive the pros and cons of Canada. All respondents were divided into four groups:
- Western Canada — British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba;
- Ontario;
- Quebec;
- Atlantic Canada — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Very few Atlantic Canadians participated in the survey, so some places have a dash in them. Residents of the other three regions are roughly evenly distributed.
Did Canada meet expectations in the areas of life listed below? The percentage of respondents who gave a 5 or 4 on a five-point scale as to whether their expectations were met.
| Western Canada | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic Canada | |
| Quality of life | 63% | 59% | 58% | 60% |
| Sense of belonging | 50% | 50% | 43% | 58% |
| Employment Opportunities | 41% | 37% | 46% | 28% |
| A good place to raise kids | 60% | 61% | 61% | 55% |
| Opportunity for career advancement | 45% | 41% | 42% | 35% |
| Security | 67% | 71% | 69% | 70% |
| Government policy | 38% | 38% | 35% | 35% |
87% of those surveyed recommend Canada for relocation: 46% with reservations and 41% without doubts. What do people in different regions want to warn future immigrants about?
| Western Canada | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic Canada | |
| High cost of living | 25% | 37% | 13% | 17% |
| Do not recognize work experience in other countries | 18% | 23% | 21% | 33% |
| It's hard to find a job | 14% | 24% | 22% | 17% |
| They don't recognize education documents | 20% | 8% | 16% | 17% |
| Discrimination/racism | 16% | 7% | 16% | - |
| The cost of buying/renting real estate | 8% | 19% | 5% | 17% |
| Long/complicated immigration process | 9% | 10% | 10% | 17% |
| Poor health care system | 4% | 5% | 11% | - |
| Language barrier | 7% | 4% | 6% | 17% |
| Government policy | 8% | 5% | 2% | - |
| Cold weather | 4% | 5% | 5% | - |
A total of 22% want to leave Canada. More often they are residents of Ontario and Quebec, with Ontario leading by 1%, ahead of Quebec.
Difficult to choose the right province? Want to simplify the immigration process and not be confronted upon arrival with the fact that there are no jobs in your field and previous experience is useless?
Read about provincial immigration programs on our website, for the last six months it is the provincial nominations that are the surest way to get a permanent residence. Or let a professional look into your situation and tell you which Canadian immigration programs will work best for you. To find out how you'll benefit from an hour-long conversation with a licensed immigration consultant, visit the consultation appointment page.
