A new study led by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), in collaboration with the University of Toronto, has found that two simple, but powerful factors significantly affect how long immigrants remain in Canada: feeling hopeful about the future and feeling like they belong.
Today, Canada really needs to keep more immigrants. Fewer people are being born, and some of these immigrants are choosing to depart, or not immigrate at all. That is a problem, because immigrants help build the population and make the country stronger. Questions have been raised of why immigrants would choose to stay. This new report, called “Here to Stay: Understanding Immigrant Retention in Canada,” tries to answer that question.
The ICC asked about 5,000 adult immigrants who are part of a program called Canoo that makes newcomers feel welcome and accustomed to life in Canada. The study found that while problems such as high rents and expensive living are significant concerns, they are not the biggest factors that keep people around or drive them out. What matters most is how people feel. If immigrants feel rooted in their community and optimistic about their own future in Canada, they will be much more likely to remain.
The research showed that a minimal increase in optimism can have an enormous effect. If a person feels 1% more optimistic about their future, then they’re 28% more likely to stay in Canada. The same goes for whether, or not a person feels as if they belong. If someone feels just 1% more like they belong here, they are 25% more likely to stay. Feeling safe and believing in Canadian institutions, including the government and justice system, also makes people feel more secure about staying in Canada in the long run.
When asked as to why they had immigrated to Canada in the first place, most said they came looking for a better life. The majority were looking for: an improved standard of living, good jobs, and a safe place to live. While these are important, the study shows that upon arrival, it is emotional and social connections that actually convince immigrants to stay.
ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard said that this study is important because it finally gives the government, along with other organizations, real proof of what actually works. He explained that if Canada is going to keep talented and skilled immigrants who work so hard they need to make them feel like they belong. Immigrants won’t build their futures in Canada if they don’t feel connected to it.
To keep immigrants from departing, it’s suggested in the research that Canada needs to spend on programs that make newcomers feel hopeful and welcome. That includes spending on what unites people, builds confidence, and instills deep Canadian identity.
Eventually, it is all about money and work. Immigrants stay when they are: accepted, feel secure, and have hope. If Canada wants to prosper and succeed in the coming years, making immigrants feel they belong should be on the top of the agenda.
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