Is Canada taking a right step by increasing the number of immigrant intake?

The Canadian government comes out with new policies regarding immigration every now and then. But actually, it may be a bit surprising for the Canadians that Canada has no comprehensive immigration policy. But instead, we have a patchwork of policies that are made separately with each of the made policies aiming at specific issues. None of the policies actually aimed at the collective problems. And as a result of this, in spite of so many rules and procedures to govern immigration, Canada has lost its control over immigration and immigrants.

An alarming number of immigrants (a little less than 1percent of the total Canadian population) are been admitted in Canada under various categories. It would be easy to understand how high this number is, if we consider the example of the US and Australia. The US admits immigrants equaling only 0.4 percent of its total population and Australia admits only 0.44 percent of its total population.

At present, Australia is the only industrialized country that has more percentage of foreign-born population compared to Canada. Where the number of total foreign born population in Australia constitutes to 22 percent of their total population, the figure is 20 percent in Canada. But taking into consideration the number of immigrants been admitted in Canada now, it is just a matter of time before Canada is there at the top with the highest number of foreign born population in the whole industrialized world.

‘Ghetto-ization’ of immigrant is not something new in Canada. Even the earlier generations of immigrants had a habit congregating with each other in the same neighborhood. But what is different now is the fact that some of the immigrants are actually transplanting their home countries in Canada itself. They cut-off their children’s life from the broader Canadian society, thereby making the long term prospect of successful integration uncertain.

It is a common believe that Canada is in need of more number of immigrants in order to counterbalance its aging population and fulfill the labor shortages that would guarantee economic prosperity. But unfortunately, none of these statements are backed up by evidence. None of the credible demographers believe that aging issue can be solved by immigration. In fact, the problems associated with aging population might be compounded by the current immigration practices. On the question of addressing Canada’s labour shortages needs, no serious study have ever concluded that the best way to resolve labor shortages is increased immigration of selected skilled workers.