Canada: the promised land for whoever wants it

You may have heard that Canada recently accepted the most immigrants ever in Canada’s entire history. A record 401 000 new permanent residents landed in Canada in 2021. This record is set to be broken in 2022 when we welcome 411 000 new immigrants and again in 2023 with 421 000 new immigrants. Contrast this with 2015, when Canada welcomed 260 000 newcomers. Of the 401 000 welcomed in 2021, family members including parents, grandparents and children number 103 500 per year, and refugees and other protected persons numbered 59 500, bringing the grand total to 163 000 or a full 41% of newcomers not making up economic immigrants. In the three years, 2021- 2023, 70 500 people will be parents of immigrants or grandparents of immigrants. Many of these individuals are eligible to draw Old Age Security (OAS) despite having never paid into it and many will not need to speak English or French as per the government rules on language requirements. By 2036 immigrants will make up nearly 1/3 Canadians up from 1/5 Canadians in 2011. Government officials cite low birth rates while pushing limitless abortion on demand, free birth control, and cite climate change as to why Canadians shouldn’t have kids. Now the Liberal government wants to allow an ‘unlimited number’ of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Is Canada to absorb all the world’s people despite failing to take care of our own? Average home prices are up over 77% since 2015 (unlike wages), while inflation hit the highest point in 18 years at over 5% and the price of fuel hit $1.99 per liter in parts of the British Columbia (BC) lower mainland this week. Furthermore, Canadians are getting run out of their own cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver where many newcomers end up. Take BC for example where in 2022 a record 70 000 immigrants will move to and 55 000 of them will end up in Metro Vancouver where the average house price is already a ghastly $1 230 200. In summary, I will give you an example of the government’s ability to spit in your face while smiling at the same time. Here is a quote from the current Liberal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco L. Mendicino “The importance of family has never been clearer than during the pandemic. That is why we are delivering on our commitment to help more families reunite in Canada. By strengthening the Parents and Grandparents Program, inviting a record number of sponsors to apply, and by adjusting our requirements to adapt to the current times, we are once again proving our commitment to helping Canadian families stay together, and thrive together.” Guess our population isn’t aging all that fast.

References:

Chan, Kenneth. Feb 08, 2022. Housing demand: Record 55,000 immigrants expected for Metro Vancouver in 2022.  Daily Hive. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-immigration-housing-2022

Dec 23, 2021. Canada welcomes the most immigrants in a single year in its history. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2021/12/canada-welcomes-the-most-immigrants-in-a-single-year-in-its-history.html

Oct 30, 2020. Notice- Supplementary Information for the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2021-2023.html

 Scherer, Steve and Gordon, Julie. Dec 09, 2021. Canada’s immigration boost could fuel hot housing market: experts. Reuters. https://globalnews.ca/news/8437440/canada-immigration-hot-housing-market/

 Home sales in Metro Vancouver reached record high in 2021, latest real estate report says. CTV News Vancouver. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/home-sales-in-metro-vancouver-reached-record-high-in-2021-latest-real-estate-report-says-1.5728497#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20REBGV%2C%20the,per%20cent%2C%20the%20report%20said

 Oct 11, 2017. Citizenship grants: Applicants 55 years of age or older. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/canadian-citizenship/grant/applicants-55-years-older-applications-received-june-11-2015.html