CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Canada not at risk of an anti-immigration backlash

Friday, 3 July 2009

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Tuesday that Canada is among the western democracies least likely to develop an anti-immigrant backlash. This finding was reported after a presentation urging western democracies to keep their ports of entry open to newcomers despite the economic crisis.

The OECD is a Paris-based think-tank funded by Canada and 29 other member countries to provide governments with economic and social policy advice.

Although the recession has disproportionately hurt migrants, the OECD called on member countries to come up with better programs to help struggling immigrants adapt in their new homelands.

"Migration remains a politically delicate issue and one easily exploited for electoral ends," advised the OECD.

Thankfully, officials acknowledged after presenting their new report on global migration trends that Canada doesn't appear to be one of the countries at risk of an anti-immigrant backlash.

The OECD's John Martin, an Irishman and director for employment, labour and social affairs at the agency, described Canada as a "country of permanent settlement" because most newcomers typically arrive with the intention of making Canada their permanent home.

In many European countries, immigrants, many with little education who arrive to take low-wage jobs no one else wants, are often viewed as temporary visitors even if many end up establishing roots.

"I think the sense of backlash is much less in countries of permanent settlement like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. These are all countries that were built on immigration; people still feel it's important to accept immigrants," said Martin.

"Canadians don't see them as hostile. They aren't seen as 'taking our jobs.'" Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced in February that Canada welcomed 247,202 permanent residents in 2008, 70,000 more than a decade earlier. The government had planned for 240,000 to 265,000.

"Our government will not follow the advice of those who believe that Canada should take steps to reduce immigration levels. In fact, we are maintaining our planned immigration levels for 2009," Kenney said in a statement.

"As minister responsible for multiculturalism, I am particularly concerned by short-sighted, divisive rhetoric that pits immigrants against Canadians in our economy."

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