Since its inception, Canoo has unlocked Canada for over 750,000 newcomers, providing free admission to museums, galleries, festivals, concerts, and other experiences across the country. For this quarterly Canoo Insights Report, we’re taking a look at our members and venues in Ottawa to better understand Canoo’s presence in our nation’s capital.
752K+
newcomers have participated
Canoo Memberships Continue to Increase
Since we published our last Canoo Insights Report in June, Canoo membership continued to increase. The following graph shows overall Canoo member growth (adults + children) and monthly member growth from June to August 2024.
Correction note December 3, 2024: The following graph was previously mislabeled as “New Adult Canoo Members” and “Total Adult Canoo Members”. The labels have been updated to reflect that the graph shows both adult members and the children associated with them.
Canoo Member Growth June – August, 2024
Ottawa Canoo Members
Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is a vibrant city with diverse activities for locals and visitors alike. The following graph demonstrates adult Canoo member growth in Ottawa in 2024 so far (January 1 – August 31). The bar chart displays increases in adult Canoo memberships in Ottawa per month in 2024. The line graph displays total adult Canoo members in Ottawa. Canoo membership has grown steadily in Ottawa, reaching nearly 40,000 adult Canoo members by the end of July 2024.
Canoo Member Growth in Ottawa
Ottawa Canoo Member Demographics
The following graph shows the top ten countries of origin among Ottawa-based Canoo members. The second graph shows the top ten countries of origin among all Canoo members nation-wide. There are several countries that appear on the Ottawa top ten but not on the national top ten: Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, and Syria. Morocco, Algeria, and Lebanon all have significant French-speaking populations; these immigrants may be drawn to the bilingualism of Ottawa.
Top Countries of Origin of Ottawa-Based Canoo Members
Top Countries of Origin of Canoo Members Overall
Most Popular Ottawa Venues
Ottawa has a wealth of museums and galleries that showcase history, art, and culture from Canada and around the world. Check out the graph below to see some of the most popular Canoo venues in the Ottawa region, based on the number of admissions from January to July 2024.
Ottawa Canoo Venues by Admissions
Out-of-Province Canoo Admissions in Ottawa
In an earlier Canoo Insights Report, we shared how Canoo members use the app to travel across Canada. And as you can see from the graph above, Ottawa has plenty of exciting venues to keep visitors entertained. It’s no wonder so many Canoo members are travelling to this great city! The following graphs show how many Canoo members from each province (outside of Ontario) visited Canoo venues from January to July 2024. The graphs are split into visits from Canoo members located in the east, central, and west regions.
Canoo Visitors from Eastern Canada
Canoo Visitors from Central Canada
Canoo Visitors from Western Canada
Canoo into Ottawa
Want to learn more about Canoo members and venues in Ottawa? Check out the following blogs for more information:
If you found this report interesting, be sure to check out our previous editions of the Canoo Insights Report:
- Canoo Insights report: Part 4 Happy Canoo-versary!
- Canoo Insights Report: Canoo Across Canada
- Canoo Insights Report: Member Growth and Highlights
As Canoo continues to improve and expand, our quarterly reports strive to offer inspiring stories of Canoo members and highlight the essential collaborations that make these experiences possible.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from the ICC by subscribing here and following Ideas & Insights.
By Adiba Hasan
At the midyear point, the ICC Immigration Dashboard reveals that permanent residence (PR) admissions have reached 53% of the 2024 immigration target. In June 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) admitted 44,540 PRs, reflecting a 5% decrease from May 2024 but a 5% increase compared to June 2023.
Mid-Year Citizenship Trend
Unlike the Immigration Levels Plan, which outlines specific targets for permanent resident (PR) admissions, IRCC does not establish targets for citizenship admissions. This lack of defined citizenship targets creates barriers to tracking and understanding naturalization trends, making it difficult to gauge how many PRs become citizens annually. However, IRCC monitors monthly citizenship approvals, which are reflected in the ICC Immigration Dashboard.
The chart below compares monthly citizenship admissions between January and June 2024 and the same period in 2023. In the first half of 2023, IRCC welcomed 177,920 new citizens. Comparatively, during the same months in 2024, 206,854 individuals were granted Canadian citizenship – 16% more than the number of citizens admitted in 2023.
In 2024, citizenship admissions reached 54% of the total citizenship admissions recorded for the entirety of 2023. This highlights a growing trend in citizenship uptake among eligible permanent residents.
Bill C-71: Shaping the Future of Canadian Citizenship
Bill C-71 proposes a significant amendment to the Citizenship Act by repealing the “first-generation limit” on citizenship by descent. This limit, introduced in 2009, restricts citizenship transmission to only the first generation born abroad to Canadian parents. The repeal could enable thousands of individuals, previously ineligible due to this rule, to claim Canadian citizenship.
By removing this restriction, Bill C-71 could lead to a notable increase in citizenship applications and approvals in the coming years, contributing to the overall trend of rising citizenship numbers observed in 2024.
However, the potential influx of new citizens could strain already stretched resources for processing applications, leading to longer wait times and backlogs. Additionally, it could complicate the management of social services and benefits, as newly recognized citizens may have different needs and expectations from those who have lived in Canada long-term.
What are your thoughts?
- How might the repeal of the first-generation limit under Bill C-71 influence Canada’s long-term population and demographic landscape?
- What strategies should the government implement to manage the potential surge in citizenship applications effectively?
Stay informed about the latest immigration trends with the ICC’s immigration dashboard. Are you interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
By Adiba Hasan
The latest data in the ICC’s Immigration Dashboard indicates a steady admission of permanent residents (PRs) in 2024, reaching 43% of the targeted levels for the year.
Invitation to Apply Progress
When PR candidates submit their application through the Express Entry system (one of the common immigration pathways), IRCC issues them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) notifying them that they have proceeded to the next step in the PR selection process. The chart below shows the ITAs issued in 2024 compared to 2023. Overall, 2024 experienced an approximately 10% decrease in the number of ITAs issued, (62,615), compared to 2023 (69,148).
While the overall trend is down, there are some notable monthly variations. There was a sharp increase in February 2024 with 16,110 ITAs issued, representing a 229% rise from February 2023. Similarly, July 2024 saw more than a 100% increase in ITAs issued compared to July 2023.
Immigration Pathway in Focus: Family-class
The family-class immigration stream, also known as family reunification, allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close relatives such as spouses, partners, and children to reunite in Canada. According to the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, the family-class stream will welcome approximately 114,000 permanent residents, 24% of the overall immigration target (485,000).
Current Trend
The ICC Immigration Dashboard calculates that between January and May 2023, 53,040 PRs were admitted through the family-class stream. In the same period in 2024 (Jan-May), 42,080 PRs have been admitted via the family-class pathway, marking a decrease of 20% from the previous year.
The chart below illustrates the yearly PR admissions for the family-class category, showing that it has reached 37% of the immigration target (42,080 of a total of 114,000) for 2024. Despite the operational decrease in the short term, growth in the family-class category has been gradual — in contrast to some of the major spikes in applications under other categories such as Express Entry. According to the immigration backlog tracker, the family-class category has been the most manageable, with backlog applications steadily declining from 34% in 2022 to 14% in 2024.
In terms of naturalization, a new report by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship highlights potential causes for the decline in citizenship uptakes, noting that “family-class immigrants have the lowest naturalization rates among all immigration categories”. The study further reveals that immigrants admitted through the family-class stream have experienced a steeper decline in naturalization and take longer to apply for citizenship (6.3 years compared to 5.3 years for economic migrants and 5.1 years for refugees).
What are your thoughts?
Your insights and opinions on these critical matters are valuable. Share your thoughts and join the conversation on the future of immigration policies in Canada.
- What factors might contribute to the decrease in citizenship uptake among immigrants admitted through the family-class category?
- What measures can be implemented to support family-class immigrants in their journey towards citizenship?
Stay informed about the latest immigration trends with the ICC’s immigration dashboard. Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
Continuing its focus on understanding the causes and potential responses to the decline in citizenship uptake, today the Institute for Canadian Citizenship is publishing an in-depth analysis by expert researcher Andrew Griffith of demographic and socioeconomic data from Census 2016 and 2021 of naturalized and non-naturalized immigrants.
Highlights from the report
1. Citizenship is declining across all major demographic variables
Citizenship rates have declined across all major source countries, education levels, and provinces of residence. Notably, citizenship uptake is lowest among university-educated immigrants, who represent a growing proportion of recent immigrants. Despite higher immigration levels, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta experienced the largest declines in naturalization.
2. Family class immigrants have the lowest naturalization rates, refugees the highest
Immigrants who arrive under the family category have the lowest naturalization rates in both census periods, but also experienced the largest decline – 17 percent – between the two periods. Naturalization is higher for economic class and refugee immigrants, but these categories also experienced declines of 10 percent and 5 percent respectively across the two periods analyzed.
3. Naturalized citizens generally have higher incomes than non-citizens, non-citizen women lag behind in most labour force measures
Among immigrants with a bachelors degree, median after-tax income of non-citizens is only 43 percent of the median after-tax incomes of citizens across all census periods. The gap in unemployment levels between non-citizen and citizen women increased from less than 1 percent in Census 2016 to 2.3 percent in Census 2021 – a 155 percent increase.
4. Government can act to reverse the trend
Government should expand funding to programs that educate, encourage and prepare immigrants for citizenship, and also adopt a meaningful performance target focused on the naturalization rates of recent immigrants – those who arrived within 5-9 years. It should avoid diminishing the value of citizenship by making it a more visible and celebrated part of the immigration journey.
By Adiba Hasan
In this monthly update, the ICC Immigration Dashboard indicates a drop in PR admissions in 2024 by 16% compared to the same period in 2023. By March 2023, PR admissions had reached 31% of the immigration target levels, with 145,495 new PRs. By comparison, in March 2024 PR admissions hit 25% of the annual immigration target, with 121,610 new PRs.
In 2023, PR admissions declined gradually in the early months of the New Year, with 50,945 admitted in January, 49,670 in February (-1,275), and 44880 in March (-4,790). PR admissions have experienced a more a dramatic decline over the same period in 2024, with 47,745 admitted in January, 39,090 in February (-8,655), and 34,785 in March (-4,305).
PR Admissions by Province
The chart below reflects the impact of the decline in PR admissions across provinces. Overall, most provinces experienced a decrease in PR admissions in 2024 compared to 2023 between January and March. However, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic provinces experienced a slight uptick in PR admissions, with New Brunswick seeing a 35% increase in the PRs admitted compared to the same period in 2023.
The ICC immigration dashboard shows that Manitoba (-36%), Newfoundland and Labrador (-31%), British Columbia (-28%), and Saskatchewan (-24%) saw the sharpest decline in PR admissions. It is worth noting that these provinces are also facing challenges retaining immigrants.
| wdt_ID | Province | 2024 Admissions (Jan-Mar) | 2023 Admission (Jan-Mar) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NL | 1410 | 2045 | -31.05 |
| 4 | PEI | 1330 | 1275 | 4.31 |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 3995 | 3940 | 1.40 |
| 6 | New Brunswick | 4000 | 2945 | 35.82 |
| 7 | Quebec | 13360 | 16060 | -16.81 |
| 8 | Ontario | 52720 | 60860 | -13.37 |
| 9 | Manitoba | 5680 | 8855 | -35.86 |
| 10 | Saskatchewan | 5605 | 7390 | -24.15 |
| 11 | Alberta | 15360 | 17155 | -10.46 |
| 12 | British Columbia | 17740 | 24490 | -27.56 |
| 13 | Yukon | 300 | 340 | -11.76 |
| 14 | NWT | 110 | 125 | -12.00 |
| 15 | Nunavut | 0 | 10 | -100.00 |
Province Snapshot: New Brunswick
According to a Statistics Canada report, immigrant retention over 5 years has increased in New Brunswick in recent years. With the Canadian government’s commitment to strengthening francophone communities, New Brunswick has been a focal point in establishing initiatives to bolster francophones outside of Quebec as it is Canada’s only officially bilingual province.
In 2023, New Brunswick experienced record population growth with the province admitting “33,000 arrivals from other countries between July 2021 and July 2023”. The province is also experiencing significant economic growth, ending the fiscal year on March 31, 2023 with a budget surplus of $1.01 billion, which some attribute to the arrival of newcomers. As such, the city of Moncton, which houses 21% of the province’s population, has implemented an Urban Growth Strategy that serves as a directive for managing housing and employment plans for the city over the next 25 years.
According to the ICC Immigration Dashboard, New Brunswick welcomed 44,495 new permanent residents since 2018. The diagram below indicates the streams through which immigrants have been admitted, with the Provincial Nominee Program admitting the most PRs in 2022 and 2023.
What do you think?
- Given that Ontario attracts the most number of immigrants, how does adjusting immigration levels on a federal level impact provinces that have a demand for immigrants?
- What else can provinces outside of Ontario do to retain immigrants?
Stay informed about the latest immigration trends with the ICC’s immigration dashboard. Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
Today the ICC is publishing new research exploring immigrants’ perceptions of Canadian citizenship.
Our analysis combines survey and interview data from newcomers participating in the Canoo Access Pass who shared their perspectives on Canadian citizenship and the various factors that influence their views on whether to naturalize.
To read the full report, click here.
While a majority of the permanent residents (PRs) surveyed express positive views on Canadian citizenship and either intend to apply or have already done so, a significant 21% remain uncertain or reluctant to apply. Through in-depth follow-up interviews with 40 respondents, we found the following factors play a role in shaping newcomers’ views on naturalization:
- Dual Citizenship Restrictions and Economic Opportunities: For newcomers from countries with robust economies and stringent dual citizenship regulations, the allure of Canadian citizenship may be overshadowed by the advantages of retaining their original nationality. Economic prospects within and beyond Canada play a pivotal role in shaping individuals’ decisions.
- Unmet Expectations and Integration Challenges: The journey to integration is often fraught with obstacles, from navigating the labour market to grappling with cultural nuances. Mismatches between preconceived notions and the realities of life in Canada can lead to feelings of isolation and hinder newcomers’ sense of belonging.
- Challenges Accessing Support Services: Many newcomers report feeling adrift amidst the numerous integration services, highlighting a pressing need for specific accessible resources that foster a sense of community and facilitate a smoother transition to life in Canada.
In response to these findings, the ICC proposes the following recommendations to increase newcomer access and improve Canada’s citizenship program overall:
1. Establish Meaningful Naturalization Targets: Set ambitious yet achievable benchmarks for PRs to obtain citizenship within a specified timeframe, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging.
2. Enhance Accessibility of Citizenship Ceremonies: Make citizenship ceremonies more inclusive and publicly accessible, celebrating the diverse tapestry of Canadian identity.
3. Invest in Citizenship Promotion Programs: Allocate resources to initiatives that promote citizenship awareness and engagement, empowering newcomers to embrace their Canadian identity.
4. Prioritize Immigrant Satisfaction and Retention: Uphold immigrant satisfaction as a cornerstone of national policy, nurturing a welcoming environment that encourages long-term residency and civic participation.
Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
By Adiba Hasan
IRCC released the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan in November 2023, setting its PR admissions target at 485,000 in 2024 before levelling at 500,000 for 2025 and 2026. The latest data on the ICC’s Immigration Dashboard indicates that in January and February 2024, IRCC managed to admit 18% of its immigration target, which represents a 3% decline from the same period in 2023.
Increases in immigration following the pandemic have sparked intense debates about the impact of higher levels on a variety of issues such as housing and healthcare. In response, the government seems to be attempting to strike a balance by introducing “soft caps” for immigration groups such as temporary workers and international students, which were previously not subject to limits. While these new limits on temporary residents are established, as well as a levelling off of PR admissions at 500,000 in 2025 and 2026, the precise impact on issues such as housing and healthcare remains to be seen.
The chart below illustrates that while Canada saw a 20% increase in new citizens in the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, permanent resident (PR) admissions saw a 14% decrease over the same period.
Fewer Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and Higher CRS Scores
IRCC issues an Invitation to Apply (ITA) after a candidate successfully submits their PR application through the Express Entry system. Express Entry employs a Comprehensive Ranking System, a point-based system that gives candidates a score of 1,200 points based on their age, education, language proficiency, and work experience among other criteria. IRCC reviews and selects candidates that fit specific economic immigration programs, such as Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class, and Provincial Nominee Programs.
According to earlier draws in the Express Entry pool, scores for General applications that received an ITA were between 400-500 points, with the lowest CRS score requiring 75 points in post-pandemic 2021. However, the bar was raised in 2024, with successful applicants needing a score of above 500 points to receive an ITA, reflecting one of the many ways the government is trying to tighten immigration selection standards.
Further suggesting a more selective approach to immigration through Express Entry, there’s been a notable decrease of 21% of ITAs issued in 2024. Compared to the first four months of 2023, where IRCC issued 41,059 ITAs, the total ITA issued in 2024 is 32,395.
| Month (2024) | ITA Number |
|---|---|
| January (10th, 23rd, 31st) | 3,280 |
| February (1st, 13th, 14th, 16th, 28th) | 16,110 |
| March (12th, 13th, 25th, 26th) | 7,305 |
| April (10th, 11th, ongoing) | 5,750 |
While the Express Entry pool includes numerous streams that candidates can apply under, the French Language Proficiency and general groups have gotten most of the invitations, 34% and 38% respectively.
Navigating the Backlog
IRCC’s backlog tracker indicates that 58% of applications are being processed within the established standard time, with the remaining 42% exceeding service standards.
The graph below illustrates the fluctuations of applications in backlogs. Between June to December 2023, the citizenship backlog decreased by 6% whereas PR application backlogs decreased by 3%. Notably, there was a reduction of 36,800 citizenship applications between June to December 2023, and PR applications decreased by 1,000 while the backlog rate decreased slowly. By contrast, the backlog for temporary resident visas (including study and work permits; TRV) increased by 14% in 2023, even though total application numbers decreased from 1,300,000 in July 2023 to 1,256,600 in December 2023.
The graph below indicates a steady decrease in the percentage of citizenship applications in backlog, but it is also the group with the lowest number of applications when compared to PR and TRV application numbers.
| Month | Backlog | Application | % Backlog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||
| July | 308,000 | 640,000 | 48 |
| Aug | 303,000 | 640,000 | 47 |
| Sept | 290,500 | 640,000 | 45 |
| Oct | 291,000 | 640,000 | 45 |
| Nov | 284,600 | 646,000 | 44 |
| Dec | 287,500 | 639,000 | 45 |
| 2024 | |||
| Jan | 308,900 | 702,000 | 44 |
| Feb | 309,300 | 722,500 | 43 |
| Mar | 304,300 | 717,700 | 42 |
| Backlog | Applications | % Backlog |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
| 83,000 | 308,000 | 27 |
| 72,000 | 300,000 | 24 |
| 67,900 | 295,217 | 23 |
| 60,700 | 288,700 | 21 |
| 58,200 | 274,600 | 21 |
| 56,400 | 271,200 | 21 |
| 2024 | ||
| 49,800 | 262,100 | 19 |
| 49,800 | 267,400 | 19 |
| 48,400 | 263,400 | 18 |
| Backlog | Applications | % Backlog |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
| 429,000 | 1,300,000 | 33 |
| 426,000 | 1,331,250 | 32 |
| 444,200 | 1,346,060 | 33 |
| 493,000 | 1,264,000 | 39 |
| 585,700 | 1,273,400 | 46 |
| 592,600 | 1,256,600 | 47 |
| 2024 | ||
| 590,800 | 1,257,000 | 47 |
| 570,900 | 1,198,500 | 48 |
| 546,500 | 1,145,100 | 48 |
Share Your Thoughts
So far, the data for 2024 show fewer ITA’s being issued and a decrease in PRs being admitted, along with a very slow progress in working through backlogged applications. As we track the changes and continue to provide analysis of the changing immigration trends through the ICC Immigration Dashboard, here are two questions to ponder:
- Should alternative immigration streams be added to an already overwhelmed Express Entry system?
- Will a decrease in immigration levels have the intended impact on housing and healthcare strains, or will new challenges emerge?
Stay informed about the latest immigration trends with the ICC’s immigration dashboard. Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
By Adiba Hasan
As immigration continues to be the central debate in Canadian politics, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) admitted 471, 550 new permanent residents (PR) in 2023, surpassing the targeted PR admissions.
Citizenship in 2023
While policies emphasize the admission of temporary residents and new PRs, citizenship tends to receive less attention. The ICC has taken the lead on tracking monthly citizenship numbers through the ICC Immigration Dashboard and has also published reports that demonstrate a decline in naturalization rates.
The ICC Immigration Dashboard shows there were 379,448 new citizens in 2023. It is worth noting that IRCC does not publish an annual target for citizenship as they do with PR targets.
Immigration Trends
In 2023, the number of new citizens remained relatively stable with just a 1% increase from 2022, which works out to an additional 3,838 new citizens. By comparison, PR admissions experienced an 8% increase over the same time period.
PR by Province: 12-Month Comparison
Ontario attracted the highest number of immigrants, admitting 206,725 new PRs in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year. Quebec experienced a 23% decline in PR admissions as the province admitted 52,790 PRs in 2023 and 68,715 in 2022. While not significantly lower, Nova Scotia admitted 11,810 PRs, 840 applicants less than the previous year.
Immigration Category
Most PRs were admitted under the Economic and Family immigration categories, surpassing the target set for 2023. The refugee category reached 98% of its target, and the “other” category reached 89% of its target.
Additionally, the following table shows the percentage increase in PR admissions in the categories in 2023 compared to 2022:
| Category | 2023 PR Admisions | 2022 PR Admissions | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | 272,620 | 255,670 | +7 |
| Family Class | 109,580 | 97,290 | +13 |
| Refugees | 74,975 | 74,300 | +0.9 |
| Other | 14,200 | 10,150 | +40 |
Top 3 Source Countries for PR in 2023
The ICC Immigration Dashboard highlights the diverse backgrounds of people who settle in Canada. In 2023, India (139,715 PRs), China (31,770), and the Philippines (26,945) resumed their positions as the top source countries for PR admissions, repeating a pattern observed in 2021. India has consistently been the top source country for PR admissions between 2021 to 2023.
The new source countries that emerged in 2022 were Afghanistan (23,745 PRs) and Nigeria (22,135 PRs), which remain in the top 5 source countries in 2023.
Emerging Source Countries
2023 also saw a significant growth in PR admissions from African nations, reflecting the changes in global immigration dynamics. The source countries that saw an increase in the number of PRs admitted were Cameroon, with an 87% increase from 2022, Congo, DRC, 63% increase, and Eritrea, 40% increase.
Every year, IRCC reveals its immigration levels plan that sets targets for the number of PRs that will be admitted through different categories in the forthcoming three years. As we continue to analyze and report, the immigration levels plan aims to welcome 485,000 new PRs in 2024, increasing to 500,000 PRs in 2025 and 2026. Separately, Quebec released its immigration target levels, which are set to admit 50,000 PRs in 2024 and 2025.
At the moment, IRCC has not published annual targets for new citizens.
Share Your Thoughts
- In the global competition for skilled labour, how should Canada adjust its immigration selection policies to attract talent?
- How can Canadian immigration policies be adapted to more effectively recognize and utilize the credentials and experiences of international professionals, addressing underemployment issues among immigrants?
Track the changing trends in immigration through the ICC’s immigration dashboard. At the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, our commitment is to make Canada accessible to newcomers. Through programs like Canoo and our various research efforts, we hope to collaboratively build pathways to enrich Canada’s diverse immigrant population.
Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates from Ideas & Insights at ICC. You can learn more about the ICC here.
Toronto, Ontario, February 6, 2024 – Early findings from The Newcomer Perspective, a study conducted jointly by Ipsos and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), show that newcomers have mixed feelings as they acclimatize to life in Canada. Preliminary results from the research, which will gather the views of 20,000 newcomers to Canada in 2024, demonstrate how critical it is for governments, businesses and all Canadians to understand all phases of the newcomer journey to Canada. That journey is indeed a very dynamic one, with significant shifts in perspectives and behaviours across different demographics and throughout the first ten years in Canada. As results also demonstrate, it is also a journey of mixed emotions.
Significant headwinds during their first few years in the Country
Early findings demonstrate that newcomers face major challenges during their first few years in Canada, especially when it comes to housing and finances. When asked to select the three most important issues facing Canada today from a list of 20 items, housing easily topped the list, with 68% of newcomers choosing it as a top concern. This was followed by interest rates and inflation (44%), healthcare (39%) and unemployment and jobs (26%).
In line with those findings, more than eight in ten (86%) newcomers say that Canada has been worse than expected as a place that gives them access to affordable housing, compared to only 5% who think it is better than expected. Housing far outranks any other aspect of the newcomer journey when it comes to falling short of expectations.
Canada also falls short of expectations for too many newcomers as a place where you can get ahead financially (56% worse/22% better) and as a place where you can make a good income (51% worse/23% better).
Newcomers feel welcomed and treated fairly in Canada
Despite facing challenges in the early years, the vast majority of newcomers to Canada say that the country meets or exceeds their expectations as a place where they feel welcomed (89%) and believe they are being treated fairly as Canadian residents (87%). Bringing with them a great variety of cultural, social, religious, and political beliefs and behaviours, the vast majority of newcomers nonetheless feel that they share the same outlook on life, opinions on important issues, etc. as other Canadians (85%).
Do newcomers feel welcomed in the same way by different groups and institutions? Mostly. More than nine in ten feel welcomed by Canadian non-profit organizations (95%; 51% very/44% somewhat), by people in Canada (94%; 49% very/45% somewhat) and by government entities in Canada/the Canadian government (90%; 44% very/46% somewhat). While 85% also feel welcomed by Canadian businesses, only 31% say they feel very welcomed compared to 54% who feel somewhat welcomed, leaving ample room for improvement on the part of Canadian businesses.
The Newcomer Perspective: So much more than a survey of newcomers
These are just a small sample of key findings and topics covered in this groundbreaking syndicated research program, The Newcomer Perspective. In months to come, Ipsos and the ICC will explore other issues of importance for newcomers and for the governments, non-profits and businesses who seek to serve them better. This ongoing research will track the views of newcomers over time and will allow subscribers to dive deeper into results by a wide array of key segments, including country of origin, immigration category, province of residence, number of years in Canada, age, education levels and so much more.
About this release
These are some of the early findings of the recently launched ‘The Newcomer Perspective’ research program, which will survey 20,000 newcomers in 2024. For this release, 1,336 newcomers to Canada aged 18 years and over were interviewed online between November 14-23, 2023. Participants for the survey were permanent residents and Canadian citizens who have recently moved to Canada. Respondents were members of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s (ICC) Canoo Cultural Access Pass, which represents the largest and highest quality member base of Canadian newcomers.
About The Newcomer Perspective Study
The Newcomer Perspective is a partnership between Ipsos and the ICC which brings the voices of newcomers to Canadian leaders in the private and public sectors, providing the insights they need to play their part in making Canada a welcoming country that newcomers fall in love with and contribute to. The study is the country’s largest and most comprehensive survey of the attitudes and perspectives of newcomers throughout their immigration journey. For more information on The Newcomer Perspective research program, please see more information here or write to NewcomerInsightsCanada@ipsos.com.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 20,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and Mid-60 indices and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP. www.ipsos.com
About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC)
The ICC works to unlock Canada for newcomers, facilitating and encouraging the journey towards full and active Canadian citizenship. Thanks to its pioneering Canoo Cultural Access Pass, the ICC serves more newcomers than any other organization in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, the ICC has a presence across the country, including staff in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montréal.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
For Ipsos:
Sanyam Sethi
Vice President, Ipsos Public Affairs
Sanyam.Sethi@ipsos.com
+1 416 324-2307
Sébastien Dallaire
Senior Vice President
Sebastien.Dallaire@ipsos.com
+1 514 443-4758
For the Institute for Canadian Citizenship
Alex Nanoff
media@forcitizenship.ca
+1 613 709 6318
Research details
For questions about methodology and analysis, please contact Ipsos using the details listed above.
Click here for more information and to access data tables for this release.
By Adiba Hasan
The ICC Immigration Dashboard indicates that IRCC is well on its way to reaching its goal for the year having admitted 80% of its target for new Permanent Residents (PR) for 2023.
According to IRCC data, 37% of the PR admissions were people who transitioned from holding temporary residency in Canada to becoming permanent residents. However, new research commissioned by the ICC shows that immigration levels only show part of the story; immigrants are leaving Canada in growing numbers.
Diving into the Trends:
The ICC Immigration Dashboard shows a pattern of PR admissions experiencing a dip every August. For reference, the ICC Immigration Dashboard shows the following dips between June to September every year since 2018:
Each year, between July and August, there’s an average decrease of 13%. However, September typically witnesses an uptick in PR admissions. In 2023, we observed a different pattern than in the previous years. There is a steady decrease from 42,405 permanent residents admitted in June, followed by a slight dip to 40,630 in July, a more substantial drop to 34,920 in August, following a further dip to 32,065 in September.
Challenges and Departures:
While the government diligently focuses on achieving its immigration targets, new research by the ICC and the Conference Board of Canada shows that immigrants are leaving Canada at alarming rates, with spikes in the most recent years for which data are available. The report, The Leaky Bucket, shows that onward migration has been creeping up since the 1980s. The findings suggest that immigration levels and associated concerns with impacts on infrastructure and public services cannot be viewed in isolation — the number of immigrants coming to Canada must be contextualized with the number of immigrants choosing to leave.
Read the full report here: Immigrants leaving Canada in growing numbers
Source Countries and Naturalization:
The top four source countries for new Canadian citizens between January to September 2023 were India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Pakistan. New Canadian citizens from Iran and China show month-to-month fluctuations.
Notably, India and China, which do not permit dual citizenship, exhibit the most significant disparities between permanent residents and choosing to naturalize.
While naturalization is decreasing among all major source countries, research conducted by Andrew Griffith and published by the ICC shows that restrictions on dual nationality has a “limited impact on overall naturalization rates“. One significant insight from the research is that permanent residents are taking much longer to naturalize. Combined with the recent findings that growing numbers of immigrants are leaving Canada, serious questions are being raised about immigrants’ satisfaction with life in Canada.
Maintaining Canada’s reputation as a welcoming society is crucial, but it is equally vital to recognize that Canada has not been paying close enough attention to the experiences of immigrants once they arrive. As ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard aptly puts it, “If we are able to attract but not retain talent from the rest of the world, then all of our prosperity is threatened.”
- What are the consequences for Canada if immigrants no longer commit to building their futures here?
- How can Canada proactively work to retain immigrants and continue to attract the diverse talent it needs to thrive in a globalized world?
We invite you, our readers, to share your valuable insights, experiences, and perspectives on these pressing matters. Your engagement is vital as we work to shape Canada’s immigration policies and ensure an inclusive and welcoming future for all.
Stay informed through the immigration dashboard for the latest numbers on PR admissions and new citizens.
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