Immigration Policy Effects in Canada - Research Paper Example

Immigration policy effects in Canada of 17TH MARCH Immigration policy effects in Canada Introduction Cornelius (2004) defined immigration as the active movement of individuals in other countries in which they are not residents with a purpose to settle there. Immigrations are commonly caused by instable political systems, economic reasons, family re-unifications, and a desire to change the environment voluntarily. Majority of the individuals move to settle in other countries for a better life and a cool environment. Canada is located in North America and is among the countries that have had a large number of immigrants, the International Organization for Migration estimated over forty five million immigrants in North America. Cornelius (2004) stated that majority of individuals who immigrate to Canada are from Asia and they are settled in the urban areas of Vancouver and Toronto. Westhues (2006) stated that the Push and Pull theory of immigration best explains why individuals move to settle in other countries. He stated that the Push factors are the primary motives that facilitate the need for people to move to other countries. Majority of individuals are attracted to settle in other countries that have affordable wage rates and good economy. The factors that pull people to their countries are good economy, improved education system, better infrastructure, security, and cool political environments. Canada’s policies toward visitors from other countries encourage immigration as accusing anybody of racism is regarded as a serious insult (Westhues, 2006). This paper is going to discuss the immigration policy effects in Canada especially their effects on the economy, culture, and education. Effects on the Economy Many people immigrate to Canada because the country has good economy and there are many business opportunities in the region considering its high population and the variety of industries. People migrating to Canada are mainly seeking better employment positions to earn high incomes that were not available in their countries. In the studies done by Grubel and Fraser Institute (2009) it is stated that the recent immigrants in Canada most of the times have low incomes than the Canadian natives but as they settle, their incomes and employment rates increase towards the average level. Canada is known worldwide to have the best supplies in natural resources such as metals, lumber, and oil. The country attracts many immigrants to work in their industries because they are scarcely populated over a huge landscape. The immigrants have a positive effect on the economy of Canada as they have provided labor for the industries in return for better incomes. For example, Chinese migrants constructed the Canadian Pacific Railway, which promotes the economy of Canada (Cornelius, 2004). The immigrants have increased the population in Canada because the country is known to have low birth rates. The individuals who settle in Canada are important as they help in achieving the future government objectives and provide market for the goods and services required to encourage successful businesses. Immigrants in Canada have boosted the economic and employment output as the majority of the individuals who migrate to Canada have the best techniques to manage businesses and carry out different activities in the industries. Westhues (2006) stated that an increase in population due to immigration leads to a decrease in wages in Canada; this is a discouragement especially for those immigrants who are educated but earn less income than the native Canadians earn. Most immigrants who settle in Canada promote the economy because as the population increases the demand and supply for various products increase, hence making the enterprises successful in Canada. The immigration policies have a good effect in Canada as they allow people with new techniques to improve the economy as they settle in their country. The people who were successful business entrepreneurs from countries that had been affected by ethnic wars and political instability can start businesses in Canada hence promoting the economy. The new people provide a market for products produced from the industries in Canada, hence making it easier for businesses to improve on the products they manufacture. The immigration policies have a good effect to Canada, as the new people from various cultures encourage other countries to carry out business activities with Canada hence boosting international trade. The immigrants have the linguistic skills, personal connections, and expertise with the countries they originate from and therefore easy to help form international trade links (Cornelius, 2004). The economy of Canada is greatly improved due to international trade facilitated by the high rate of immigration of people from Asia, Europe and other regions of the United States of America. Other countries would be willing to trade with Canada because they discourage racism and make the new people comfortable settling in their country by providing them with employment opportunities. Effects on culture Immigration has resulted to ethnic diversity and the settlement of people with different cultures in Canada. Canada has responded positively to immigration of individuals from different countries by celebrating diversities, respecting the cultural differences of the visitors and allowing the minority population to express their unique cultures. Kelly and Trebilcock (2010) stated that Canada has developed as a single national identity since its inception in 1867. The country had two founding leaders from different religions, histories, languages, and cultures. This factor has enabled the people in Canada to learn to accommodate individuals from different cultures as equals building up a tradition in the process. Kelly and Trebilcock (2010) stated that the two leaders were from the French culture in Quebec and the other one was from an English background in Ontario. Immigrants in Canada have a positive effect because they have influenced intergration within the Canadian communities and facilitated the government to come up with policies to protect the minority rights for the immigrants. The native Canadians are able to appreciate the background of people from different cultures by learning how they carry out their activities in terms of social and recreational activities. Grubel and Fraser Institute (2009) stated that Canada is regarded as a nation of immigrants because they encourage individuals from different countries who promote the growth of their nation through introduction of new cultures. The immigration policies have had a positive effect to Canada as the immigrants have introduced new languages in Canada. Interaction between the Canadian natives and the immigrants have made them learn new languages that enable them to communicate effectively when they visit other countries and facilitate successful business deals. The immigration policies in Canada have a positive effect as they promote peaceful coexistence between the native Canadians and the immigrants. The immigrants who are welcomed to settle in Canada become part of the nation and become part of the Canadian culture through assimilation. This is whereby the people from different countries with different cultures intermarry and have children with mixed cultures. Moens et al (2008) stated that through intermarriages, hybrid children are born who bring about a unique respectable culture with distinct characters. There are no cases of illegal immigrants in Canada, which makes them have good attitudes towards different cultures from various countries. Despite the positive attitude towards the positive effects immigrants in Canada, some cultures in different countries such as forced marriages, homosexuality, female genital mutilation (FGM), and honor killings are not encouraged in Canada and hence they have brought about debates on integration and immigration. Effects on education Immigration policies have a positive effect on Canada because highly educated individuals have been able to come to the country to provide their high quality skills and techniques to the industries. Moens et al (2008) stated that many highly educated individuals who were working immigrated to Canada and began competing with the Canadian natives for job openings. The immigrants are industrious in education sectors than the natives since for them to be employed in the best companies in Canada they have to show that they have the qualifications required. Westhues (2006) stated that immigrants in Canada are well educated and once they are settled in the country, they have the advantage of receiving higher wages. The immigrants boost the prestige of Canada as majority of them have postgraduate and under graduate degrees. The immigrants are more active in education than the natives but their foreign credentials are not recognized I some organizations in Canada (Westhues, 2006). The immigrants’ policy in Canada has positive effects in education as international students have high qualifications and have the knowledge and skills of different ideas that can be used to improve the different sectors of the economy in Canada hence making it among the best countries in the world in business. Majority of the international students focus is to present their best experiences to the Universities they are called to study since Canada is known to welcome only students with the best skills (Cornelius, 2004). This is a positive effect as the country is able is able to get the best students from different countries in the world. The process of students from different countries studying in Canada promotes international relations between the regions so that their students can treated well and comfortably in the period of their academia. This is a positive effect in Canada as their people can be treated well when they visit other countries and their students can study different courses in other countries that offer studies in their areas of interest. Kelly and Trebilcock (2010) stated that immigration of international students promote standardization of curricula. This is a situation whereby the international students who study in Canada extent their studies in different fields and become experts in their countries when they go back home. This creates a standardized field of professionals around the world since the students have the expertise and techniques required to work in any kind of environment in the countries of their choice. Conclusion Immigration is the process whereby individuals move into another country in which they not natives and purpose to settle there. Individuals move to other countries due various reasons such as wars leading to insecurities in the area, economic reasons, visiting family members, studies, political instability and a voluntary change of environment. Canada is a country that has largest number of immigrants from various parts of the world since they are welcoming and treat the immigrants with respect and dignity. Immigration policy in Canada has positive effects on the economy because the immigrants provide a wide market for the goods and services, increase demand and supply of products and provide labor for the industries around the region. The immigration policy has positive effects on the culture in Canada, as they are able to learn diverse cultures from the communities that settle hence becoming familiar with many languages and cultural knowledge and skills. Finally, the immigration policy in Canada has positive effects on the education as students from other countries promote interrelations with other countries, provide skilled labor in their areas of employment, and promote standardization of curricula. All these factors show that the immigration policy in Canada should be promoted because it facilitates the growth of the nation. References Cornelius, W. A. (2004). Controlling immigration: A global perspective. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press. Grubel, G., and Fraser Institute (Vancouver, B.C.). (2009). The effects of mass immigration on Canadian living standards and society. Vancouver: Fraser Institute. Kelley, N., and Trebilcock,J. (2010). The making of the mosaic: A history of Canadian immigration policy. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Moens, A. A., Collacott, M., and Fraser Institute (Vancouver, B.C.). (2008). Immigration policy and the terrorist threat in Canada and the United States. Vancouver: Fraser Institute. Westhues, A. (2006). Canadian social policy: Issues and perspectives. Waterloo, Ont: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. Read More