Author: Azadeh Haidari-Garmash, RCIC
A report released by the Conference Board of Canada on Tuesday reveals that Canada has seen a loss of approximately 35% of its French-speaking immigrants, primarily in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. This study, commissioned by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, indicates that this figure has been accumulating over a significant period.
Interestingly, the trend suggests that most newcomers, irrespective of their language preference, tend to depart within their first five years of obtaining permanent residency in Canada. The report highlights the crucial first two years as particularly decisive for immigrants whose mother tongue is French.
The study further unveils that, within a span of 25 years, about one in five immigrants to Canada eventually relocate to another country. Nearly one-third of these individuals make this move within their first five years of residency in the country.
This comprehensive study, a collaborative effort between the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, is the second report that delves into the issue of onward migration. The findings are based on data from 2020 and contribute to a growing body of research on the long-term migration patterns of immigrants in Canada.
The report underscores the critical need for effective retention strategies, particularly for French-speaking immigrants, to ensure the linguistic diversity of Canada's population.
