Eunice Hlophe

Migrating to Canada

Pros

Compared with countries like the United States and Great Britain, Canada generally
views immigration in a positive light. Most agree that as an officially multicultural society (since
1971), Canada benefits from the various political, religious and cultural contributions of
immigrants. Immigration is widely viewed as vital to the economy because Canada's population
has been aging and its birth rates have been dropping over the past several decades.

Lambrick, Melanie. "Immigration: An Overview." Canadian Points of View: Immigration, Jan.

2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h&AN=28674974&lang=en-ca&site=pov-
ca

Without a population and fiscal policy tied to immigration, Canada's aging population and low
fertility rate will undermine an otherwise healthy economy. Immigration must continue to power
Canada's population growth and economy. Increased immigration has helped create more and
more ethnic communities across Canadian urban centers; today over one hundred languages are
spoken in Canada.

Yip, Jerome and Jacqui Clydesdale. "Point: Supplant Low Population Growth through
Immigration." Canadian Points of View: Population Growth, 31 Mar. 2017, p. 2. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h&AN=28675043&lang=en-ca&site=pov-
can.

Cons

Canada is already overpopulated and net migration should be kept to a minimum. Economists
are concerned about increasing problems with labour shortages. Canadian federal and provincial
officials have often looked to net migration as the labour shortage solution. In 2005 and 2006,
net international migration accounted for two thirds of the annual population growth. In 2010,
Statistics Canada reported that the country received approximately 280,000 immigrants, the
highest recorded level since the mid-twentieth century. However, net international migration as a
whole declined from 2009.

Jones, Nuala. "Counterpoint: Canada Is Already Overpopulated." Canadian Points of View:

Population Growth, 31 Mar. 2017, p. 3. EBSCOhost,
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can.
Eunice Hlophe

A Statistics Canada May 2007 survey revealed that highly educated immigrants tended to
curtail the earnings growth of the most educated Canadians as compared to those who were the
least educated. Other studies have argued that excess immigration may contribute to
unemployment within the existing labour force. In addition, the economic and social fabric of the
country might suffer because of higher welfare, educational and medical expenditure.

Jones, Nuala. "Counterpoint: Canada Is Already Overpopulated." Canadian Points of View:

Population Growth, 31 Mar. 2017, p. 3. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h&AN=28675044&lang=en-ca&site=pov-
can.

The leniency with which Canada treats refugee claimants has allowed criminals, terrorists, and
fraudulent immigrants to inundate the IRB at significant expense and danger to Canadian
citizens. The Canadian government must immediately dismantle the IRB and establish a system
that provides for the detention of claimants lacking authentic documentation and the immediate
deportation of anyone who has traveled through a "safe third country," or who possesses a
criminal or terrorist background.

Cassola, Adele. "Point: Canada's Refugee Policy Is a Dangerously Permeable

System." Canadian Points of View: Refugee Policy, Jan. 2017, p. 2. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h&AN=28675071&lang=en-ca&site=pov-
can.

` Even if their claim is rejected, asylum seekers can remain in the country for at least four years
as they take advantage of a time-consuming appeals process, knowing that once all appeals are
exhausted and a deportation order is issued, it is unlikely that their deportation will be enforced.
By 2007, approximately 50,000 rejected claimants who had been ordered to leave the country
had not been deported. Instead, they are abusing the hospitality of Canadian taxpayers along with
the 25,000 supposed asylum seekers who simply abandoned their claims and disappeared into
Canadian society without penalty between 1989 and 2000.

Cassola, Adele. "Point: Canada's Refugee Policy Is a Dangerously Permeable

System." Canadian Points of View: Refugee Policy, Jan. 2017, p. 2. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h&AN=28675071&lang=en-ca&site=pov-
can.