There’s a joke about a fellow whose roof needs fixing. When asked about it, he says: “When it’s raining, it’s too wet to go up there. And when it’s dry, it’s as good as any man’s roof!” In short, without the immediate need for new housing and medical staff, I suspect we will give up on the effort to find it.
By Shauna Dobbie
If you’re like me, you’ve been amazed and impressed by all of the new people coming to Canada from Ukraine, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, China and more. Some are here permanently while others are staying for temporary jobs or just for school. It makes me proud to be part of a country that hosts so many people and I think it should continue.
Lately, though, we have hosted many more new people than in the past. Canada admitted more than a million people in the last nine months of 2023. Throughout 2023, we added 3.2 percent—1,271,872—to our population. Of that, only 30,525 came from “natural increases”, or births minus deaths; the rest were permanent or non-permanent immigrants.
The federal government has announced new caps on immigration, attempting to allow no more than five percent of the country’s population overall in non-permanent residents, including students, workers and families. We currently have around 380,000 people more than this cap would allow. Since Canada isn’t the kind of country to expel individuals already here, five percent seems like a far-off goal. (I’m okay with that.)
People say it’s an infrastructure problem. We don’t have enough housing and doctors to handle so many people and it takes a few years to get up to speed. My issue is this: how will we meet the challenge of creating housing and doctors without the pressure of already having too many people here? And how will we do it with a smaller workforce than we have right now?
There’s a joke about a fellow whose roof needs fixing. When asked about it, he says: “When it’s raining, it’s too wet to go up there. And when it’s dry, it’s as good as any man’s roof!” In short, without the immediate need for new housing and medical staff, I suspect we will give up on the effort to find it.
There are currently programs in place to encourage medical professionals and construction tradespeople to come to Canada. They may not be enough, and they will take a bit of time to work.
With medical sciences, we have the added issue of ensuring that new professionals are trained to provide care in the way that Manitobans require. This doesn’t mean they need to attend years of school in Canada; passing comprehensive exams should be enough. With construction, maybe a year of a college program would be sufficient to give individuals the required knowledge of Canadian standards and differences.
New Canadians bring new ideas and establish businesses, contributing to economic diversity and innovation. Small and medium-sized enterprises started by immigrants can create job opportunities. At the same time, an increase in population through immigration expands the consumer base, driving demand for goods and services and stimulating local economies.
Here is what recent immigrants and their families don’t do: they don’t commit crimes. In fact, the longer recent immigrants live in a place, the further down the crime rate goes. (Don’t believe me? Read the study for yourself: “Immigration and crime: Evidence from Canada” by Haimin Zhang, 2014.)
They don’t steal jobs. Study after study shows immigration does not lead to higher unemployment rates among native-born workers. In fact, by contributing to economic growth, immigrants can help create more jobs in the long run.
These new Canadians also contribute to the cultural mosaic of Manitoba, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences that can enhance community life and foster mutual understanding. Multicultural communities lead to a richer social fabric, with various cultural festivals, cuisines, and traditions becoming part of the local culture.
The history of Manitoba is chock-a-block with success stories of immigrant families thriving in here, contributing to local communities, and becoming integral parts of society. Continued immigration is essential for Manitoba's economic vitality, social diversity, and demographic stability. It ensures a dynamic, prosperous future for the province.
Dorothy: Should immigration be paused?
