A McGill study reveals a growing trend: more Canadians are opting to live abroad, with affordability among the reasons. Relative to its population, Canada has far more citizens living overseas than the United States.
According to Statistics Canada, approximately four million Canadians, accounting for about 11 percent of the population, were living abroad in 2016. However, the country faces challenges in retaining new citizens, with onward migration increasing by 31 percent between 2017 and 2019, as per the report released by the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.
The report attributes part of this trend to the lack of affordability in Canada. It points out that Canada's rigid and impractical procedures for recognizing foreign credentials hinder immigrants from securing jobs in their respective fields and advancing their careers in the country.
While about half of Canadians abroad obtained their citizenship through Canadian parents and one-third were born in Canada, the remaining 15 percent were born abroad but later became naturalized citizens. Their reasons for leaving include opportunities for travel, work, and education.
Statistics from StatsCan suggest that the average age of Canadians living abroad is 46.2, slightly higher than the national average, with the largest group falling between 45 and 54 years old. Data from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada indicate that Canadian expatriates are mainly concentrated in the United States, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
B.C. Senator Yuen Pau Woo, whose office commissioned the report, emphasizes that Canada could enhance its global influence by supporting citizens living abroad more effectively. He suggests that Ottawa should devise a strategy to harness the potential of Canadian expatriates, noting that their numbers surpass those of entire provinces.
Woo highlights the need for deeper reflection on how to leverage this "hidden asset" of Canadian expats, calling for better policies and research in this area. The report also underscores Canada's lag in providing adequate support for its citizens living abroad, who often face limitations in voting in provincial elections and accessing healthcare despite paying taxes.
In conclusion, the report advocates for more comprehensive policies and research to address the challenges faced by Canadian expatriates and to capitalize on the potential benefits they offer to the country.
