A 2019 New Year’s Resolution: Supporting the Immigrant Population in Canada

From 2016-17, 66% of the national employment gains in Canada were attributed to immigrants from 25 to 54 years old and Canadian born workers aged 55 to older. As indicated by this statistic, immigration has become a core aspect of both the Canadian economy and society and will continue to be so as we enter the new year of 2019. As Canada becomes a destination for more and more immigrants from various countries abroad, a welcoming atmosphere as well as a range of supports will be critical to the livelihood of Canadian immigrants in 2019. This time of the year is one for both deep reflection on one’s accomplishments, milestones and challenges over the previous year, with that year being 2018. At the same time, the new year is an opportunity to use that reflection to set a new vision on the year ahead. These are often termed resolutions, and the resolution for this year as Canadians can be to better support the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who choose Canada as their home to build a livelihood.

On New Year’s Eve, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has promoted the city as being open, that regardless of Brexit, “London will always be open to the world, proud of our diversity and inclusive to everyone." This was iterated only a few months later following a remark by the mayor that the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity was under attack in not only the United Kingdom, but around the world as well. Closer to home, there has been misinformation of decreased sovereignty due to the Global Compact for Migration under the United Nations that Canada recently signed onto.

Most of this stigma came from the federal Conservative Party of Canada, as reported by the Globe and Mail. Professor Craig Damian Smith from the University of Toronto stated that they were “mimicking and importing far-right political rhetoric from Europe. Their arguments are cut and pasted from xenophobic and self-described de-liberal political parties.”

To properly support immigrants that come to Canada in this upcoming year and beyond, it is important to cut through this noise and other forms of misinformation that deny them the choice or non-choice of a meaningful life in Canada. It is critical that conversations and support be rooted in both facts and the rule of law in Canada. There are a great many contributions from immigrants to the social, cultural or economic aspects of Canada and elsewhere that may go unnoticed.

With the Canadian Tamil community for example, an endowment of $3 million was setup in June 2018 for the establishment of a Tamil Studies Chair at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Professor Bruce Kidd, the retired vice-president of U of T and principal of UTSC highlighted that a Tamil Studies chair is crucial to unveiling the immigration and refugee settlement experiences in Toronto of the Tamil community through their unique language, history and culture.

As 2018 draws to a conclusion, let us take this time to reflect on what this year has brought for us. In 2019, build a roadmap for yourself and Canadian immigrants to make 2019 a successful year.

Wishing all Monsoon Journal readers and Canadians a Happy New Year with family and friends!