A plan to welcome a record number of immigrants to Canada includes bringing in needed workers, but experts and employers say more could be done to help newcomers arrive and thrive in their new home.
The push comes as Canada is dealing with a shortage of workers.
“If we don’t have immigration, our workforce will not grow,” said Anil Verma, professor emeritus of industrial relations and human resources management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Canada is aiming to welcome 500,000 newcomers in 2025, and one of the goals is to help fill jobs with skilled workers. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
According to the government’s fall economic statement, “Immigration is core to our identity as Canadians, while also being a key driver of Canada’s economic growth.”
In its fall economic statement, Ottawa said ‘immigration is core to our identity as Canadians, while also being a key driver of Canada’s economic growth.’ (Olivier Hyland/CBC)
Ottawa could be ‘bolder’
The federal government is aiming for roughly 60 per cent of newcomers to be in the economic class — people coming to Canada for their work skills as well as their accompanying family members — in 2025.
Dennis Darby, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), said his trade association members are “very thankful” for what the government is doing.
“That’s how we’re going to get the next generation of people that we need.”
A view of a portion of Toronto’s financial district is seen in a file photo from last December. The Business Council of Canada, an advocacy group that represents scores of leaders across a range of industries, believes Ottawa could have set ‘bolder’ immigration targets than it has announced. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters)
The Business Council of Canada (BCC), an advocacy group that represents business leaders across a range of industries, also supports the approach, but believes Ottawa could be “bolder” in its recruitment goals.
“Directionally, we’re happy with where the government is going,” said Trevor Neiman, the council’s director of policy and legal counsel.
Both the BCC and CME support seeing even more workers join the country and the economy.
No matter how large that cohort is, however, Verma points out that the process of moving to another country to start a new life — and securing employment — doesn’t happen overnight.
That means the full impact these incoming workers will have on the labour market won’t be realized immediately.
“The math on filling job vacancies is very tricky, and I think should not be the basis for long-term immigration policy,” said Verma, pointing to economic growth and nation building as being more relevant factors.
‘A bumpy ride’
Samitaa Chahal knows how hard the journey to a new life in Canada can be.
She left India and landed in Ontario just two weeks before the pandemic shut everything down in March 2020.
Chahal found herself on her own and trying to make sense of the chaos. That included finding a job amid a world turned upside-down.
Samitaa Chahal moved to Canada just before the pandemic shut down both borders and business as usual. She persevered, finding a job at a difficult time and learning the quirks of the domestic job market. (Submitted by Samitaa Chahal)
Despite having a background in marketing and communications, her first job here was at a long-term care home.
Six months later, she found another job, and has since moved into a position as an instructional designer in the learning and development field — one that she chose over a rival job offer.
Chahal remembers the pride she felt in being able to “pick and choose what I want to do and not [from] what life throws at me.”
“It’s been a bumpy ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.
Many skills in demand
The federal government says its immigration plan will help Canadian businesses find people needed in key sectors, including in health care, building trades, manufacturing, and science, technology, education and math (STEM).
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says targeted draws will be used next year to bring applicants with the most in-demand skills to specific regions where they are needed. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has said targeted draws will be used next year to bring applicants with the most in-demand skills to specific regions where they’re needed.
The minister told Reuters that a key focus will be on recruiting doctors and nurses, in provinces that will work to ensure these newcomers’ credentials are recognized quickly.
In terms of the manufacturing sector, the CME’s Darby said there’s high demand for both skilled and general labour, with more than 80,000 unfilled positions across Canada.
More competition for people
The BCC says its members — which include banks, mining companies and other large employers — have signalled immigration is key for finding needed personnel.
Ottawa says its immigration plan will help Canadian businesses find people for key sectors that include health care, building trades and manufacturing. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Two-thirds of the respondents said they recruited staff directly via immigration, while the BCC said the rest hired immigrants who were already living here.
Neiman said Canada has benefited greatly from immigration for years and it remains one of Ottawa’s strongest tools for addressing labour shortages.
But he said the country now faces more intense competition for people as other nations also face labour shortages.
“Canada really needs to step up its game in order to maintain its advantage,” he said.
Ottawa appears to be listening: In its fall economic statement, the government said it would earmark $50 million in additional funding to deal with current backlogs and other issues impeding newcomers’ speedy entry to Canada.
LISTEN | Immigration and the labour shortage:
CBC News: The House9:38Will half a million immigrants ease Canada’s labour woes?
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a record new target for immigration. Experts Mikal Skuterud and Michael Haan discuss the measures of success for Canada’s immigration policies.
Asked about competition the country faces for talent, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it could “not speculate” on what other nations are doing to attract newcomers.
“The level of immigration to Canada is a policy choice that needs to balance the benefits of immigration with the costs of delivering the program and capacity of our infrastructure,” the department said in an email.
Challenges after arriving
Sweta Regmi, founder and CEO of Teachndo Career Consultancy in Sudbury, Ont., sees many newcomers lacking support in navigating the Canadian job market.
Canada adds 108,000 jobs in October, unemployment steady at 5.2%
Canada’s economy added 108,000 jobs in October, roughly 10 times what was expected. Still, an unexpectedly hot job market isn’t enough to bring down the overall cost of living.
“The gap … is in teaching you how to do the job search,” said Regmi, a certified career and resume strategist, who sees a persistent issue that she also faced during her own immigration journey two decades ago.
There are programs that provide assistance to people, but Regmi said they are not always well matched to the needs of incoming job seekers.
Chahal found that same process to be a particular challenge as she worked to learn the quirks in a job market that she found more rigid in its hiring practices as compared to India.
A group of condo towers are seen during a foggy day in downtown Toronto on Thursday. Any newcomers coming to Canada need somewhere to live. Finding affordable housing is an increasing challenge in the country. (Carlos Osorio/CBC)
Fraser, the immigration minister, told Reuters that Canada will focus on welcoming more skilled construction workers to help build new housing supply and on selecting newcomers for areas with the “absorptive capacity” to take them.
IRCC said “having adequate investment in settlement, housing and public services is paramount to not only the newcomers’ long-term success, but also in ensuring we are delivering the same level of services to all Canadians.”
Mikal Skuterud, an economics professor at the University of Waterloo, told CBC’s The House it’s “relatively easy” for the government to quickly increase the number of newcomers as compared to its ability to rapidly grow the stock of available housing.
Skuterud expects the relative price of housing across regions will be a factor in where many people decide to live.
Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Tyson Philpot has announced he will be out for the rest of the CFL season.
The Delta, B.C., native posted the news on his Instagram page Thursday.
“To Be Continued. Shoutout my team, the fans of the CFL and the whole city of Montreal! I can’t wait to be back healthy and write this next chapter in 2025,” the statement read.
Philpot, 24, injured his foot in a 33-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 10 and was placed on the six-game injured list the next week.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound receiver had 58 receptions, 779 yards and five touchdowns in nine games for the league-leading Alouettes in his third season.
Philpot scored the game-winning touchdown in Montreal’s Grey Cup win last season to punctuate a six-reception, 63-yard performance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team’s game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.
Tagovailoa remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands before smiling and departing toward the locker room.
The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion when he was a college player at Alabama.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would get “proper procedural evaluation” and “appropriate care” on Friday.
“The furthest thing from my mind is, ‘What is the timeline?’ We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from here.”
Some players saw Tagovailoa in the locker room after the game and said they were encouraged. Tagovailoa spoke with some players and then went home after the game, McDaniel said.
“I have a lot of love for Tua, built a great relationship with him,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa after the injury. “You care about the person more than the player and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension before this season — a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL — and was the NFL’s leading passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, and that was the final score.
“If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Amazon following the game. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and this is one of the lows.”
Tagovailoa’s college years and first three NFL seasons were marred by injury, though he positioned himself for a big pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023 as he led the Dolphins into the playoffs. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards last year.
When, or if, he can come back this season is anyone’s guess. Tagovailoa said in April 2023 that the concussions he had in the 2022 season left him contemplating his playing future. “I think I considered it for a time,” he said then, when asked if he considered stepping away from the game to protect himself.
McDaniel said it’s not his place to say if Tagovailoa should return to football. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate,” McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa was hurt Thursday on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left in the third. He went straight ahead into Hamlin and did not slide, leading with his right shoulder instead.
Hamlin was the player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.
Tagovailoa wound up on his back, both his hands in the air and Bills players immediately pointed at him as if to suggest there was an injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer quickly did the same, waving to the sideline.
Tagovailoa appeared to be making a fist with his right hand as he lay on the ground. It was movement consistent with something that is referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury.
Tagovailoa eventually got to his feet. McDaniel grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. Thompson came into the game to take Tagovailoa’s spot.
“I love Tua on and off the football field,” Bills edge Von Miller said. “I’m a huge fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him because I’ve been there. I wish him the best.”
Tagovailoa’s history with concussions — and how he has since worked to avoid them — is a huge part of the story of his career, and now comes to the forefront once again.
He had at least two concussions during the 2022 season. He was hurt in a Week 3 game against Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, though he appeared disoriented on that play but returned to the game.
The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that if a player shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — he must sit out the rest of the game.
Less than a week later, in a Thursday night game at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the field on a stretcher.
His second known concussion of that season came in a December game against Green Bay, and he didn’t play for the rest of the 2022 season. After that, Tagovailoa began studying ways where he may be able to fall more safely and protect himself against further injury — including studying jiu-jitsu.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands,” McDaniel said. “I’m just worried about the human being.”
NEW YORK (AP) — When her husband turns on the television to hear news about the upcoming presidential election, that’s often a signal for Lori Johnson Malveaux to leave the room.
It can get to be too much. Often, she’ll go to a TV in another room to watch a movie on the Hallmark Channel or BET. She craves something comforting and entertaining. And in that, she has company.
While about half of Americans say they are following political news “extremely” or “very” closely, about 6 in 10 say they need to limit how much information they consume about the government and politics to avoid feeling overloaded or fatigued, according to a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.
Make no mistake: Malveaux plans to vote. She always does. “I just get to the point where I don’t want to hear the rhetoric,” she said.
The 54-year-old Democrat said she’s most bothered when she hears people on the news telling her that something she saw with her own eyes — like the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — didn’t really happen.
“I feel like I’m being gaslit. That’s the way to put it,” she said.
Sometimes it feels like ‘a bombardment’
Caleb Pack, 23, a Republican from Ardmore, Oklahoma, who works in IT, tries to keep informed through the news feeds on his phone, which is stocked with a variety of sources, including CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press.
Yet sometimes, Pack says, it seems like a bombardment.
“It’s good to know what’s going on, but both sides are pulling a little bit extreme,” he said. “It just feels like it’s a conversation piece everywhere, and it’s hard to escape it.”
Media fatigue isn’t a new phenomenon. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late 2019 found roughly two in three Americans felt worn out by the amount of news there is, about the same as in a poll taken in early 2018. During the 2016 presidential campaign, about 6 in 10 people felt overloaded by campaign news.
But it can be particularly acute with news related to politics. The AP-NORC/USAFacts poll found that half of Americans feel a need to limit their consumption of information related to crime or overseas conflicts, while only about 4 in 10 are limiting news about the economy and jobs.
It’s easy to understand, with television outlets like CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC full of political talk and a wide array of political news online, sometimes complicated by disinformation.
“There’s a glut of information,” said Richard Coffin, director of research and advocacy for USAFacts, “and people are having a hard time figuring out what is true or not.”
Women are more likely to feel they need to limit media
In the AP-NORC poll, about 6 in 10 men said they follow news about elections and politics at least “very” closely, compared to about half of women. For all types of news, not just politics, women are more likely than men to report the need to limit their media consumption, the survey found.
White adults are also more likely than Black or Hispanic adults to say they need to limit media consumption on politics, the poll found.
Kaleb Aravzo, 19, a Democrat, gets a baseline of news by listening to National Public Radio in the morning at home in Logan, Utah. Too much politics, particularly when he’s on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, can trigger anxiety and depression.
“If it pops up on my page when I’m on social media,” he said, “I’ll just scroll past it.”
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Sanders reported from Washington. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder.
The AP poll of 1,019 adults was conducted July 29-August 8, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.
