With an average of 53 migrants entering the country every hour, and increasingly closer to reaching the record of one person entering every minute, Canada is undoubtedly a natural destination for those seeking to establish themselves temporarily or permanently outside their homeland.
Hence, it is increasingly popular among people to have a family member or at least a friend living in this part of the world. Although for Colombia the percentage of expatriates living here is not comparable to those in the United States and Spain, in recent years the growth of Colombians arriving in the different Canadian provinces is evident.
While in 2019 official figures spoke of close to 100,000 Colombians living in Canada, the growing arrival of students, which exceeds 10,000 per year, suggests that the total number of Colombians may be close to 140,000. Only in the four-year period 2018 – 2022, 13,890 Colombians became permanent residents. That is, on average, 10 each day.
In South America, after Guyana (24%), Colombia is the country that contributes the most permanent and temporary residents and citizens to Canada. Surpassing Brazil (14%) and explaining 23% of those who from that part of America reach the extreme north of the continent.
The jobs that Colombians perform in Canada are aligned with the average of jobs performed by migrants. According to Statistics Canada, 33% of them decide to start a business, while the sectors that most welcome new residents are retail, restaurant chains, hotels, services and the manufacturing industry.
Given the phenomenon of population aging that has led to the retirement without replacement of professionals in the health sector and in the care of older adults and children, in recent years these spaces have been generating greater interest among those who aspire to come to Canada. Some incentives have been created for them.
In recent days, the federal government announced that it will facilitate the process of obtaining permanent residence for those who dedicate themselves to these activities. “Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, our programs must reflect their invaluable contributions,” said Minister for Immigration Marc Miller.
The average salary of immigrants arriving in Canada is US$30,746 a year. However, for those who aspire to a position without having more previous experience, it is US$25,800 per year. While more experienced workers can start earning around US$46,849 per year. Although it is common to hear that Canada is looking for talent to fill vacancies, it is also true that these depend greatly on the needs of the country.
Which today are mainly in sectors such as health, doctors and nurses, technology, developers, and in the agricultural space, where there is even an agreement with certain countries, such as Mexico and Jamaica, so that agricultural workers can work temporarily during the planting and harvest periods.
In the case of Colombians, the greatest income has been given through education, where people migrate as students and after acquiring their diploma they begin to do their work experience in the country, which in principle makes it easier for them, not only access to work permits, but also allows them to improve their profile in the labor market.
Likewise, as it is a country with which it has a free trade agreement, Canadian companies can make job offers to fellow citizens without the need for the Labor Market Impact Assessment, known by its acronym as the Lmia, and which is a processed document. by a Canadian employer in which they must demonstrate that the vacancy that is being filled with an immigrant was not possible to fill with a national worker or permanent resident. Which constitutes an advantage for Colombians over other people from countries with which there is no such agreement.
Despite the sometimes high housing prices currently experienced, where the average value of a property in Toronto reaches US$890,000, are attributed to migration, the truth is that there is a combination of issues that have led to this point and it is not due to a single factor. What is evident is the impact of immigrants on the economy.
For example, the telecommunications industry aims to grow this year by 4.5%. Tony Staffieri, CEO of Rogers Communications, says that of that growth “half is related to the ‘new to Canada’ category.”
For its part, the airline sector sees in migration the opportunity to “offer trips to these new participants, for business, for pleasure, to return home, visit family and friends.” This was said by John Di Bert, chief financial officer of Air Canada at a public event. Avianca, today with daily routes from Bogotá to Toronto and four frequencies to Montreal, is also an example of this, and of the growth of Colombians living and visiting this part of the world.
