In a surprising turn of events, Canada is witnessing a concerning trend as an increasing number of individuals are choosing to depart the country due to the soaring cost of living. Recent official data reveals that in the first half of 2023, approximately 42,000 people bid farewell to Canada, adding to the 93,818 who left in 2022 and 85,927 exits in 2021.
The allure of Canada as a land of opportunity and promise is waning for many immigrants who had once chosen it as their adopted home. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s emphasis on immigration as a pivotal tool to combat the challenges of an aging and slowing population had initially bolstered the nation’s growth. However, the current exodus indicates a reversal of this trend.
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), an immigration advocacy group, reported that the rate of immigrants leaving Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019. Although these numbers dipped during pandemic-related lockdowns, recent Statistics Canada data suggests a resurgence in emigration.
While the influx of 263,000 newcomers within the same timeframe might overshadow the departures, the steady rise in people leaving Canada raises concerns among observers. This trend threatens to undermine one of Trudeau’s key policies, which granted permanent residency to a record 2.5 million individuals in just eight years.
Several individuals who either departed Canada or are contemplating doing so cite the exorbitant cost of living as a primary reason. Cara, 25, who arrived as a refugee from Hong Kong in 2022, expressed dismay at the staggering rental prices. Paying C$650 ($474) for a single-room basement apartment in eastern Toronto, she remarked, “I never realized that living in a Western country, you can only afford renting a room in the basement.”
Cara juggles three part-time jobs at Ontario’s minimum wage and attends an adult learning school to earn university credits. Despite her efforts, she struggles to make ends meet, barely saving compared to her life in Hong Kong, where she could save a substantial portion of her salary.
While the percentage of emigrants compared to Canada’s overall population remains modest at 0.09%, immigration lawyers and consultants caution that a potential uptick could tarnish the nation’s attractiveness to newcomers.
Immigrants, particularly, decry the skyrocketing housing costs as the primary factor driving their contemplation of leaving. Reports indicate that an average Canadian household would require about 60% of their income to cover homeownership expenses, a figure that escalates to a staggering 98% in Vancouver and 80% in Toronto, according to RBC’s September report.
Myo Maung, 55, who migrated from Myanmar three decades ago and built a thriving career in real estate and the restaurant industry, now plans to retire elsewhere. He expressed concerns about maintaining his living standards in Canada upon retirement due to financial constraints, contemplating a move to a country like Thailand.
While the emigration numbers might appear nominal presently, there’s a growing call to address the pressing issue of affordability and create positive early experiences for newcomers. The fate of Canada’s appeal as a preferred destination for immigrants hangs in the balance as the country grapples with this reverse immigration trend fueled by the escalating cost of living.
Sources By Agencies
