The country’s census data from 2021 was recently analyzed by Statistics Canada. It comes up with some interesting conclusions about people becoming Canadians that citizens make up over 90% of Canada’s population in the near future.
A brief Overview of Canada
Almost 91.2 % of Canada’s 33.1 million residents were Canadian citizens by birth or naturalization, according to the 2021 census, the official citizenship report. As a former non-Canadian resident of Canada, a former non-Canadian citizen becomes a Canadian citizen through naturalization.
There were 8.8% of non-Canadians (permanent residents) in the population.
Finding Canadians who were born abroad has been more difficult over the past few decades. And the number of naturalized citizens has increased, as has the number of foreigners living there.
Becoming a Canadian citizen from a non-Canadian
Naturalization rates fell from 87.8% in 2011 to 80% in 2021. But four out of five immigrants (80%) earned Canadian citizenship.
Several policy adjustments Canada has made in the past are likely to have contributed to this decline in the naturalization rate. Here are some examples:
- As of 2017, candidates could no longer claim time spent as temporary residents for purposes of naturalization, resulting in a physical presence requirement of four years. Applicants can once again claim time spent as a temporary resident in Canada since this criterion was changed to three years in 2017. Citizenship grants also cost more in 2015.
- CAD $630 is the current price. There is a good chance that more lower-income households will be eligible for naturalization once fees are waived by the liberal government, even though it hasn’t done so yet. As part of the government’s promise to lessen the financial burden on low-income households, the Liberal government waived these fees in late 2019.
Further, it will be important for the Canadian government to assess other factors that may affect naturalization, such as modifying the dual citizenship policy for immigrants’ home countries, ensuring non-Canadian residents remain within Canada and addressing the COVID-19 outbreak.
Natural Progression to citizenship
In the past ten years, naturalization rates have decreased. But it has also been shown persons was more likely to become citizens as they spent more time in the country.
94% of immigrants who moved to Canada before 2001 will become citizens in 2021. In comparison, approximately 50% of immigrants admitted between 2011 and 2015 had become citizens.
Based on these results, it appears that increasing numbers of immigrants are pursuing Canadian citizenship and/or meeting the required requirements over time.
Why non-citizens are needed?
Among the study’s main conclusions was that, unlike Canadian citizens, temporary or permanent non-Canadian residents of Canada had a median age of 33.6 years, while their median age was 41.2.
Canada’s immigration goals are consistent with this finding. Canada will turn to immigration to address labor shortages and market demands because of aging demographics and a low birth rate.
This is why having immigrants who are in the prime of their careers and who may eventually become citizens is so important for Canada’s socioeconomic well-being. Considering the number of retirements and job openings, it is particularly important.
Where will the ancestors of Canadians of the future come from?
- Both temporary and permanent residents most commonly stated Indian nationality, making up more than 25% of each.
- Chinese and Filipinos accounted for roughly ten percent of permanent and temporary residents.
- There were a total of 137 non-permanent residents from France, making it the third most common nationality.
The results make it clear that Asia will be a major place for immigrants to come from. Likewise, the Canadian government has a responsibility to its citizens.
Further, Montreal and Ottawa, both of which want to boost immigration of the Francophone race to Canada. Benefit from the increase in non-permanent residents who speak French.
Key Conclusion
Given the low naturalization rate among non-Canadians in Canada. And the fact that the median age of non-Canadians in Canada is within prime working age. It is likely that the federal government and IRCC will focus on reducing the rate gradually going forward. Canada remains concerned about immigration.
Despite this, Canada maintains a high rate of immigration. It is also important to note that non-Canadians in Canada are primarily working age. Therefore, even if the country has a low naturalization rate, its immigration and permanent residency rates will remain high.
