The More Qualified They Are, The Quicker They Leave Canada. Why?

Contrary to popular belief, immigrants in Canada—often blamed for the country’s problems—are actually leaving. It’s a surprising reality.

This report coincides with another concerning finding: if the 400,000 international students currently in Canada leave, as some federal government officials seem to desire, it could severely harm the economy. Their spending plays a crucial role in supporting local businesses, the rental market, and cultural life across the country. However, new visa regulations and shifts in government policy now pose a threat of a mass exodus that could reshape the nation’s financial landscape.

Suddenly, the same experts who attributed everything from cyclones to COVID-19 to immigrants are reevaluating the situation. Their primary concern stems from the realisation that these students impact nearly every sector of Canada’s economy, including housing, retail, transportation, jobs, and healthcare. If 400,000 international students were to leave within a few months, as some anti-immigrant advocates have been calling for, tax revenues would decline, and communities could struggle to recover.

Another report released on November 18, titled “The Leaky Bucket 2025,” indicates that one in five immigrants to Canada is likely to leave the country within 25 years of obtaining permanent residency. The report describes this trend as “onward migration,” which typically peaks around the five-year mark.

If the current pattern of onward migration continues, projections suggest that 20,241 immigrants will leave Canada by 2031.

Worse still, statistics reveal that highly educated individuals, particularly those with doctorates, are more than twice as likely to leave as those with only bachelor’s degrees. This likelihood increases threefold when these immigrants face a tough job market, high living costs, and stagnant income growth that fails to keep pace with rising prices.

The report’s authors assert that negative attitudes toward immigration and a hostile environment toward newcomers deter qualified professionals from staying, hindering Canada’s ability to address its economic challenges. They also warn that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade will be jeopardised if the country continues to lose these highly skilled immigrants.

“These individuals have constructed essential infrastructure—such as railways, housing projects, and more—in other countries, often doing it more efficiently and cost-effectively than we do. They possess the expertise Canada needs to catch up. When we lose them, we forfeit critical skills necessary for the nation’s success,” the report emphasizes.