1 in 5 people in Canada now foreign-born: census

The number of foreign-born people in Canada is now one-in-five, an increase of 13.6 per cent from 2001 with the vast majority of them settling in Ontario, according to new census data from Statistics Canada.

The new data released Tuesday focuses on immigration, language and migration trends across Canada.

The director general of the StatsCan census program says "6.2 million people in Canada were born outside of Canada. And that foreign-born proportion of the population is at its highest in 75 years."

"We see their growth rate to be four times that of the Canadian-born population," Anil Arora told CTV's Canada AM.

In the past five years, 1.1 million immigrants have made Canada their home, with most of them settling in Ontario, Arora said.

According to the statistics:

52.3 per cent settled in Ontario
17 per cent in Quebec
16 per cent in B.C.

"Some 86 per cent of all recent immigrants -- these are the people who immigrated to Canada between 2001 and 2006 -- made either Ontario, Quebec, or British Columbia their home," Arora said.

"But we're also seeing some other provinces now certainly benefit from that immigration, so we're seeing some increases in provinces like obviously Alberta, Manitoba, and Atlantic provinces."

And perhaps not surprisingly, almost two-thirds of the nation's foreign-born population settled in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

The census data also shows a surge in foreign-born immigrants from Asian and Middle Eastern countries, with those countries striding ahead of immigration from European countries.

Most foreign-born immigrants to Canada in the past five years -- 14 per cent -- were from China. India followed at 11.6 per cent, then the Philippines at 7 per cent and Pakistan at 5.2 per cent.

Those numbers are reflected in language statistics also released by StatsCan on Tuesday. The number of allophones, that's people whose mother tongue is anything but English or French, hit 80 per cent.

But the number of Canadians who can speak both French and English also rose to 17.4 per cent across the country.

Here is a list of the top-five mother tongues in Canada:

Chinese -- 16 per cent.
Italian -- 7 per cent.
German -- 7 per cent.
Punjabi -- 6 per cent.
Spanish -- 5 per cent.

Jack Jedwab, of the Association for Canadian Studies in Ottawa, said the numbers are good news for Canada.

"Immigration is crucial in terms of offsetting the demographic dependency that Canada risks facing in the future," Jedwab told Canada AM.

"As the percentage of people over the age of 65 who are not part of the working population grows substantially, we'll need an important critical mass of people working age."

Quebec, immigrants and language

The 2006 census shows that Quebec's allophones, those whose mother tongue is neither French nor English, are increasingly speaking French at home.

Fifty-one per cent used French at home in 2006. In 2001, the figure was 46 per cent and in 1996, 39 per cent.

Three of four allophones who arrived in Quebec since 2001 use French at home.

"That will be very important based on the debates we've been having, whether it's about immigration or integration, or even reasonable accommodation," Jedwab told CTV Montreal.

The proportion of francophones in Quebec and the metropolitan Montreal region has decreased slightly, he noted.

The francophone population of Montreal is now measured at 64.9 per cent, the first time it is below 65 per cent, CTV Montreal reported.

"But that erosion is attributable to the growth of allophones, which is attributable to the higher numbers of immigrants we're receiving in Quebec -- and we need immigrants," Jedwab said.

However, both anglophones and allophones are increasingly speaking French, he said.

The census also showed that for the first time since 1976, the exodus of Quebec Anglophones has been stemmed.

In the past five years, the number of anglophones in the province increased by 16,000.

"I think that goes to show we have achieved a certain linguistic peace and political stability in the province," said Kevin Dobie of the Quebec Community Group Network.

He also said that anglophones are increasingly bilingual.

"I think there has been extra effort on behalf of the English speaking community of Quebec to learn French, and certain parts of French culture."

Comments are now closed for this story

Andrew B
said

To 31 Delta:
And what exactly are those deep rooted canadian traditions?
Which part of the Canadian identity are the newcomers offending?
Welcome or not immigrants are here, are needed, and will continue to grow in numbers.

Louise
said

Another point I would like to make. Our birth rate has not changed much since the 1980's yet Canada has continually raised the amount of immigration to amount to 2/3 of our population grownth now with only 1/3 naturnal growth. During the 1980's it was about 50/50 natural growth to growth from immigration. In Australia and the U.S. the birth rate is not that much different that Canada's and yet they keep their immigration levels to not make up more than 50% population growth. These high levels are just not justified.

Helen
said

I would like to see our immigration policies more equitable.
It is easier for a landed immigrant to sponser distant relatives than for a Canadian Armed forces service person to bring home a spouse
Sponsers should be held reponsible for those they sponsor but they never are AFAIK. Although some I have known were/are recieving social assistance when their sponsership was approved so I guess it is unrealistic to expect them to be responsible for others when they are not able to support themselves.

Louise
said

Dear FreakAlert; The suggestion that europeans do not want to come here anymore is absolutely wrong. The government sets the targets for each country and always sets the targets highest for asian countries. If you read some UK newspapers like the Daily Mail you will find that a record 200,000 Britons are emigrating every year. We don't even make the top 5 countries because we are not very welcoming. I read in the Vancouver Sun last fall that there was a backlog of applications from London (the asia pacific foundation in Vancouver actually uncovered these stats)and yet every year for many years we take very few. Take a look at how many Australia accepts every year. As far as I am concerned the Canadian govenment has been keeping the numbers from europe down as low as possibly for years out of political correctness. It is discrimination plain and simple.

Duane in Calgary
said

To anyone who is a recent immigrant to Canada: Welcome. I hope your new life here will make your dreams and ambitions come true. Having traveled the world over, and realized that immigrants have a choice of anywhere in the world when they set out to decide where to land, and see that so many choose to try a Canadian lifestyle, it makes me very proud to be Canadian. When I see that many such folks have avoided wars, persecution, and brutality in their homelands by starting a new life in "the true north strong and free", it truly brings a tear to my eye. Thank you for coming, and best wishes for a happy new life in CANADA.

toady
said

RE: Edb,
Well don't forget to slam the door shut on your way out and good riddens! This is the best country in the world and if you cannot see that you are welcome to go back to whatever country you came from (as so many people on this board have pointed out). You may find Europe has changed as well - awe too bad Edb.
I love Canada have been here since 1964 and have totally assimalated. If we stop immigration then we may as well give this country to the USA cause there will be no one left here in a few hundred years due to diminished birth rates. Have a merry xmas, happy hanukkah, or whatever. I intend to enjoy my holidays watching hockey! A fellow Canadian....

Wayne R
said

Daeveed, what about the lack of education, or the ignorance, of some of the "non-immigrant" population? Education is required both ways, for immigrant and non-immigrants alike... and ignorance is what causes the problems. Just look how kids interact with each other, race doesn't matter. They naturally accept each other. Maybe "re-education" would be a better term... re-education to the concepts of tolerance and acceptance that we all had as kids

Ron
said

We are being brainwashed with propaaganda from our left wing media telling us that Canada is the most multicultural country in the world. But I've yet to read or here any of the media suggest one possible advantage of multiculturalism for me. As long as the politicians can get the almighty vote, that's what counts.

Eric
said

I think part of the reason for the low birth rate among the Canadian born population, is the price of housing. In 1972 our family bought a brand new house in Langley BC for 27000 with a family income of 12500 from single source ( house cost 2.16X yearly income), same house sold 33 years later for 370000 , you would have to have a family income of 171296 to equal the same ratio of 2.16X income for house cost. I don't know about you but I don't see many families with two incomes making anywhere near 171000 a year let alone a single income family. The high cost of housing & taxes can't help but delay or even limit the number of kids people have. Why does this not affect immigrants as much you ask? Many immigrants are willing to live in what must seem like palaces to them , compared to the housing in thier native land, with extended families therefore having multiple incomes coming into the house, not having to worry about daycare cost.

10th Generation Canadian
said

First Nations emigrated via the Bering Sea from Russia/Siberia approx 15000 yrs ago. They too are immigrants. Immigration needs some controls and that's what the province of Quebec is looking into, nothing wrong with that. Canada shouldn't lose everything it has always stood for in order to accommodate newcomers; they have to adjust and integrate just as European immigrants integrated in the 19th and 20th centuries.

FreakAlert
said

One also has to look at immigration from an economic point of view.

We have(with central banking), a debt/credit society when it comes to money. An increase in immigration translates into future tax payers and an increase in M3 supply...being lent to Canada and paid by us all.

We're nothing but food for the money lending establishment.

Tim
said

This is insanity. More immigrants because of demographic trends of Canadians having fewer kids? Who can afford to have kids these days. Lower taxes, cut spending and regulation and native born Canadians will have more kids and we will keep our culture.

Carolina
said

My face is Finnish, my husband is Chinese, I work with Jamaicans, Portuguese, Ethiopians, Ukrainians and Chinese for Israelis.
We're all Canadian.

Daeveed
said

I am surprised that no one has mentioned education so far. Education is a BIG factor in integration. whenever you have uneducated people inserted in a different society, they will most likely tend to fall back to their original way of living. On the other hand, when you put an educated person in a different environment, this person already has the foundations to accept and adapt to this new culture.
I am all for immigration, but people coming here should meet a minimum standard of education in order to assure (or at least make more plausible) their integration.

MV
said

All it takes is time. No matter what language the immigrants speak when they arrive in Canada, their children will have to go to school and will have to learn to speak one of the official languages. So calm down people, all immigrants eventually integrate into the society, and respect Canadian values as soon as they learn about the culture. So stop being prejudice against what the new immigrants want need, and do, because if you are not a recent immigrant you don't understand what it's like to come to a new place and want so badly to belong. So give immigrants time to learn and adjust, and they will be as Canadian as any Canadian.

Karney
said

Long live Canada. I am an immigrant and I dont agree to 31 Delta and other who beleives the same.
We are here and we think we are Canadian. We have different culture but that does not mean we do not respect Canadian culture..we do.
One more thing... I am glad that I got a chance to settle in Canada but do not forget it's two-way thing ... Canada needs skilled workers and people and we need better future..

FreakAlert
said

Michael M, brilliant piece!

Walker
said

Get Real !!! 13.6 % increase since 2001 ! Immigration is one thing and a desireable one at that but the current situation is too many, too fast. Of course the real reason immigration was increased was political. To the Liberals, new immigrants mean new Liberal voters. The tendency is for immigrants to react favourably towards the political party in office when they were allowed in. As you should know, party members don't even have to be Canadian !!! Unfortunately Canada is being run like a pyramid scam. The warning signs of a crash are all around us...waiting lists, child poverty, homeless...the standards and quality of life are being eroded. Immigration is WAY too high and those that do come here must respect what already exists in Canada...
Sincerely, a 5th gen Canadian

Ian
said

Immigration within reason is a good and decent undertaking.
Immigration run wild can permanently shake the foundations of what a country is. We need to understand that without reflexing to screams of racism.
Our friends in Britain can speak to this with sobre experience.
From a proud Canadian who did immigrate here.

eric
said

Some of this may be repetitious and I give kudos to those who brought it up.

My Canada:

makes an effort to speak the official languages;
is proud of the twin symbols of our country-the maple leaf and the beaver;
takes their caps off as a symbolic gesture to the Queen;
is guarded by RCMP in red unifomrs with Big Brown Hats;
is complacent about many more issues than they should be;
is more tolerant of others and their ideas, cultures, and religions than they are of ours;
is hard working and ambitious and not content to stay on government handouts;
loves cross border shopping and the opportunity to trash mouth the US.

Immigration is a good thing for a young country and we are, in fact, young. But, we need people with skilled trades. We need people who want to do manual labour for the opportunity to advance. Unfortunately, it seems that our immigration department hands out applications for 7-11 franchises with every visa accepted.

Sandra
said

I am an immigrant
I would like that every immigrant who come to the this country to make it their home, to accept the rules of this country.
Immigrants has to understand, when they are applying for permanent residence or being sponsered, they do not ask for certain rules, they go by the rules, but when they come here they want changes. Canada should not accept this.

Canadian
said

... Almost 600,000 new immigrants in Ontario in the last 5 years, does anybody else think this is excessive? That's like 5% of the population.

Michael M
said

I just finished reading an article that says one in five Canadians is foreign born. While I’m all for immigration and multiculturalism, as someone who lives in the city of Toronto sooner or later something’s gotta give. Take a snapshot of the city today and compare it to one of five years ago and you will see a startling trend. Condos replacing paylots on every street corner in the downtown core. The span between Rogers Center and King Street alone has seen five pay parking lots replaced with five 20+ storey condos. If each of those stories contained 10 units (many of them contain more) that’s 1000 units which could translate upwards to 2000 people. What sort of impact does adding 2000 people to an area that amounts to less than two city blocks? No good can come of it, I assure you. And this situation is happening all over the city without any thought to how the city is going to handle the strain.

Take the downtown city streets. Five years ago I could get on a street car at King and Peter during rush hour and ride it all the way down to the beaches in about 20 minutes. Today, I had to wait for four streetcars to pass before even one was able to pick me up. Once I got on, it was so packed that it was dangerous. The only difference between our rush hour TTC and the unregulated public transport in third world countries is we don’t let people hang off the roof. And the trip itself took almost an hour. It’s not that TTC has reduced rush hour service, it’s that there are too many people in our fair city for us to effectively and efficiently move around. Speak to anyone who drives downtown and they will tell you their experiences are similar.

Every single restaurant, night club and elevator I’ve ever been in has a maximum capacity sign. No more than X number of people may be here at any one time. Why? Because overcrowding is dangerous, it causes tempers to flare, builds anxiety, needs more support systems to keep it running and it takes more of everything to service the people. Yes, there are efficiencies in mass but only to a point, after that saturation point is met things begin to break down. Rapidly.

Is it wrong to put a population cap on a city? I don’t think so and I think it’s something that needs to be done. Toronto, Canada and the world is in the beginning stages of an over population nightmare. We’re seeing right now, every day in the big cities of the world and it won’t take long for it to spread to the surrounding towns. Mix with that the environmental crisis we are on the cusp of, the crisis everyone acknowledges but does nothing about, the one Al Gore is praised for championing but no one is backing, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

When I started writing this piece I didn’t know where it was going to take me, what conclusions I would draw from it. I think many of the answers are very clear in what we need to do but I also feel that we live in a society that would rather work hard at not changing for the better just to be perceived as progressive. That’s very backward to me. I just don’t get it… in North America we can see films like Fahrenheit 9/11, read article after article of George Dubya being an idiot, a war monger, we can see hours upon hours of him sticking his foot in his mouth and yet he still was reelected to office. We can watch An Inconvenient Truth and see the true and real effects of hurricanes, floodings and extreme weather but dismiss it as light entertainment. And we can have a 15 minute street car ride turn into a one hour daily ordeal and not think anything of it. Wow.

Humans have no real natural enemy. Our population is thinned out every X number of seasons by a migrating pack of wolves that have a taste for our flesh. We are free to grown reproduce and transform the land however we see fit. And we think we can do this without any consequences. Not THAT is arrogant.

Amy Grandmaison
said

It's funny how only 17.4% of Canadians are fluent in English/ French, yet the majority of jobs in the NCR require billingualism. It's really too bad that as a result of growing up in a military family where my father has served this country for 30 years, causing me to move around my entire life, leaves me little opportunity to utilize my education and skills at a decent job because j'ai ne parle francais. How about this: You want us to speak 2 languages, how about making it mandatory throughout high school, not just 2 credits worth. AND how about offering some french courses where we don't have to pay money. Anglophones are already paying enough by being under constant flack for not speaking French.

Gary
said

Well said TR. I think Canada has grown up enough historically from our primarily European roots, to have established a 'Canadian culture'. It may be hard to describe since it is mainly based on values not symbolism. I like the melting pot approach...everyone blending in and sharing common Canadian values. Every individual can practice any of their original country traditions and customs in their own privacy but everyone should embrace the 'Canadian way' I think we could do a much better job of educating new immigrants about what being Canadian means. We need immigrants to continue to populate our wonderful country. I do believe that though we are considered a ' western' country we are different from the US and Europe. It has taken Canada over 140+ years to carve our place in the world. I think we have the greatest country in the world and I am proud of all those that were born here or chose to come and live here. Now can we all get on with it..together, as CANADIANS.

Doug
said

I totally argee with those who say that socialism is ruining the standard of living in this country. And, I also suspect this so called "multi-cultural" notion is destroying our culture.I don't have any bones to pick with any particular group of immigrants,but what we are getting is a country divided into cultural communities. I don't agree with Steve's contention. If you go back far enough,as someone pointed out,First Nations people immigated here also. I can trace my family back to the early 1800's so far. If that doesn't make me Canadian I think you're addressing political correctness more than you should.
Most governments in other countries view Canada's current immigration policy as insane. I agree. Too bad we don't have any party willing to address the decline of Canadian heritage. Heck, we can't even teach Canadian history in school for fear of offending one visible minority or another. This is especially sad in a country that has so many immigrants who can't learn it from their family history,or their grandparents.
If we can't learn from our history, Canada will just become one of those disfunctional failed states. Divided into communities along ethnic lines.
So, while agreeing that Canadians should try to preserve some of their cultural heritage, I still wonder, at what point will it be politically correct to want to make Canadian culture a priority. Or at least preserve some of it.

TR
said

To Canadian-borns out there who feel very strongly about preserving our traditional culture: not all Canadian-born citizens share the status quo Christian beliefs, and themselves feel bombarded by "Christmas" trees, christian holidays, etc. I'm sure you wouldn't expect these canadians to leave or conform to the majority. I have had to be "tolerant" all my life to ingrained christian traditions that I do not share, however, it doesn't hurt me to see this stuff around me. I and all of us can practice (or not) what we want in our homes. And that's what is so wonderful about Canada. It is policy that no-one is forced to adapt, accept, or believe in any certain custom or belief. Everyone can have their Christmas tree or whatever their personal belief dictates in their home. Outside your home, when you are exposed to displays of other cultures, admire the beauty, or just the differences between what Canada was and what it is becoming. And try to connect with the people who are coming here. Once you have made a connection, their practices won't seem so scary or remote.

GW
said

Immigrants have to understand it’s going take a generation or two to adjust and feel at home. It’s not easy moving to another country. There are a lot of roots to deal with. I also believe most immigrants understand this and have no problem going through the necessary work to adjust and adapt. It’s the media who makes a living out of reporting out of the ordinary events that in this case makes it seem worse than is actually is.

Having said this, it only takes one radical trouble maker to create a lot of problems especially in Canada where there is possibly an excess of human-rights legal loop holes in place that make it easy for one radical to stir up a lot of trouble. Darn Liberals!

I don’t know much about immigration policies. From what little I see it looks like do a reasonably good job at preventing trouble makers from coming hear.

Canada is the best Country in the world with a tolerant peaceful society, a perfect balance of capitalism and socialism and lots of freedom and opportunities.

T-Roy
said

Madailéin

Vikings arrived here maybe about 1000 years ago, Natives arrived via the Bering Strait ice bridge 10,000 years ago. Where did you do history?

To those who condemn sending money over, would you rather we didn't and the most poverty stricken and uneducated had to flee to Canada?

My family is from Newfoundland (1495 CE)and if you want to look at it my way I could say we've been here a longer than everyone else. Second only to the natives. Anyways, who cares? We are all humans with the same hopes, desires and insecurities. Typical NIMBY's who are more concerned about how others live their lives. It think its quite repugnant that there are commenters here that want to end immigration. This is not Cuba or China. I though even you conservatives were above this sort of xenophobia. And they accuse progressives on the left of having conspiracy theories. If we had a national day care program we could ensure that everyone knew the culture and languages, which doesn't mean they can't have thier own culture as well. The Harpocrits killed that in favour of cash handouts without any significant benefit to society. Beer and popcorn comes to mind.

Edb
said

After seriously considering the current immigration trends in Canada, I am happier than ever that I took the time to aquire citizenship/passport from the native land of my parents. The Canada that they and other post war Europeans created is long gone. Call me what you like, I don't like what Canada has become, the problems we have imported, and like many others in my position, are moving closer to immigrating the other direction. Sorry Canada, you had a brief moment in the sun, that has changed forever, good bye and good luck.

Keith HM N
said

Well said Eric. I think many people have been spending too much time walking on eggshells being careful not to offend. It's a silly game. We do have a vast majority of people who come here and part of our nation but at the same time, it's a minority of people who get media attention that tries to wreak havoc by throwing a cultural wrench (a race card if you will) into our Canadian Nationality. Merry Christmas

Two Canadians
said

As anyone can see (hear that MPs everywhere?) - the majority of Canadians do not mind Immigration - PROVIDING those coming here accept that they are in a Christian-based country and the two languages here are french and english and that all people must adapt to this Country - NOT the other way around. Then it's ok for you to still speak your previous country's language (and should choose one, not just use ours when needed)and keep your religion but you must adapt to OUR way of life - NOT the other way around. Then and ONLY then will immigrants find themselves fully welcomed here. Yes we started out as immigrants however, we over the years have adapted - so should immigrants. Also stop using excuses such as "they are racist" "they won't adapt to us" etc. You prefer your previous way of life? You are free to go back to it any time.

ab
said

As a new immigrant myself: the top priorities are almost always to have a good quality of life. I think multiculturism is very much a part of Canada (at least in the big cities), whether it works or not has a lot to do with "immigrant apprehensions"

As last year my son was born in Canada: I feel the need to integrate more with the Canadian society. In simple terms understand sports here, be part of it. Learn to ski, enjoy winter (come on !! its tough).

If there is one sentence for a true Canadian value it is as percieved by an "outsider" :
A Canadian person is a happy individual who is hardworking, helps other people in need and is not brash as his cousin "south of the border".

For an immigrant it not very easy to integrate because of several factors:
religious differences
cultural diff.
sports and entertainment diff. and it takes time to know this stuff.
I have a word for John: go get some education mister, Canada is for the 1st nation unless you are one: you have no right to tell how much immigration is needed or not.

Another thing: aging canadian polulation is not helping at all. The new canadians are going to be working in the next 10-20-30 years. And their sons/daughters will be Canadians atleast in spirit if not in Colour.
Another prediction: as world economy goes stronger this wave of immigration from China and South Asia will dimnish and as it does it will have some impact on Canadian economy. So immigration and econony goes hand in hand and is needed.

Dave, Ottawa
said

Another question we need to ask ourselves is why is the birth rate so low among 2nd generation and higher Canadians? Why do we need so much immigration just to keep our numbers growing? There is something seriously broken when a society fails to sustain its own population.

Bruce
said

Steve- The so-called First Nations ancestors immigrated to North America too. Hello, anybody home.

M. Cameron
said

When are Canadian born people going to get off their lazy butts and start keeping up their part of the population, like other countries are doing so effectively?

Eric
said

Just by reading all these comments here, I think you can get a pretty good feel for what people are thinking. I dare CTV to put this on their national newscast and let Canada hear what 'Canadians' are saying. Its high time we stopped sweeping this debate under the cloud of racism and biogtry. This is about making sure this country continues in a direction that continues to breed growth and success for future generations. If we get to many people holding on to their old values and languages, we will have a culture clash that inhibits national growth and success.

Keith HM N
said

"Socialism is killing us" has a point. When I look at the GTA, I see division and segregation between different peoples. Looks like cultures stick together by banding together in communities. I like the "melting pot" formula where one comes to our country and becomes Canadian instead of creating a cultural divide. But at the same time offers a taste of their culture from time to time. But please accept the tradional Canadian Holidays like Christmas.

Proud to be an immigrant
said

To John:
You want to cut all immigration? Fine. Run for election on that platform, get elected and pass the law.

However, before doing that, consider where that will lead you. Where will you find the population to pay the taxs to operate this country? Canadians are in general reproducing themselves at a less-than-break even rate, meaning fewer children, thus fewer future taxpayers to pay your salary if elected, and to contribute to CPP and UIC, which will support you when you fail to get elected, are too old to work and have no pension because of your efforts to ban immigration.

Get real: immigration has, and always will be, Canada's raison d'etre.

Try Again please...
said

Re: Brian

Wow! If you cant figure out what the Canadian Culture is, other then to say its not American. Then I think you need to really evaluate yourself..not the country....Whats Canadian Culture!

Let see:

Christmas (with a tree and not necessarily a religion)

English/French - As a language

Music - Rap/Rock/Country/Classical basically any ( yes all for the same person! how many cultures have that much variety)
Ever try ordering Cheesy Fries in the US! NOW THATS CANADIAN!!!

We show our faces on our ID's, and share equal rights for all sex's, races, religions.

We live in snow in the winter and beaches in the summer. We have our own fashions and styles...our own TV shows and yes...our own slang...We love to help others and tend to neglect ourselves in the process...

We respect the Queen, but dont follow her lead.

So Brian..if you are confused about what being Canadian means to you..maybe its because you are so bombarded by other cultures..you cant see what is right in front of you...

Damian
said

I came to Canada to live in Canada and "become" a Canadian, not just via citizenship... Too many of these new immigrants come here just to live their current lives, in their current culture, with their current problem, just geographically in Canada, under the protection of our social programs. Whenever some custom/etc which they bring here conflicts with somethinng that's in place already, it's always assumed that OUR practices need to change. That's nonsense, and I'm sick to death of it. Just look at the counrties of western europe to see how well that approach does not work.
People who want to come here to become Canadians should be welcome. People who just want to rent living space in Canada while living in their old mindset/culture/etc should be tossed out. it is NOT the case that ALL immigration is ALWAYS good, no matter what.

FreakAlert
said

Truth is Europeans are no longer seeking to come here anymore, and they were the backbone that built this country - basically, productive immigrants.

But...Stats Canada has got the low-down on all this.

Be proud of who you are!
said

To Michael Kelly:

A rose by any other name is still a rose and Christmas will always be a Christian tradition, not biblically based but none the less a Christian tradition and should not be reduced to "politically correct" to accommodate any foreign groups. This is OUR culture and if they don't like it tough! The "Tolerant" have been anything but tolerant for our culture and faith and the Liberals we have to thank. Nobody wins in my Canada and if one group is sacrificed in order to include another that is wrong. Multiculturalism has sacrificed our Christian heritage to the point that mentioning your are a Christian is looked upon with disdain, certainly with the media types. We need to rethink who we are and regroup and be proud of our culture and defend it otherwise its not worth having.

CONservatives are Killing Us
said

Canada is a great country. Despite the best efforts of the neoCONs and other bigots, our country is growing by leaps and bounds and immigration is a key ingredient in that success.

Lart from Above
said

Canada is a wonderful country to live in, and one of the great things about it is the way people bring their culture and traditions from around the world and makes it part of the Canadian mosaic. I don't know why this seems to bother people. Having grown up in and from the US "melting pot" that homogenizes culture into simply a commercial commodity, I can say the Canadian way is so much better. I love living in Kensington Market; it captures the best of Canadian multiculturalism. I've been to Europe, Asia, and Latin America during the past few years, and as interesting as other countries are, I wouldn't trade life in Canada for anywhere else.

Brian
said

I'd be curious to know if anyone can give me a good explanation of what "Canadian Culture" is. It seems that if we don't view ourselves as multicultural, what have we got? Most people define it by what we're NOT: American. That's pretty weak: I don't think the Chinese define themselves as "just different from the rest of Asia".

And yes I am Canadian.

Ken
said

I think that most immigrants want to integrate into Canadian society. It is the media that singles out the situations that are controversial and shapes peoples' fear of others. I know many immigrants and understand the barriers that they face. When western people live abroad, they also tend to live within their comfort zone. There are huge communities of ex-pats that live outside the western world yet no one in those other countries complains about them. I'd say it's a double standard.

Madailéin
said

Steve,
All life comes from Africa, haven't you heard? There's also been bone evidence of Vikings that were here long before the Natives. So they're not 'Native' either.

John,
Our poverty level is the lowest it's been in years.

As long as they learn English, or French, obey our laws, mix with over people (not just their own race) and are good people I don't really care where they're from.

BWG
said

To John - Before you go to far on the we must help our own before helping others, here's a little map of the percentage of people living on less than $1 a day around the world. If you notice Canada is not among them. Our standard of living is High, and yes although we do have poverty in the country, we also have many other programs to help those in need. Many of these other countries do not. If you want to put a stop to immigration, then send MORE money to these countries as so they can further develop their infrastructure, create jobs, then they won't have a reason to come here.

To Beverly - In my opinion, we should only fund a basic day care system, and that's all. People want their child to be immersed in different languages and cultures in their daily upbringing, then that should be accomplished by the parents with the means they have available. If they can't, then the basic one will have to do. If you really want a good day care solution, get companies to open day cares at their facilities, where parents can always be close to their children, even when they have to work.

liping
said

Multicultural country, different colors, different languages, different religions and one peaceful people. Really this is a great country.

Eric
said

I am a 7th generation Canadian on one side (from the U.K), and first generation on the other side (from Germany). My dad's family came to Canada in 1958. Why? Not to make Canada more German, but rather to embrace being Canadian. The nationality and culture that made this land so great and appealing for newcomers. I am very confused as to why newcomers want to change it. If your culture is so much better, then why do you want to come here? I get VERY OFFENDED when people come here and say that we are racists and inconsiderate. Grow up!!! I have a right to preserve my culture and identity don't I? My Opa, Oma, and Dad became 'Canadian', why can't the rest of you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Still Fully Canadian!
said

Re: Beverly

No way!! that is the whole problem! Why is it a problem for people who Immigrate to Canada, to have themselves and their children learn OUR official langugages and culture? After all they are coming to Canada to live a Canadian life right? Come on now, if any of us immigrated to another country would they learn English so we could adapt?

One EQUAL educational and support system is what is needed. A CANADIAN system in CANADA...how unusual?!

Beverley Smith
said

All the more reason that we need instead of universal daycare, one-size-fits-all, a universal funding of children that flowed with the child. Only in that way can parents ensure their Convention on the Rights of the Child rights are respected to provide for the language and cultural upbringing of their young as they prefer.
Daycare is one option some want. Others may want grandparent, family-based care, dayhome, sitter, cultural centre, nanny, parental care of a mix. If we fund only the dominant-language daycare we actually deny parents some basic rights.

john
said

It's time to put a halt to this. We need to decrease immigration drastically. We send billions of dollars to foreign contries every year and neglect our own as it is now. Our poverty levels are terrible, there are not enough well paying jobs for the population but yet we still flood the country with immigrants. We need to get things inline and stabilize what we have before bringing in anymore.

Bob
said

I agree with 31 Delta. The past PM of Australia made a good speech about a similar comment. It would do well to adopt such a policy. Yes it would be nice if everyone got along and peace for all would be nice. But in order to get that peace sometimes we have to fight to get and keep that peace. WWII and WWI prime examples, among many others.

Michael Kelly
said

I believe that Canada is one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Our country has been very (some say too) flexible to accomodate different religious groups and cultures.
I am quite certain if I went their countries and demanded the same accomodations for my Christian beliefs; I would be laughed at or worse.
Where else are you suppose to now call a Christmas tree a "holiday tree" to make no one feel bad?

Ted
said

Steve - I'm sorry, I was born here, this is the only life I have.

My ancestors may be foreign born, but I will never consider myself foreign born. I am Canadian.

Fully Canadian!!
said

Fact:

There is a Canadian Culture

As stated by 31 Delta, we love the melting pot that is Canada, but people need to realise that there IS a Canadian Culture and that should be respected just as much as other cultures. I fully believe that a lot of 3rd 4th 5th generation Canadians are tired of having to bend there lives to "respect" other cultures...I mean seriously, not only do we have our official languages...but now we have French fading away to make room for others languages! Respect Us....we have rights too! (or at least we did...and should!)

Also I would like to note, that if we want to get on to history...we might as well go back to the fact that ALL mankind originated from Africa and migrated to North America. Does that mean Native Indians are immigrants too?

Socialism is killing us
said

I'm an immigrant from Eastern Europe. I conformed to "Canadian values". All I can say is multiculturism doesn't work. It just seperates people into communities such as Little Italy or China Town or whatever else there is.

Breanne S.
said

Let me get this straight...you're saying that more people are coming into the country, which, while a fact, is pretty irrelevant information, aaaaaand that the Upper Canadians and Francophones are being jerks, which they have been since before 1867. Exactly why is this article a "Top Story"? Why do we care?

Jay
said

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is World Peace.
Oh....OK. Umm...I just want a new truck then.

31 Delta
said

For me, people who are willing to come to this great country to improve their quality of life and to give their children a better future are most welcome. However that being said, I think that Canadians in general are tired of having to bend our way of life and our traditions to conform to the practices of those who are new to the country. Yes we should all try to learn about each other, however not at the expense of selling off our national identity and culture just for the sake of making newcomers to Canada welcome. Like they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Steve
said

Come on already,

Outside of the First Nations people...you were all foreign born at one time or another.

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