immigrants pull ahead of mainstream Canadians

[sunnahswag]

We always hear stories about how new immigrants to Canada aren't fairing very well these days.

The headlines tell us that they're underemployed and that an increasing number of them are living in poverty.

But according to a new study, we shouldn't fret — their grand-kids will do very well in Canada. In fact, they'll do much better than the average 'mainstream' Canadian.

The study, conducted by the University of Toronto, indicates that second-generation immigrants in the U.S., Canada, and Australia are more successful than the respective mainstream populations.

In Canada, the predecessors of each immigrant group studied had a higher level of education and higher occupational status than third and higher generation whites. The statistics are even more pronounced with regards to Chinese and South Asian immigrants.

"In all three countries, the economic status of second-generation Chinese, South Asian, and other Asian groups is higher than that of the main-stream population in the same age group," notes the report.

"The mainstream population aged 25-39 has average household incomes of $56 000 in the US, $50 000 in Canada, and $47 000 in Australia. In comparison, the Chinese second generation household incomes are $67 000 in the US, $63 000 in Canada, and $57 000 in Australia."

Immigration attorney Michael Niren says that this study illustrates the positive impact that immigration has on our country.

"Often governments are short sighted in crafting policies focusing on just the credentials of the applicants themselves rather than the potential benefits their offspring can bring," he told Yahoo! Canada News.

"Immigration benefits are not always immediate. Children of immigrants schooled and raised in Canada with the strong worth ethic of their immigrant parents is a powerful combination. Unfortunately government policy is too short sighted and many applicants are refused visas who would likely contribute though their children."

Nick Noorani, founder of the Canadian Immigrant Magazine, says he's not surprised by the results either.

"I'm not surprised because of the immigrant ethic," Noorani, who now operates PrepareForCanada.com, told Yahoo!.

"If you ask 25 immigrants why they came here, 24 of them will say 'we came here because of our kids...We come here to give them a better a life, a better chance and something that they couldn't have back home.'"

Unlike Niren however, Noorani doesn't believe the study should have implications on federal policy — he thinks it's a lesson for all Canadians.
"This [study] only proves one thing. And that is immigrants bring in generations of taxpayers, he said.

"And we should stop looking at immigrants as 'you're only a solution for today and tomorrow.' We should look at it [in terms of] generations.

"Sometimes we forget that."

[Oba]

Intresting.. i dont give a shit.com

[zulaika]

the ethnic denomination of the study is focused on the Asians..yet its casting a wider net and misleading to suggest all Canadian immigrants fall under the finding of the study. i'm not quite sure 2nd generation Somalis and certain other groups in Canada can meet the concluded trajectory in the study. unlike the Somalis and Caribbeans, the Asians, particularly the Chinese, are not as entangled and caught up in public subsidy programs designed to cap and condition social progress.

[blackstars25]

Why can't Somalis be like these other immigrants? Why are they universally known as welfare scammers, doll bludgers and basically parasites of which ever economy they inhibit?

There are obviously exceptions to the rule, but from the places I've been and visited, Somalis have no sense of social/economic mobility. They are more than happy living in their government financed housing for 20+ years (with no intention of ever moving out) or getting off welfare. I know hundreds of families that still live in the same government houses for 20+ years, since they came to the country. The average is 7-10 years for other immigrants (I've heard this from the mouth of a local immigration officer).

Check this out:



Again, I know for a fact this doesn't go for all Somalis, maybe not even most, but I'd say at least 60-65% from what I can gather.

[hipsterrunoff]

Intresting. i dont give a shit.com.

Try giving a shit about that atrocious spelling of yours.

[blackstars25]

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend (more like acquaintance) on the train just the other week, this dude was speaking in Somali and jabjab English basically saying how he couldn't handle the workload for his apprenticeship (mechanic) and gave up because he missed too many days. He was saying he doesn't plan to work atm and is enjoying life living off centerlink (welfare), going to Somali restraunts talking about TRIBES and boasting about drinking a jug of shah. (I'm dead serious). This guy was speaking LOUDLY in a packed train, I was so embaressed. I got off the train soon afterwards and I came to class a bit late smh.