Immigrants important for Canada-Study
Canada, 12th November: Findings of a latest study has highlighted the important role played by immigrants in boosting the global competitiveness of Canada.
According to a recent research by CIC(Citizenship and Immigration Canada) published in October 2010, immigrants are crucial for the economy of Canada and hence the government must recognise and accept the value of Canada immigration in making Canada more innovative.
The report also brings forth the important relationship between innovation and immigration.
According to Michelle Downie, the lead author of the study titled ‘Immigrants as Innovators:Boosting Canada’s Global Competitiveness’, immigrants always look for better ways, which happens to be the very core of innovation.
After a comprehensive study of various innovation dimensions at business, research, culture sector, global commerce, individual immigrant, national ecnomy and international economy, it was found that immigrants exhibit a positve effect on innovation performance resulting in direct benefits to the Canadian economy, Downie asserts.
The research comprising of 60 pages by Canada immigration department states that Canada can work towards developing the underlying innovative capabilities of new immigrants for harnessing the advantages of innovation driven by immigrants.
Canada has recently witnessed its position slipping from ninth to tenth as per the recent Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 published by World Economic Forum.
Canada, however, does have the capability to rise up to a higher position due to its abundant natural resources, low density of population at 34 million people and being the second biggest territorial mass internationally.
Canada welcomes highest number of immigrants every year to its workforce. The year 2006 saw a total of 251,511 immigrants coming to Canada under Canada skilled immigration program.
And still, there is room for increased number of immigrants in Canada each year.
As per the estimates by CBC(Conference Board of Canada), an independent research organisation in the country, Canada needs around 375,000 immigrants each year for maintaining a stability in its workforce and for sustainig the economic development of the nation.
It has been noticed that immigrants face numerous obstacles that seem to inhibit their potential for performing upto their optimum levels seriously affecting their innovative activities in the economy.
And the fact that immigrants face delays in recognition of their foreign credentials as well as experiences further results in underutilization of their underlying skills.
Hence, there is an urgent need for employers to send a strong message for immigrants that Canada values immigrant innovators who are of great value to the Canada economy.
