"I respect myself too much to stay in Canada": Why so many new immigrants are leaving
- Thread starter Mounat
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Too bad... Looks like a good article to read. But I'm not going to subscribe for just an article.
It is, indeed, a very well written and researched article. I normally don't read the Star but they surprised me with this.
Try this link: https://apple.news/AXEp3BuQqQYu2CNue2RQDUA
Non paywall Archive:
https://archive.is/HtDCc
https://archive.is/HtDCc
People who do not understand that you have to go back down the career ladder when moving to a different country, are setting themselves up for failure.
I was at top level in my field and department before moving here. I studied here in my field. I started at the bottom rung on the ladder and I couldn’t climb the career ladder until I had PR two years ago. I now make 6 figures a year, am one level below the top and happy as a pig in mud. There are those who expect me to move up fast but I’m having way too much fun “rolling around in the mud” right now, which I tell them.
It was 8 years of struggle, nearly loosing the roof over my head. When I got my PR I had $200 to my name. But I respected myself too much to give up and go back.
Do your dang research.
I was at top level in my field and department before moving here. I studied here in my field. I started at the bottom rung on the ladder and I couldn’t climb the career ladder until I had PR two years ago. I now make 6 figures a year, am one level below the top and happy as a pig in mud. There are those who expect me to move up fast but I’m having way too much fun “rolling around in the mud” right now, which I tell them.
It was 8 years of struggle, nearly loosing the roof over my head. When I got my PR I had $200 to my name. But I respected myself too much to give up and go back.
Do your dang research.
You should rightly be proud of yourself and your resilience. That type of grit is very common among many immigrants. However, and depending on one's circumstances, it may not be possible to start over academically or professionally. For example, if one is in their twenties or even early thirties, it makes sense to acquire new education/certification in Canada. But that ship would have sailed for older professionals with decades of high skill experience, and may not make economic sense.
I appreciate that the article was balanced in looking at all angles. Sometimes, time is really of the essence and, unfortunately, protectionism and other short-sighted gatekeeping are preventing many immigrants from achieving their full professional potential. And in turn, leaving Canada exposed to talent flight and reduced economic output.
It was insightful as well to read the comments on the article where some have mentioned little has changed in 20, 30 and even 50 years. That's the real shame, in my opinion.
It's complicated, for sure.
More power to you. You're definitely in the majority as most immigrants do toil through the system to make it work in Canada. Some, like you, overcome the odds and achieve their professional goals (at a high cost), and others have their dreams dashed and drive Ubers to feed their families.
The take away from the article for me, and there are a few, is the disconnect between the impression that Canada is in dire need of skilled workers and the reality on the ground when those skilled workers arrive.
Is it really true there's a shortage of skilled workers in Canada? Are there more skilled workers arriving than there are available jobs? Is it a bait and switch to ensure all Tim Hortons and convenience stores have a pipeline of cheap labor?
Doctors and Dentists working on retail? Anyone who knows if this is true? There is shortage of people in healthcare and it doesn't make sense to bring them in to work on retail! That doesn't make sense! I hope it's a rare corner case!
I think this specific example is not a good one to make the case of immigrants leaving Canada. Or atleast the details here aren't clear enough.
There are some folks I know who left Canada because they have health issues and the wait times for some scans/ treatments are many months out on an ongoing basis which might be a better example.
I think this specific example is not a good one to make the case of immigrants leaving Canada. Or atleast the details here aren't clear enough.
There are some folks I know who left Canada because they have health issues and the wait times for some scans/ treatments are many months out on an ongoing basis which might be a better example.
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They dont allow Canadians to be back https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-doctors-trained-abroad-practice-1.6749553
Think how tough it will be for someone who is practicing in an Asian country to do something here. The licensing process is tough to crack - https://theconversation.com/why-is-canada-snubbing-internationally-trained-doctors-during-a-health-care-crisis-198490
Thank you.
I have to say I find that the younger generation is the one that has very little perseverance. Too many there who wants everything served on a platter, preferably spoon fed. Good luck to them. In the article it seems the young architect gave up after a couple of months. Really??!! *facepalm*
There is a shortage of high skill. People forget about “Canadian experience”, which is very much a reality. If getting in through the door means to start at a much lower position, then do that. Get the Canadian experience and move up from there. Once the foot is inside, moving up the ladder will happen much quicker than sit around and wait for the top job.
I’m not going to lie. It was tough. It was exhausting. There were blood, sweat, and tears. Lots of all. There were times I thought I was going to give up. There were days I didn’t want to go to work to watch my supervisors do a lousy job and me either take the blame or cover for them (more often the latter). But it paid off and I’m now supervising my former supervisors. Some of my former bosses are now my clients or subcontractors.
It's a complex issue, to state the obvious . Based on the work that I have done in my career here, some of my findings are the following:
1. Canada needs new immigrants (aka new tax payers) who will fund the CPP over the next few decades.
2. Canada is being used as a stepping stone for entry into the US, especially by a younger age group in the IT sector.
3. Immigration and post secondary education are BIG billion $$$ industries in Canada. The non-University intake via small time colleges is creating an army of minimum wage workers largely from one country.
4. There is no let up in immigration levels - quotas will keep increasing. It almost seems that the Fed & the Provinces have zero coordination on this front.
5. Infrastructure is not only not keeping pace, rather it is lagging significantly.
Some of these are pretty obvious and visible around you. The larger issue is the socio-economic problems that go unseen. Mental health amongst International students, especially in the colleges, is headed south. Suicides are on the rise. It's unlikely that the federal govt is not aware of these; I feel they are turning a blind eye. The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.
very true. Some give up and return after having failed the board certification several times. Canada are losing highly regarded specialists from other countries due to how the board certification is set up.