Immigration from Latin American countries to Canada has risen by 121% between 1996 and 2006.

This translates into a Hispanic population of between 600,000 and 1.2 million in Canada, according to the Globe and Mail, which adds, “in contrast to the U.S Hispanic community – which is stigmatized by its proportion of illegal immigrants who have few English skills and a paucity of formal education – almost 50% of Hispanic Canadians have at least a bachelor’s degree; another 12% have a non-university degree."

Having a high level of education is an emphasis, and increasingly so, of the Canadian immigration system, particularly under programs like the Federal Skilled Workers, and the Quebec Skilled Workers.

Notably, while Hispanics make up 10% of overall Canadian immigrants, they make up double that amount, 20%, in Quebec.