Shibao Guo University of Calgary & Don DeVoretz RIIM/Simon Fraser University March 25, 2006 Settling West: Exploring the Integration Experience of Recent.

Shibao GuoUniversity of Calgary

&Don DeVoretz

RIIM/Simon Fraser UniversityMarch 25, 2006

Settling West: Exploring the Integration Experience of Recent Mainland

Chinese Immigrants in Edmonton

Outline

• Contextual information

• A questionnaire approach

• Report of findings

• Conclusions and implications

Canadian Immigration Policy

• Pre-1967: racial background• 1967: the immigration point system• 1980s: business immigration program• 1990s: highly skilled immigrants • 2001 Census

– 18.4% - born outside Canada– 13.4% - visible minorities– 1,029,400 Chinese Canadians

History of Chinese Immigrants

• 1858: Chinese arrived in Victoria– Coolie workers and chain migrants: CPR– From Guangdong & Fujian – Single men with rural origins

• 1885 – 1923: head tax ($50 - $500)• 1923: Chinese Immigration Act• 1947: repeal of 1923 Act

Chinese Emigration

• China: isolated since 1949

• 1973: establishment of diplomatic relations

• Open door polices since 1978

• 1990s: emigration phase

The Chinese Leaver-Stayer Project • Examines the underlying forces that influence the

“move-stay” decision for Chinese immigrants• Two stages

1. Seeks understanding of the integration experience of Chinese immigrants in Canada2. The experience of Chinese immigrants who

returned “home” • The Canadian portion of the project involves a

matched study in five cities: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton

Research Questions

• Why do some people decide to leave while others stay?

• Who leaves, who stays, and why?• Does Canada push them back home or

do forces in their home country attract them back?

• What are the integration experiences of those who stayed in Canada?

• What are the policy implications?

The Edmonton Study

Focusing on the integration experience of recent Mainland Chinese immigrants in Edmonton

Questionnaire

I. Basic information

II. Motivations for immigrating

III. Integration experience in Canada

IV. Concluding remarks

I: Basic Information

Gender Age Place of Birth

Current Residence

Family Members

Language

Marital Status

Nationality Education

Background

Male Female 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

42.74%

57.26%

Figure 1: Gender (n = 124)

Figure 2: Age Distribution

%

<20 yrs 20 -25 yrs

26-30 yrs 31-33 yrs

34-36 yrs 37-39 yrs

40-42 yrs 43-45 yrs

46-48 yrs 49-51 yrs

52-55 yrs 56-59 yrs

60 yrs 0 2 4 6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

0.83% 0.83%

9.92%

13.22%

22.31%

17.36%

12.40%

4.13%

2.48% 4.13%

3.31% 2.48%

6.61%

Figure 3: Marital Status

%

Single Married Divorced Widowed 0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

100

6.45%

89.52%

2.42% 1.61%

Figure 4: City of Residence

Beijing Changchun

Changsha Chengdu

Chongqing Guangzhou

Hangzhou Harbin

Lanzhou Nanchang

Nanjing Shanghai

Shijiazhuang Taipei

Tianjin Wuhan

Xi'an Xianggang (Hong Kong)

Zhengzhou Other

0

5

10

15

20

%

21.05%

0.88%

2.63%

6.14%

2.63%

6.14%

0.88%

7.02%

0.88%

1.75% 3.51%

9.65%

0.88%

1.75%

0.88%

4.39%

1.75%

4.39%

0.88%

21.93%

Major Cities They Came From

Beijing 21.1%

Shanghai 9.6%

Harbin 7%

Chengdu 6.1%

Guangzhou 6.1%

Principal Applicant Dependent Applicant 20

30

40

50

60

%

49.19% 50.81%

Figure 5: Status of Applicant

Skilled Worker Business Immigrant

Spouse, Fiancé or Child Parent or Grandparent

Other 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

56.91%

3.25%

25.20%

6.50% 8.13%

Figure 6: Immigrant Class

Figure 7: Length of Stay

%

0-12 months 1-3 years 3-5 years 5-10 years 10-15 years 15-20 years over 20 years 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

22.76% 27.64%

17.89%

13.01% 10.57%

4.88% 3.25%

Landed Immigrant or Permanent Resident of Canada Canadian Citizenship

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

%

68.55%

31.45%

Figure 8: Current Status of Citizenship

Figure 9: Education Background

%

<High school High school non-U cert Bachelor Master's Phd Other 0

10

20

30

40

50

2.44% 3.25% 9.76%

44.72%

18.70% 20.33%

0.81%

Figure 10: English Level Upon Arrival

Advanced Intermediate Basic None 0

10

20

30

40

50

%

12%

47%

32%

9%

II. Motivations for Immigrating to Canada

a. Further Studies

b. Higher Paying Job

c. More Job Security

d. Opportunities for Promotion

e. Less Stress

f. Family Reunion

g. Taking Care of Parents

h. Living in the Canadian Culture

i. Speaking English

j. Seeking New Opportunities

k. Acquiring Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency

l. Education for the Children

m. Natural Environment

n. Joining My Old Friends

o. Other Motivations

Top Five Motivations for Moving to Canada

1. Ed/school system for their children 43.5%

2. Natural environment 42.7%

3. Further their own studies 30.6%

4. Acquiring Canadian citizenship or PR 26.6%

5. Living in the Canadian culture 24.2%

Yes No Don't know or hard to say 0

10

20

30

40

50

%

47.54%

22.95% 29.51%

Figure 13: Main Goals Achieved

Very high High Not sure Slim 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

6.25%

27.08%

54.17%

12.50%

Figure 14: Possibility of Achieving Main Goals

1. Language difficulties 32.3%

2. Lack of Canadian work experience 21.8%

3. Lack of social network 17.7%

4. Chinese work experience not recognized 15.3%

5. Chinese qualifications not recognized

15.3%

Top Five Major Barriers Preventing from Achieving Goals

III: Integration Experience in Canada

• Any difficulties of integrating into Canadian society?

• Employment experiences in Canada

• Social experience

• Impressions of Canada

• Experience with government and non-government organizations

1. Language 53.2%

2. Obtaining employment 33.9%

3. Lack of social network 29.0%

4. Cultural adjustment 25.0%

5. Being a foreigner 16.9%

Top Five Major Difficulties Facing Integration

Occupation Before and After Immigration

Occupations Before (%) After (%)

1. Occp. in natural and applied sciences 33.9 26.9

2. Financial, secretarial and admin occp. 11.6 8.7

3. Prof. occp. in business and finance 4.5 1.9

4. Middle and other management 7.1 1.9

5. Prof occp. in Soc Sci, Educ, Gov. 24.1 6.7

6. Prof occp. in health, RN and supervisors 5.4 1.0

7. Occp. in art, culture, recreation and sport 1.8 0

8. Homemaker 0 1.0

9. Construction, trades, and Labourers 4.5 13.5

10. Food and services 0 1.0

29. Unemployed 1.6 18.3

30 Students 5.4 18.3

Total 100 100

Figure 16: Income Distribution

%

$20,000 $20,001-$31,000 $31,001-$46,000 $46,001-$62,000 $62,001-$78,000 $78,000 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

36.00%

7.00%

15.00%

21.00%

6.00%

15.00%

Figure 17: Employment Situation in Canada

%

Much Better Better Same Worse Much Worse 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

12.00%

17.00%

21.00% 23.00%

27.00%

Figure18: Evaluation of Social Life in Canada

%

Much better Better The same Worse Much worse Don't know or hard to say 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

5.98%

23.93%

28.21% 29.91%

10.26%

1.71%

Much Better Better Worse Much Worse 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

5.26%

35.09%

54.39%

5.26%

Figure 19: Expectations of Canada

Yes No In Some Ways 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

%

4.17%

63.33%

32.50%

Figure 20: Regrets about Moving to Canada

Top Five Areas That Need Help

Finding a Job 51.6%

Finding a Job for Spouse 15.3%

Enrolling in ESL 13.7%

Applying for Loans to Buy an Apartment or a House 12.9%

Applying for Loans to Start Business 8.9%

IV: Concluding Remarks

• What could the Canadian government do to help new Chinese immigrants integrate into Canadian society more effectively?

• How could the two governments cooperate to help Chinese immigrants?

• Anything else you’d like to add?

Policy Implications

• What can Canadian Government do to help retain this group of immigrants?

• How can we facilitate immigrant’s access to the labour market?

• What are the policy implications of this research to other immigrants in Canada?

Thank you!