In a recent survey, Canada was ranked the fourth-highest scorer among 52 countries’ policy performance.
MIPEX stands for Migration Integration Policy Index. It is an international standard for migration systems/policies. The policies implemented by the governments affect the new immigrants in many ways. These policies define the guidelines for the new immigrants to search for jobs, and educational opportunities and give them a sense of belonging so they can become satisfied and participating citizens of the country.
“The MIPEX scores allow us to gauge how well our policies support or hinder newcomers on their path to settling into Canadian society,” says Anna Triandafyllidou, the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Ryerson University. “The index helps us compare our performance over time and identify where we have room for improvement or the potential to learn from other countries.”
Canada managed to improve its ranking by two in the MIPEX 2020. The increase can be attributed to enhancement in access to healthcare for asylum seekers and the 2017 Citizenship Act. For MIPEX 2015, Canada has secured the 6th rank in the global ranking.
The report says that Canada gets the maximum for its anti-discrimination policies. It further states that the world-leading laws and regulations also give the country an extra edge. Policy representing multiple cultures placed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms also contributes to the total score.
Canada drops scores in the areas like politics, where people who are not citizens cannot participate in politics at the regional/national level. In the policy-deciding authorities, there is no scope for permanent residents. But the permanent residents get a chance to vote quickly and participate after getting citizenship, there Canada earns back some points.
The labor division mobility requires a lot of enhancements. Migrants who lack proper legal documents and have restricted work permits face challenges while finding jobs. That further affects their healthcare access.
The family reunification policies were termed as “favorable.” But the report also stated that adults/people above 18 years of age witnessed more difficulties while reuniting in Canada as compared to other countries in the top 10 list.
Canada again dropped points in providing pathways to permanent residence. At times, the processes can be long and troublesome as far as the number of temp workers keeps increasing.
Education gained some high points for Canada as the country has implemented equity and a multi-cultural system. The system and policies help students feel safe at school and at colleges. Though the system is quite effective, the curriculum and teaching field need better representation.
Sweden is the highest-scoring country, having 86 points, and is followed by Finland at 2nd rank with 85 points. Canada with 80 points follows Portugal at 3rd rank with 81 points. After Canada, New Zealand is in the 5th position having 77 points.
“Among English-speaking countries, Canada is becoming a more attractive and inclusive global destination,” says Thomas Huddleston, Director of Research for the Migration Policy Group. “Canada, along with New Zealand, is taking the place of previous top-ranking countries such as Australia, the UK, and the United States, which all go down in the MIPEX rankings this round under pressure from populist political forces.”
