More Canadian immigrants choosing smaller towns over major cities

More Canadian immigrants are choosing to move to smaller cities rather than the economic hubs of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, reports the Canada Immigration Newsletter.

Statistics released from Citizenship and Immigration Canada show that a considerable amount of people are immigrating to small and mid-sized cities.

In 2007, the number of people moving to Charlottetown increased by 73 per cent on the previous year, while Saskatoon welcomed 40 per cent more immigrants over the same period. In Moncton, immigration numbers increased by 31 per cent, and Alberta revelled in a massive 93 per cent increase in overseas migrants.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada said the shifting pattern in Canadian immigration is in part due to the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) which focuses on attracting immigrants to regional parts of the country.

According to the news provider, studies have shown that immigrants have a more successful integration to society if they move to smaller towns or cities, where unemployment rates are lower, incomes are higher, and there is less demand for housing.

The regional areas of Canada have been welcoming the influx of immigrants because of the economic and cultural benefits; there has been a country-wide need for overseas workers to work in specialised occupations in the Canadian workforce because of a growing skills shortage.

The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for Canada visa and immigration services.

Article by Jessica Bird, Canadian Visa Bureau.