WEATHER ALERT

Income gap between new immigrants and all Canadians shrunk by half in four years: PBO

Advertisement

Advertise with us

OTTAWA - The income gap between Canada's newest immigrants and other Canadian workers has narrowed significantly, a new report from the parliamentary budget officer said Friday.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/01/2024 (966 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – The income gap between Canada’s newest immigrants and other Canadian workers has narrowed significantly, a new report from the parliamentary budget officer said Friday.

The report found that in 2018, new immigrants — or those who have been permanent residents for only a year — had a median income about 78 per cent of that earned by all tax filers.

In 2014 it was 55 per cent.

Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux waits to appear before the Senate Committee on National Finance, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux waits to appear before the Senate Committee on National Finance, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The PBO said the trends coinciding with this change include greater Canadian work experience, more immigration from South Asia and greater family connections in the country.

The report also found new immigrants with professional jobs such as engineers and applied scientists made particularly significant gains.

The PBO estimated that if the income gap were to be completely eliminated, productivity growth in Canada could rise by as much as 0.21 percentage points.

The Liberal government increased annual immigration targets and plans to welcome 500,000 immigrants in both 2025 and 2026, almost twice the number admitted in 2015.

The PBO said its report was intended to “inform expectations” regarding that policy change.

The report said the substantial increased in the immigration targets will grow the Canadian economy over the long term by increasing the workforce.

“Whether that translates into a benefit for the existing population is uncertain, especially over the short to medium term when the newcomers need to be integrated into the economy,” the report said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2024.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Business

LOAD BUSINESS ARTICLES