Concepts and definitions to identify the stock of international migrants: the Canadian case study Presentation prepared for Joint ECE/Eurostat Seminar on migration statistics, Geneva, March 21-23, 2005

Outline Definitions and data sources: Statistics Canada’s Immigration and Ethno-cultural Statistics Program* Measuring emigration through survey data: Statistics from the American Community Survey** * Prepared by Kelly Tran and Tina Chui, Statistics Canada ** Prepared by Margaret Michalowski and Doug Norris, Statistics Canada; Kevin Deardorff and Betsy Guzmán, the U.S. Census Bureau

Definitions and Data Sources Statistics Canada’s Immigration and Ethno-cultural Statistics Program

Ways to identify target populations for migrant statistics – the concepts Landed immigrant status Landed immigrant status –Landed immigrant –Non-immigrant –Non-permanent resident Citizenship Citizenship –Canadian citizen by birth –Canadian citizen by naturalization –Not a Canadian citizen Place of birth Place of birth –Inside Canada –Outside Canada Generational status Generational status –First generation –Second generation –Third generation and beyond

What the Census can tell us – Stock data Size & origins of the immigrant population, children of immigrants, citizenship profile and ethnic groups Size & origins of the immigrant population, children of immigrants, citizenship profile and ethnic groups Settlement & mobility patterns of immigrants over time Settlement & mobility patterns of immigrants over time Socio-economic experience of immigrants, adult children of immigrants as reflected by generational status, visible minorities, ethnic groups, citizens Socio-economic experience of immigrants, adult children of immigrants as reflected by generational status, visible minorities, ethnic groups, citizens

Immigrants to Canada are increasingly from Asia and the Middle East Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census

About 10% of Non- permanent residents were born in the United States Total non-permanent residents 198,645 Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census

Proportion of first and second generation increased in 2001 % population aged 15 and over by generational status Source: Statistics Canada, 1971 and 2001 Censuses

The majority of eligible immigrants are Canadian citizens; naturalization rates varied by length of time lived in Canada Naturalization rates of immigrants by period of immigration Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census

What is the IMDB? Administrative database of linked immigration files with taxation files Administrative database of linked immigration files with taxation files Designed to address the need for detailed, policy- relevant data on the immigration program Designed to address the need for detailed, policy- relevant data on the immigration program Supported by a federal-provincial consortium, led by the department of Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) Supported by a federal-provincial consortium, led by the department of Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) Longitudinal: updated annually Longitudinal: updated annually –all landed immigrants from (tracking for 16 years since first filing tax) –tax data from

What is the LSIC? A longitudinal survey designed to study how new immigrants adjust to life in Canada during the initial years A longitudinal survey designed to study how new immigrants adjust to life in Canada during the initial years The same immigrants are tracked during the first 4 years of their settlement in Canada to examine which factors help or hinder their adjustment The same immigrants are tracked during the first 4 years of their settlement in Canada to examine which factors help or hinder their adjustment Survey content includes information on many aspects of the adjustment process including: employment, education, health, housing – all from the immigrant’s perspective Survey content includes information on many aspects of the adjustment process including: employment, education, health, housing – all from the immigrant’s perspective

What is the EDS? A survey designed to better understand the ethnic & cultural backgrounds of people in Canada and how these backgrounds relate to their lives today A survey designed to better understand the ethnic & cultural backgrounds of people in Canada and how these backgrounds relate to their lives today A post-censal survey using the 2001 Census as a frame for respondent selection A post-censal survey using the 2001 Census as a frame for respondent selection Survey content includes questions on the complex dimensions of ethnic identification, ethnic ancestry, sense of belonging, interaction with society and civic participation Survey content includes questions on the complex dimensions of ethnic identification, ethnic ancestry, sense of belonging, interaction with society and civic participation

Conclusion Different concepts capture different populations of interest Different concepts capture different populations of interest Related concepts are useful for a comprehensive look at the immigrant population Related concepts are useful for a comprehensive look at the immigrant population More detailed information is also available from other data sources More detailed information is also available from other data sources Continually working towards internationally agreed upon or accepted terminology Continually working towards internationally agreed upon or accepted terminology

Measuring emigration through survey data The American Community Survey as a case study for Canada

National data exchanges as a way to improve emigration statistics Lack of data on emigration – a major challenge Lack of data on emigration – a major challenge Work of the North American Migration Working Group Work of the North American Migration Working Group The U.S. Census and the American Community Survey as sources of statistics on Canadian emigrants The U.S. Census and the American Community Survey as sources of statistics on Canadian emigrants

Looking at American immigrants from the Canadian perspective: stock data

Using different concepts to define immigrants’ flows to the United States Concept (timing) year of entry outside the country x years ago I II Flow’s “origin” (country) country of birth country of residence Population (flow) foreign-born by year of entry foreign-country residents by over the x period

Advantages of using “outside the country residence”: sending country perspective More complete coverage of flows originated in the sending country More complete coverage of flows originated in the sending country Possibility of distinguishing between emigration of country-born persons and emigration of country’s immigrants Possibility of distinguishing between emigration of country-born persons and emigration of country’s immigrants

Since 2000, emigration from Canada to the United States has been decreasing Number (‘000) Non- Canadian 69.9 Canadian- born 43.2 Non- Canadian 49.6 Canadian- born 42.9 Non- Canadian 23.8 Canadian- born American Community Survey estimates

… and participation of non-Canadian born residents of Canada was the main reason behind the decrease American Community Survey estimates Emigration Canada the United States Non- Canadian born 61.8% Non- Canadian born 53.6% Non- Canadian born 40.9%

Conclusions There are a number of feasible methods to obtain information on emigration from population censuses There are a number of feasible methods to obtain information on emigration from population censuses Cross-tabulating information on residence outside the country x years ago and place of birth could be the most beneficial to produce statistics Cross-tabulating information on residence outside the country x years ago and place of birth could be the most beneficial to produce statistics Usefulness of sharing data across countries relies upon the understanding of underlying concepts/terminology Usefulness of sharing data across countries relies upon the understanding of underlying concepts/terminology