Migration and integration are keys to innovation in an ever-changing Canada

The precedent-setting program is led by distinguished scholars, including TMU's Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration, professor Anna Triandafyllidou, an internationally recognized sociologist and migration policy expert who is the Bridging Divides scientific director.

“The possibilities of Bridging Divides are extremely exciting,” says Triandafyllidou. “This program will rely on transformative methodologies bringing together our social scientists, engineers, urban planners, and public health experts to work collaboratively in producing innovative analytical frameworks as well as new usable knowledge that can inform societal change.”

The Bridging Divides research team will address distinct aspects of the immigrant experience in Canada including access to healthcare and housing, employment, and civic participation.

The initiative represents a continuation and expansion of the CERC in the Migration and Integration research hub at TMU. Led by Triandafyllidou, this team produces new insights into the links between migration and socio-economic changes, provides comparative perspectives on migration governance, and utilizes innovative data methodologies to offer practical knowledge for policymakers.

The question of filling key sector jobs with qualified migrants is a complex one. “The economy and the labour market are ever-evolving,” notes Triandafyllidou. “Economic transformations are reshaping the employment landscape.” 

Triandafyllidou believes that, despite initiatives like the 2014 Educational Qualification Assessment aimed at translating foreign skills to the Canadian labour market, migrant integration programs haven't achieved the level of success envisioned.

“Bridging Divides will examine why overqualified migrants often find themselves in underemployment and why skills-recognition programs continue to fall short of meeting newcomers' needs,” she says.

She also points out that these measures haven’t alleviated hiring challenges, such as countering employer perceptions of risk linked to performance expectations. The research program will investigate how and whether advanced digital technologies can be strategically applied to improve immigrants’ economic integration and help to close programming and policy gaps. 

To probe these complex issues comprehensively, Bridging Divides will conduct large-scale data analysis encompassing data from Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This will be combined with its own surveys, qualitative interviews, and focus groups and by engaging migrants, employers, and other key stakeholders.

Meeting the housing needs of Canada's growing population amid higher immigration targets requires taking a broad look at housing trends and confronting long-standing issues in the housing sector.

Triandafyllidou underscores that a comprehensive evaluation of the housing crisis and increased pressure on infrastructure means recognizing that insufficient public investment in housing has been a persistent problem for decades. 

Moreover, the financialization of the housing sector, allowing investors to quickly flip development projects for profit, needs to be curtailed to ensure that housing serves the needs and interests of all Canadians.

On the other hand, Triandafyllidou points out that migrants' contribution to Canada's economy through housing investments is an important but often ignored benefit of immigration. Many newcomers arrive with funds to purchase homes, which not only stimulates the real estate market but also demonstrates their long-term commitment to Canada. 

Permanent residents tend to purchase homes within five years of arrival, a unique immigration pattern that offers an opportunity for policymakers to develop targeted housing initiatives that meet the projected needs of migrants.

Owing to its long history of migration, Canada is known as a nation of immigrants. To seize the full potential of this significant demographic, we must address long-standing barriers and complex challenges to successful migrant integration. 

Focusing on how advanced digital technologies can both create opportunities and challenges, the Bridging Divides program will aim to bridge divides that will strengthen Canada when it comes to migrant health and well-being, employment, civic participation, and building inclusive and sustainable communities.

Using creative and innovative approaches, Bridging Divides holds the promise of empowering immigrants and serving as a catalyst for Canada's sustained growth and prosperity.