BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Canada! A land of dreams, they say. A place where anyone can make it, no matter where they come from. For my immigrant readers: do you remember the day you first heard about Canada? The hope, the excitement. You were willing to risk it all. To leave behind everything you know, to chase a dream. Canada, here I come!

“These are tradespeople who build our homes, nurses who care for our loved ones, truckers who facilitate commerce, and entrepreneurs who spur innovation,” said ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard. “They are increasingly headed out the door.”

A new report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), conducted by the Conference Board of Canada shows that immigrants are leaving Canada in record numbers, particularly the high-skilled immigrants Canada urgently needs.

Bernhard notes that the concerning findings of the report, entitled, “The Leaky Bucket 2024: A closer look at immigrant onward migration in Canada,” coincide with 30-year lows in public support for immigration.

“Canadians are bombarded with commentary telling them that high immigration levels are to blame for homegrown challenges including housing supply, inaccessible healthcare, crime, and even traffic,” said Bernhard. “Be careful what you wish for. This is globally coveted talent with global options. We need programs that entice them to stay, become active citizens and help fuel our economy.”

ICC’s first “Leaky Bucket” report was released in 2023, produced by the Conference Board of Canada. That original study revealed the alarming trend of immigrants leaving Canada in growing numbers to seek opportunity elsewhere. The 2024 report provides updated figures and digs deeper into the characteristics of those immigrants who are leaving in greater and greater numbers. Highlights of the findings include:

• Francophone immigrants to Quebec and Ontario are much more likely than Anglophone immigrants to leave Canada to seek opportunity elsewhere.
• The most populous cities in Canada—Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver— see high turnover rates of immigrants. They function as hubs for immigrant communities to access resources and support for their settlement journey.
• In contrast, fast-growing, mid-sized cities in other provinces (Calgary, Alberta, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick) see the opposite trend, but have potentially greater challenges retaining immigrants in communities outside of their larger cities.
• The Atlantic provinces see the highest rates of onward migration in Canada in the shorter term (three to seven years after arrival), but the lowest rates longer term (25 years and more after arrival).
• The highest two origin nations of immigrants leaving Canada are a combination of countries allowing dual citizenship (Lebanon) and those restricting citizenship only to that country (South Korea).

The report includes recommendations to help stem the outward flow of newcomers, such as:

• Support provinces and municipalities to understand onward migration trends and address unique challenges in their cities and regions.
• Develop short-term and long-term strategies to address retention challenges at different points in immigrants’ settlement journeys.
• Engage educational institutions and settlement service organizations in the retention conversation.

Hmmm! It is clear that the picture of this exodus out of Canada is complex. From rising costs of living and housing to a sense of economic stagnation and political dissatisfaction, there are numerous factors at play.

Now, I want to ask the question. Why do you think people are choosing to leave Canada? What do you believe we, as a nation, are missing? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below. Let’s spark a conversation and work together to find solutions that will keep Canada a vibrant and prosperous home for all.

BY SIDNEY WALCOTT

Canada is now set to be represented at the 16th Annual Mister International Pageant after recently crowning its 2024 winner.

On November 23^rd, 2024, the Canadian leg of the Mister International competition concluded at the Monte Carlo Inn in Mississauga. The 11 finalists took to the runway in the Canadian finale of the competition to show they have what it takes to be crowned Mister International Canada.

Before the start and throughout the show in between segments, Victor Sax welcomed: relatives, friends, and partners of the contestants into the room by playing a medley of well-known hits on the saxophone. Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, You Should Love Yourself by Justin Bieber, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, Señorita by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello, Sensational by Chris Brown, and Water by Tyla, were just some of the handful of hits Sax serenaded the audience with.

Along with being entertained by saxophone covers of beloved hits, the audience also saw both male and female models, along with the pageant participants working the runway in pieces designed by local designers.

The final 11 contestants strutting down the runway in swimwear marked the start of the pageant. The second part featured the finalists wearing androgynous wear, and the last category involved the contestants partaking in a brief interview. In the last segment, each judge pulled a question out of a bowl regarding how they would use their platform as Mister International Canada to help contribute to make positive changes around the world. The judges gave each contestant one minute to answer the selected question.

This segment proved to be the most intriguing part of the show, as the contestants gave informative answers on how they would address a variety of issues. Many of the subjects touched on include: the gender pay gap issue, bringing a global issue they would like to advocate for to the United Nations, job security, the responsibilities wealthy nations hold in addressing the climate change issue in developing countries, social media’s role in being a powerful tool for global politics, how one can use fashion and style to reflect their identity, and how men can support the change in traditional gender roles.

The show ended with Pourang Ataei being announced as Mister International Canada 2024. Ataei will move onto the final and big leg of the competition, Mister International, in Bangkok, Thailand. There, he will compete against over 40 national winners from other countries across the globe. Viewers can look forward to watching the show as a live broadcast on The Mister International YouTube channel on December 14^th, 2024.

The contestants will arrive in Bangkok almost two weeks prior to the competition on December 5th, and head back home the day after the competition wraps up on December 15^th, 2024. Before the competition, the contestants will connect with the people and the culture of Thailand through activities organized by local sponsors in extensively documented photo and video content.

The Mister International Competition started in 2006 and is one of the world’s most esteemed male pageants recognized for celebrating leadership and diversity.

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Why do you think the RCMP and CSIS have large departments focusing upon international efforts to acquire and steal our high-tech trade and secrets? The FBI has said there are 1,500+ Chinese agents in Canada embedded within our: scientific, research and R&B communities. Many more exist in America with the intention of acquiring North American scientific discoveries. Foreign intelligence agencies have been able to acquire and steal this information, plans and discoveries through their fraudulent, manipulative and threatening methods. Search for scientific stars who have personal secrets of their own, gamble, misuse their finances, become indebted, have sexual dalliances with others while being married, are members of the LGBTQ community (many still hide this fact), are members of radical movements, or are just socially different from the status quo.

China’s Ministry of State Security simply believes stealing information, or scientific finds is easier than putting all the money and effort into it themselves. India’s International Intelligence Bureau searches out: financial, scientific and corporate information all the while as they search for ethnic dissidents to neutralize or eliminate. Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence main goal is to: distort, manipulate and, or eliminate those opposed to the religious authorities domestically, and internationally. Another intelligence agency that threatens Canadians comes from Saudi Arabia, whose Mabahith and General Intelligence Presidency have agents actively spying and harming those who oppose the Saudi Kingdom. These are but a few players in an ever-increasing gang of thieves, cutthroats and authoritarian thugs. Russia’s intelligence agencies have been active in North America for over a hundred years.

CSIS admits that they happen upon active players two out of ten times. The threat of these international spies and saboteurs is real, but well hidden from the public domain. Do the intelligence agencies of the west tell the public of the daily movements of those who threaten our society? They cannot for many reasons, particularly that the public will certainly lose respect and trust in our governmental agencies.

The undue pressure placed upon our government officials has been going on for many decades. It is nothing new. Our politicians have had this information for a very long time, but simply cannot speak about it for security reasons. Adding to the threat upon our elected officials and government workers is the possibility they have family members remaining in the above-mentioned countries, all under threat.

Let’s be aware, eyes open and alert to any threats. You see something speak up.