Canada near top in integrating immigrants, survey saysThe Globe & Mail: Canada's integration policies rank just short of the best in the world, according to a major international survey of Europe and North America. Canada placed third behind Sweden and Portugal on the latest Migrant Integration Policy Index, a benchmark European study that measures a range of indicators, from political engagement and paths to citizenship to public education...
Canadian opinion polls show majority public support for the world's highest immigration levels and no party advocates cutting immigration... The new citizenship guide and test... was singled out as the 'most professional' in all countries... Canada was second only to Sweden on education... Canadian students benefit from multicultural policies that teach how to live in a diverse society and also include opportunities, sometimes after school, to learn about their 'heritage' cultures...
Although Sweden and Portugal came out ahead of Canada, the foreign-born make up less than 6 per cent of the population in those countries, compared to more than 20 per cent in Canada.
The Toronto Star: Known as MIPEX, the biannual index uses 148 'policy indicators' in assessing nations in seven areas involving immigrants: labour mobility, chances of reuniting with families overseas, education conditions, prospects of permanent residency, political participation, access to citizenship and equality laws...
The report credits Canada's multicultural policy and its special effort in English as a second language education for newcomers, as well as provincial investment in teacher training and heritage language classes to help with immigrant students' transition.
