There are various measures that are being put in place by the Canadian government to curb this issue. For one, the Canadian government, via the immigration ministry set aside $85 million to be pushed into lessening the immigration delays (Ramitbee, 2022). Besides, the use of the new residency application tracker will aid immigrants to keep tabs on their application status. In a move to lessen the immigration delays, the Immigration department also resulted into pausing the invitations for Express Entry Draws for FSWP applicants and Canadian Express Class (CEC) applicants. However, this move has been with various drawbacks such as the loss of employment by some CEC candidates with some even moving out of Canada. Recently, according to CIC News, the government has also hired additional employees to help solve the issue of processing backlogs (Robitaille, 2022). 

One of the challenges Canadian immigrants face is culture shock. Culture shock is the impact of having to change from one's culture to another one that is not familiar (University of Washington, 2021). The shock comes from meeting many new people, a new environment, and learning an unfamiliar way of doing things. The shock as well is developed from leaving behind essential people in one's life, such as teachers, colleagues, family, and friends (University of Washington, 2021). It impacts their emotional, intellectual, and physical lives. 

Culture shock also affects immigrants intellectually because they have to learn a new language. Basically, moving to a new country involves missing loved ones and socializing with new people who may not offer the emotional support as family and friends would (Stewart & Leggat, 2012). Such causes one to suffer emotionally. Learning and speaking a new language may also be tiresome. For example, international students from countries that do not speak English may have trouble understanding learning materials in English, when they come to Canada. 

Immigrants facing culture shock as well suffer emotionally. Immigrants are affected physically by culture shock in that they have to adjust to the new climate, especially the extremely cold winter months that we have here Canada which may cause some physical illnesses.  In comparison to many other countries, Canada's climate can be significantly varied. Winters in Canada can frequently be bitterly cold, with significant amounts of snowfall in some regions. If you recently relocated from a nation where the winters are warmer and it doesn't get as cold, this might make living challenging both inside and outside the home and take some getting used to. This can make even simple tasks like driving more challenging, especially if you don't know how to drive on slippery roads or lack winter tyres for your car. Ali Najaf, for instance, in the article “The Culture Shock of Western Canada” (2019) describes his stay in Canada and how he had to adjust to the western lifestyle as a Muslim. For example, he states he had to learn how to do his laundry, which he never did back in Singapore. 

Nothing compares to the Canadian immigration process, and Canada can be very different from your home country. Overcoming homesickness can take time and effort, and many people may feel separated from their family and friends during the Canadian immigration process. The government is helping immigrants deal with culture shock by channeling support to institutions to support the cultural sector. The institutions then train immigrants on what to expect when they arrive in the country. An example of such an organization is the Somali Immigrants Aid Organization. 

            Another challenge Canadian immigrants face is discrimination. Discrimination is an issue the government is doing great at trying to eradicate. For instance, it has passed several legislations to try to put an end to discrimination.  Even though Canada has laws against discrimination based on race, nationality, or religion, these rules are not always obeyed by all Canadians. Indeed, there have been reports of immigrants being discriminated against due of their immigration status, even after becoming permanent citizens of Canada. This could range from people mistaking them for illegal employees since they have recently arrived in Canada to having difficulty obtaining work or getting particular positions due to racial profiling. As a result of this discrimination, many recently arriving migrants frequently find it difficult to find work in Canada.

Immigrants face discrimination based on their religion, ethnicity, and race. Immigrants also face discrimination once they are settled in the country, especially when it comes to job hunting. They may find it challenging to find a job, and once they get one, they are paid lower wages. Discrimination also comes from the immigration status of an individual, where it may be assumed they are undocumented since they may just have arrived in Canada. 

            Discrimination against immigrants affects them in many ways. For instance, due to being discriminated against in finding work, they may end up struggling to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and education. They end up getting frustrated, which may lead to mental illnesses. Paulo Castro, in the article “Welcome to Canada? Three migrant students tell their stories” by Quereshi, Osezua and Gravesande (2018) arrived in Canada in 2016 as an international student from Columbia. She states that one of the struggles she dealt with was discrimination. Castro has faced discrimination in public based on her race. She was asked if she was a maid at the large houses where she lived. Her story is an example of the discrimination immigrants face.

 

There are several steps the government can take to help immigrants deal with the challenges presented above. For example, it should support organizations that handle immigrant problems more, for example, the Somali Immigrant Aid Organization, Newcomer Women's Services, and Northwood Neighbourhood Services which have set measures to help immigrants deal with their challenges. Notably, due to the difficulties, immigrants deal with mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and stress. 

Another recommendation is to have the government organize sensitization crusades where the public is educated on the issues immigrants face and how instead of perpetrating some of the problems, Canadians who are citizens by birth can support the immigrants. In addition to the above recommendations, the government can offer more mental health services to immigrants. Access to healthcare is expensive, especially in Canada. Thus, to save the immigrants from the extra burden, the government can offer them free mental health services like counseling. 

Finally, the Canadian Government should implement some strategies to balance housing market prices for instance,
build more affordable housing, build mixed-income housing, rent-to-buy programs, set limits of increased rent from landlords and companies, make more housing options and impose the corporations and builders paying taxes.

 

GreenTech. (2021). Top 12 Canadian immigration challenges every newcomer has to face. https://www.greentechresources.ca/canadian-immigration-challenges/

Hwang, P. K. (2022). Where is officer DM10032? Applicants stumped, stranded by idle immigration worker. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/immigration-permanent-residency-applicants-dm10032-1.6317882

Najaf, A. (2019). The culture shock of Western Canada. Macleans.ca. https://www.macleans.ca/education/the-culture-shock-of-western-canada/

Quereshi, S., Osezua, M., & Gravesande, V. (2018). Welcome to Canada? Three migrant students tell their stories. The Charlatan, Carleton's independent newspaper. https://charlatan.ca/2018/09/06/welcome-to-canada-three-migrant-students-tell-their-stories/

Somali Immigrant Aid Organization. (2022). Our Services. https://siao.ca/#

Stewart, L., & Leggat, P. A. (2012). Culture shock and travellers. Journal of Travel Medicine, 5(2), 84-88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8305.1998.tb00469.x

The University of Washington. (2021). International students and cultural shock. Counseling Center. https://www.washington.edu/counseling/resources-for-students/international-students-and-cultural-shock/

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