Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon Eclipse Toronto As Favorite Immigrant Destination

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - Calgary, Regina and Saskatoon are emerging as the favorite destinations of immigrants to Canada, while Toronto is losing its attractiveness to newcomers.

The capital city of Ontario is still the top destination for migrants, but its share had slipped to just 33 percent in 2007 from 50 percent in 2001. In contrast, for the past five years, the western cities are bringing in more newcomers.

This significant shift in immigration patterns was attributed by Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Association for Canadian Studies, to better economic and employment opportunities in the west resulting from the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The report said because of the economic progress in western Canada, the average annual income of a migrant family in Calgary in 2005 reached $102,188, while those who settled in Montreal had $33,000 lesser wage. Vancouver migrant workers got $22,000 less, while Toronto's new residents were paid $12,000 less.

Over two million foreigners have been accepted by Canada as permanent migrants from 1990 to present. They were dispersed in 27 metropolitan areas, but 75 percent are in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. While many of them were better educated than native-born Canadians, majority of the immigrants were employed in jobs that required lower skills.