Newcomer Myths

This page addresses common myths about newcomers that often perpetuates misconceptions and stereotypes, using evidence drawn from empirical studies and academic sources.

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Myth 1: Immigrants and refugees are overrunning western countries like France, Germany, and Canada.

The Reality: In proportion to each country’s population, there are more immigrants in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait than there are in western countries. In addition to this, low- and middle-income countries host most refugees.

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Myth 2: Immigrants and refugees take jobs from Canadians.

The Reality: Immigrants and refugees fill gaps in the workforce and contribute to Canada’s economy.

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Myth 3: Immigrants and refugees are a burden on the Canadian healthcare system.

The Reality: Newcomers to Canada use fewer health services compared to Canadians, especially in the first few years of their arrival, this is known as the 'Healthy Immigrant Effect' (Lu & Ng, 2019).

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Myth 4: Refugees receive more financial support than the elderly.

The Reality: Refugees receive very little financial assistance – the Government of Canada (n.d.) states that refugees do not get more financial support from the federal government than Canadian pensioners.

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Myth 5: Refugees are a risk to security.

The Reality: Refugees are seeking security and protection from threats and dangers they experienced in their home countries (Canadian Council for Refugees [CCR], n.d.-a).

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Myth 6: Immigrants are a major source of crime.

The Reality: All immigrants are meticulously screened before they enter Canada. This serves to protect the security and safety of Canadians (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC], 2022).

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Myth 7: Most immigrants don’t speak English.

The Reality: According to Statistics Canada (2019a), 93.2% of immigrants have knowledge of English and/or French. The ability to speak at least one of Canada’s official languages is important for successful integration and employment.

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