Canadians Abroad: Canada’s Global Asset Capstone Report

Published: June 27, 2011 in Research Reports   (66 pages)

Abstract:

Canadians have always had mixed feelings about their fellow citizens who choose to live outside of the country. For more than three decades, concerns about “brain drain” and the liabilities associated with Canadians abroad have shaped public debate about Canadian emigration.  This research report aims: to determine the number and demographics of Canadians living abroad for periods of more than one year; better understand the attachments these Canadians have to Canada; ascertain how Canadians feel about citizenship rights, taxation and consular services for Canadians abroad; and identify pressing policy issues and recommend possible solutions.

 

The infographic below, produced by APF Canada, is just a snapshot of the Canadians Abroad: Canada’s Global Asset capstone report. For the full report please click here.

Click here to see the full size version of the infographic.

Click here to see the small version of the infographic.

 

The “Mapping Canadians Abroad” Infographic Poster

If you’re interested in a print of “What Canadians Think of Asia”, click here for print-friendly PDF version.

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Read the full report
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Comments

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Norman (visitor), 11:00am, 06/27/2011

You claim 2.8 million

You claim 2.8 million Canadians live abroad and your poster highlights the major countries where ex-pat Canadians live. However, your chart only adds to approx. 1.5mm. Where are the other 1.3mm?
Jillian Oliver, 11:34am, 06/27/2011

Hi Norman, Thanks for your

Hi Norman, 

Thanks for your comments. The infographic only includes the top countries where Canadians live abroad. The remaining amount live in a variety of different countries in smaller numbers than the ones listed above. You can view more data in the full report (page 12). 

Norman (visitor), 12:02pm, 06/27/2011

Thanks for your response but

Thanks for your response but page 12 does not get anywhere close to 2.8mm. When you are down to listing countries at 4000-5000 each I do not see how you can come up with more than a million extra Canadians abroad.
Jillian Oliver, 1:44pm, 06/27/2011

The 2.8 million came from an

The 2.8 million came from an estimate of Canadian census 1996-2006. It tells that 2.8 million Canadian left Canada as of 2006. However, the Canadian census does not provide information about where they went.

Numbers of Canadian citizens in each destination are taken from various sources (such as the OECD database, US census, HK survey, etc.) where the information is available. For places where no information is available, we classify them together as “Others” which are the residues of 2.8 million minus total numbers in all destinations with reliable information.

The 2.8 million came from an estimate of Canadian census 1996-2006. It tells that 2.8 million Canadian left Canada as of 2006. However, the Canadian census does not provide information about where they went.

Numbers of Canadian citizens in each destination are taken from various sources (such as the OECD database, US censu

...more
Andrew (visitor), 12:42pm, 06/29/2011

The fourth territory of

The fourth territory of Canadians living abroad, along with any proactive, persistent , ground-breaking foreign policy has been omitted by a domestically focussed Canada that has failed to look to the future as a post from which to plan upon. This lack of vision has be exasperated by burnout through riding the tailcoat of temporary U.S. hegemony. While regions integrate deeper and wider, Canada has allowed its potential to reach far fetching distances, diminish to its domestic domain. I wish to turn your attention to a microscopic event that sheds light on a small dark area that is overlooked by average Canadians. While Canadians are evacuated out of war-torn areas, Taiwan, an entity with contentious issues surrounding its sovereignty, can highlight issues of another kind that challenge the adequacy of Canada’s complacent inadequate attitude. Not more than two years ago, a Canadian living in Taiwan was involved in a fatal automobile accident. When a Taiwanese friend contacted the Canadian representative office in Taiwan to ask for help in dealing with the matter, the representative office recommended that the Taiwanese friend deal with the issue himself, and were unable to provide any support even to the degree of contacting that Canadian’s family. What kind of message does this send to his Taiwanese friend, and the acquaintances of his that hear this story? What is their image of Canada? While Taiwan provides a unique case, and perhaps a sensitive one, even with a void Chinese/Asian strategy, it still reflects the lack of approach to even a basic condition of life. A shame it is to view those Canadians overseas, who contribute to other societies, and represent Canada notably in international interactions, as a liability. In a networked world, one that borders are being erased, the talk of diaspora, to diminish unpaid unofficial diplomats work overseas, would undoubtedly be a shortsighted policy/solution. The conception of overseas Canadians as an asset follow in-suit with the idea of collective-interdependence, increasing global interests, the expectation of cooperation and creation of a global community, and perhaps most essential, the promotion of Canadian values overseas. Ultimately, there is demand, or lack of it, for a much larger proportion of Canadian attention to be allocated to respond to the challenges aforementioned in the posted publication and foreign policy/international focus. Perhaps addressing Canadian diaspora is the first step in tackling this challenge. One that presents itself as the tip of the iceberg when it comes to addressing a greater set of issues. While Canada scratches its head over how to deal with its emigrate population and stockpiling international issues in general, hats off to you APF Canada, for bringing to the light and attempting to focus the attention of Canadians. In all hope, let us make a conscientious effort to tackle these issues in an efficient and effective manner. The fourth territory of Canadians living abroad, along with any proactive, persistent , ground-breaking foreign policy has been omitted by a domestically focussed Canada that has failed to look to the future as a post from which to plan upon. This lack of vision has be exasperated by burnout through riding the tailcoat of tem...more
mona (visitor), 8:59am, 07/09/2011

I hope this study will

I hope this study will include us Canadians who live abroad and hold a strong attachment to Canada. I know many, including myself, who frequently do what they can to create business opportunities for Canadian companies including small businesses. Not to mention promoting Canada as a tourist spot. I’ve known more than a few who have visited some part of Canada for the first time based on my recommendation. I think there are many of us that act as unofficial Canadian ambassadors. All of these of added values.I hope this study will include us Canadians who live abroad and hold a strong attachment to Canada. I know many, including myself, who frequently do what they can to create business opportunities for Canadian companies including small businesses. Not to mention promoting Canada as a tourist spot. I’ve known more than a few...more
RICK (visitor), 4:59am, 07/10/2011

If Canada had a semi-tropical

If Canada had a semi-tropical climate year round I would be back real quick!! It is a good country to start with.

Boris Voyer (visitor), 12:56am, 10/10/2011

I am a Canadian who has been

I am a Canadian who has been living and working in Taiwan for 20 years, with more than 10 years as a consultant at its ministry of foreign affairs. In that position, I had frequent interactions with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT), our de facto embassy. I do not know what particular incident the commentator refers to and I must say that it does not reflect reality on the ground today. but maybe the reality of 10-15 years ago. Since 1997, I have met most of the representatives of the CTOT, including the current one, Scott Fraser. I have personally known many of its senior staff over the years. and I have edited tens and tens of cooperation agreements between Canada and Taiwan for the ministry and other agencies. It is a fact that as the relations between the two countries gradually evolved out of the straight jacket of China’s influence on Canadian Parliament thinking over Taiwan, the relations between the two sides have dramatically improved, albeit at a snail’s pace. In this context, I can attest to the growing competency of the CTOT in dealing with most issues. I do not know of any Canadian here who has in recent years been mistreated in Taiwan by the CTOT to the degree mentioned regarding this fatal car accident. It is a fact that the CTOT can at time look like a cumbersome bureaucracy and that various representatives, usually posted here after Beijing, had pro-China tendencies that made them be incompetent and disliked by everybody. It is also a fact that in all matters of death and crime, like hit and runs on the road, it is no easy task to deal with the local police and other responsible authorities, and it usually truns into an ordeal. Local people, like in the case of Mr. Zain, a Canadian who is languishing in jail accused of such a hit and run that he apparently did not commit, can set you up relatively easily and the cops will simply look away. The CTOT can do little about this unless it is pressured by our government to do so. It is also possible that the basic levels of services for Canadians here are lacking in certain areas of consular affairs, and a fact that Canadians can’t renew their passports on the spot as the process goes through Passport Canada back home, which is nonsensical. But from what I understand, emergency assistance services at the CTOT are on a par with those of most western representative offices here in Taipei. A very good example in emergency responses was its response during the SARS crisis. There are many issues that could be raised, especially in view of the fact that 1) the overall majority of English teachers here are Canadians, some thousands, and 2) that the momentum of development of the relations between the two sides is developing in many many fieds, from biotech and nanotech industries, scientific and medical research, education, the environment, etc. This is why over the years, the level of services offered at the CTOT has significantly increased in both scope and quality, and, I believe, Canadians are quite well supported here. In the end (e.g. Amanda Knox), no matter where you are, it can be very difficult to deal with local authorities when it comes to the law, accidents, emergencies, and other matters. CTOT staff should actualy undergo a little socilogy and atnthropology-based training on the justic system to know how to deal with local authorities, especially outside of the capital Taipei. At any rate, Taiwan remains an evolving picture in Canadian foreign policy, and a very complex one at that. This could improve. One has to be reminded of the fact that people to people contacts between Canadians and Taiwanese are a very old and growing story that began in the 19th Century with the likes of Georges McKay and others. Various Canadians have contributed extensively to Taiwan’s democracy movement in multifacted ways and continue to do so. One must praise the Lord that a Canadian University (Ottawa) has finally seen the light over Taiwan and established a Taiwan Studies Program!I am a Canadian who has been living and working in Taiwan for 20 years, with more than 10 years as a consultant at its ministry of foreign affairs. In that position, I had frequent interactions with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT), our de facto embassy. I do not know what particular incident the commentator refers to ...more

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