Canada has always been a multicultural society. New Brunswick stands at a pivotal point as its population surges post-pandemic, pushed largely by immigration. Newcomers to the country and province play a critical role in addressing labor shortages and enriching the province’s cultural fabric, but their arrival also introduces challenges. From housing shortages and language barriers to anti-immigrant sentiments and underemployment, the province grapples with balancing diversity and unity.
Rapid Population Growth
The rapid population increase creates ethnic tensions and division. The province’s population grew from 783,432 in 2020 to 854,355 in 2024, driven largely by immigration from countries like the Philippines, India, and China, particularly in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John. According to Statistics Canada, Immigrants make up approximately 10% of each city’s population.
Foreign workers are crucial to sustaining the economy. They fill the labor shortage gaps due to an aging local population. Many are skilled workers in construction, healthcare, and agriculture. where one out of four healthcare workers are immigrants, the Government of Canada reports.
Immigrant Challenges
New Brunswick’s population growth strategy emphasizes attracting skilled workers, supporting entrepreneurs, and fostering diverse, welcoming communities. However, after the pandemic, a growing number of issues have arisen affecting immigrant assimilation.
Though New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, language remains a significant barrier for many immigrants. Over 36,645 residents speak non-official languages, making daily life and employment challenging. The government stresses the importance of learning both English and French—not just to navigate government documents or get around, but to access employment opportunities. Many jobs, particularly in cities like Moncton, require fluency in both official languages. For newcomers, this requirement often means that without French proficiency, finding meaningful work becomes nearly impossible.
Foreign credentials are often underutilized, leaving highly educated immigrants in underemployment. Over a quarter of all immigrants with foreign degrees are overqualified for numerous positions and compete with the younger generation and new grads in jobs that require, at most, a high school diploma. About 80% of immigrants are well-educated professionals and many struggle with underemployment. Bank managers become tellers, engineers work as technicians, and doctors become nurses.
Rising anti-immigrant sentiments, fueled by misinformation and international conflicts, hinder integration. Immigrants are expected to assimilate into Canadian society but are being impeded by incidents of verbal assaults and deliberate attacks based on one’s appearance. Anti-immigration sentiments are rising due to the influx of temporary residents and international students.
Abdal Khan, former president of Moncton’s Muslim Association, highlighted growing Islamophobia, citing harassment and online misinformation as threats to community safety by calling immigrants undocumented or ‘asylum seekers.’ He also noted a rise in local incidents during the Israel-Hamas conflict, including harassment outside mosques and attacks on women wearing hijabs.
In addition to these sentiments, many believe that immigrants have caused the housing crisis. New Brunswick faces a housing crisis as an influx of immigrants puts a strain on resources, leading some to unfairly attribute these challenges to newcomers.
Temporary foreign workers face labor exploitation, often described as modern-day slavery. Migrants are lured into unsafe conditions, underpaid, and subjected to harassment, as highlighted in Haley Pitre’s publication “Beyond the Drive-Thru Window: Canada’s TFWP and How it Enables Precarious Working Conditions in the Fast-Food Sector.” Employers frequently escape accountability for these abuses, leaving workers to endure intolerable treatment. These issues underscore the urgent need for reform.
Bienvenue au Nouveau Brunswick
Despite these ongoing challenges, New Brunswick has been working to address these issues to stabilize the community between citizens by birth and immigrants. The province actively supports immigrants settling and building their lives within its borders. For newcomers hoping to stay in New Brunswick, they offer comprehensive immigration pathways and programs. New Brunswick supports immigrants through pathways like the Provincial Nominee Program and NB Express Entry, aligning labor market needs with critical sectors like healthcare and trade.
Authorities plan to tackle the housing crisis through infrastructure upgrades, federal funding for small communities, and long-term strategies for newcomers. Anti-racism initiatives and intercultural training for employers aim to foster unity, promote inclusion, and retain the province’s growing population.
Looking forward
Unity means addressing diversity challenges without losing sight of inclusivity. Immigrants enhance New Brunswick’s economy and culture, demonstrating that preserving heritage and participating in Canadian society are not mutually exclusive. The province’s rapid development owes much to immigrants’ cultural and economic contributions, but unity remains a challenge. Tackling discrimination, inequality, and abuse of power is key to fostering inclusivity. Immigrants should not have to choose between preserving their heritage and participating in Canadian society. They can do both.
