850K Pinoys call Canada home

850K Pinoys call Canada home

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet—About 850,000 Filipinos have emigrated to Canada and the number was expected to rise one million in the next five years, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said.

In addition to the immigrants, more than 10,000 Filipino workers were employed in the various industries, including hospital and tourism, and in the gas, oil and fuel sectors.

“The Philippines is the third source of immigrants to Canada after China and India and we greatly benefit from at least 30,000 Filipino immigrants that come to our country every year,” Reeder said in a speech before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Baguio Country Club on Monday.

Filipino immigrants to Canada remit to their families in the Philippines a total of $1.5 billion every year. The amount represents about 10 percent of the total remittances of overseas Filipino workers employed in different parts of the world.

Filipino immigrants are mostly gainfully employed and they contribute to the growth of the Canadian economy through their taxes. They also contribute to the growth of the Philippine economy through their remittances.

Reeder cited the resilience of Filipino immigrants, who work hard to earn income for their families and live decently in Canada and said Filipinos usually excel in health care delivery and other jobs that require expertise.

“We are looking to mainly export to the Philippines goods and services, but we are also looking for Philippine investments back to Canada, which is likely to come in the future,” Reeder said.

He said Canada hosts around 300,000 international students every year, and he called on Filipino students to avail of student grants offered by various Canadian colleges and universities.

Reeder said only about 2,500 Filipino students go to Canada to study every year and more Filipino youths should avail of the scholarship grants offered by various Canadian institutions.

Up to 15 Canadian schools will take part in a study fair to be held in the country in February or March and called on Filipino students to avail of the opportunity to advance their careers, Reeder said.

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