EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Chapter 1: Introduction

1. This study is the first to systematically examine the settlement experiences of refugees in Alberta. Previous Canadian research about refugees has been limited to a small number of studies of fairly narrow scope, typically focusing on the experiences of a group of refugees from a single source country.
2. The central research questions guiding this study ask about the number of refugees who leave their first host community in Alberta and about their reasons for moving. In addition, the study provides a detailed description of the economic and social characteristics of the seven main host cities in Alberta, of the use and evaluation of services for refugees in these communities, and of the actual settlement experiences of refugees to Alberta in the 1990s.
3. A basic premise underlying the design of the study is that the integration of refugees into the social and economic fabric of Canadian society is a complex phenomenon, influenced by community structure and demographics, as well as by refugees’ human capital and other personal characteristics.
4. The research project had five main components, each providing a unique source of information about the settlement experiences of refugees. The primary data source was a set of in-person interviews with more than 600 refugees destined to Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie between 1992 and 1997.
5. Interviews were also conducted with individuals involved with organizations providing services to refugees in these cities. A public opinion survey in each of the seven cities provided additional information on local residents’ opinions about, and experiences with, refugees. Additional information on the demographic, economic, and social characteristics of the cities was obtained from a number of sources. A broad review of previous research on refugees, in Canada and elsewhere, helped to shape the research instruments and to interpret the findings.
6. The study was sponsored by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It was conducted by the Population Research Laboratory, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, in collaboration with the Prairie Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Integration, University of Alberta.
7. This final report consists of three volumes. The first outlines the rationale for the study, describes the research methods, outlines the findings in detail, and concludes with a set of policy recommendations. The second volume contains Appendices with additional research findings, while the third contains copies of the various research instruments used in the different components of the study.

Chapter 2: Research Methods

1. A target sample of 956 government-sponsored and privately-sponsored refugees who had been destined to the seven Alberta host cities was randomly selected from a Citizenship and Immigration Canada database of all refugees arriving in Alberta between 1992 and 1997. All but 47 of these individuals could be located. Interviews were requested with 648 individuals; only 32 refused to participate. Thus, the overall "interview rate" in this study was 64%, but the response rate was 95%.
2. The final sample of 616 refugees interviewed consisted of 525 adults and 91 youth. Most of the interviews (84%) were conducted in person, with the remainder completed by telephone. Approximately one-third of the interviews were conducted in English, with the remainder being translated into 11 different languages.
3. Because former Yugoslavia provided the largest proportion of refugees to Alberta between 1992 and 1997, particularly during the last few years of this period, refugees from this region also make up the largest proportion of the final sample (61%).
4. Seventy-two on-site service provider interviews were conducted with a total of 81 respondents representing settlement agencies, ESL providers, and other organizations assisting refugees in the seven host cities. In addition, interviews were conducted with six CIC representatives in Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge.
5. A random-sample public opinion survey was conducted by telephone in each of the seven cities. The final sample consisted of 150 adult residents in both Calgary and Edmonton, and at least 100 adult residents in each of the other five host cities.
6. Additional (aggregate-level) information on the seven communities was obtained from the 1991 and 1996 national Census, Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, and the Landed Immigrant Database maintained by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Chapter 3: Profiles of Refugee Respondents

1. Over one-third (37%) of the refugees arrived in Alberta in 1996 or 1997, 44% came in 1994 or 1995, and 19% arrived in 1992 and 1993.
2. There were almost identical numbers of men and women in the sample. The average age of refugees in the adult sample was 37 years, compared to an average of 17 years for those in the youth sample. Three out of four respondents in the adult refugee survey (73%) were married or living with a partner. Five out of six (86%) arrived in Canada along with other members of their immediate family. One in five (22%) already had some family members in Canada when they arrived.
3. Nine per cent of the refugee respondents reported that they had no knowledge of English. Comparisons across region of origin reveal that 21% from the Middle East and 20% from East Asia could not speak English, compared to only 6% of former Yugoslavians. This is a conservative estimate since knowledge of English was self-reported (some refugees may have over-estimated their ability to speak English).
4. About one-third of the sample of refugees had spent time in a refugee camp. Their average length of stay in these camps was 37 months. Refugees from East Asia were more likely than those from other global regions to have spent time in a refugee camp.
5. Over 40% of the adult refugees had completed some form of post-secondary education prior to arrival, but 19% did not have a high school diploma. Five out of six (83%) had held a paying job in their home country, and 65% had some formal job training.
6. At the time they were interviewed, the unemployment rate for adult refugees in the sample was 16%, over two times as high as the provincial average. The refugees’ labour force participation rate was 81%, comparable to the provincial average. Fifty-eight percent of the employed adult refugees considered themselves under-employed in their current jobs.
7. One in four of the adult refugees indicated that they owned their own homes. Forty-three percent of the adult refugees reported their total annual household income as below $20,000. Only 8% indicated that their household income was in excess of $60,000.

Chapter 4: Socio-Demographic Profiles of Host Communities

1. Two of the host cities are quite large urban centres (Edmonton and Calgary), three are medium-small centres (Lethbridge, Red Deer and Medicine Hat), and two are relatively small urban centres (Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray).
2. Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have an older-than-average age distribution, while the residents of Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray are younger, on average, than residents of the other five cities.
3. Social and cultural diversity is highest in Edmonton and Calgary, lower in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray, and lowest in Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
4. Immigrants and refugees are present in relatively large numbers in Edmonton and Calgary, in modest numbers in Lethbridge, Red Deer and Medicine Hat, and in smaller numbers in Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray.
5. In 1996, the unemployment rate was relatively high in Edmonton and Red Deer, medium-high in Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray, and relatively low in Calgary and Lethbridge.
6. The average yearly household income is relatively high in Calgary and Fort McMurray, lower in Edmonton and Grande Prairie, and lowest in Lethbridge, Red Deer and particularly Medicine Hat. On average, about two-thirds of the population in the host communities own their homes.
7. In relative terms, there are more intraprovincial and out-of-province migrants in Red Deer, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray than in the other host cities.
8. Community residents in all seven centres, to varying degrees, believe that their communities are friendly and welcoming, and open to immigration and cultural diversity.

Chapter 5: Geographic Mobility of Refugees

1. Sixty percent of the refugees destined to the seven host cities between 1992 and 1997 were still living in these communities in mid-1998 when this study was completed. The refugee retention rate was highest in the largest cities (69% in Edmonton and 77% in Calgary) and lowest in the smallest cities (31% in Grande Prairie and 35% in Fort McMurray. While larger than the other two mid-sized host cities, Lethbridge had a lower refugee retention rate (43%) than either Red Deer (55%) or Medicine Hat (59%).
2. "Leavers" tended to move on to other larger cities, either in Alberta or in British Columbia or Ontario.
3. The 40% mobility rate observed among refugees destined to Alberta between 1992 and 1997 is higher than the mobility rate observed for all residents of the province (24% were living in a different community, province, or country compared to five years earlier). However, when asked about their future mobility plans, only 14% of the adult refugees planned to leave their current community within five years, while 17% answered that they did not know how long they would stay.
4. Over half of the reasons for moving provided by "leavers" emphasized insufficient employment or educational opportunities in the first Alberta host city. About 20% of the reasons for leaving had to do with "quality of life" issues, while smaller proportions focused on dissatisfaction with services for refugees in the first host city or a desire to be closer to family, friends and compatriots. Almost nine out of ten "leavers" were happy with their decision to move on to another community.
5. Individuals involved in providing services to refugees tended to emphasize employment and education opportunities as the most important reasons when asked for their opinions about why refugees leave their first host community. They also thought that the size of a compatriot community was important in a refugee’s decision to move or stay. In contrast, other residents of the seven host cities (interviewed in the public opinion survey) were more likely to mention social factors (e.g., the presence of others from the same ethnic/cultural background; the presumed greater friendliness and slower pace of life) than employment factors when asked why refugees and immigrants adjust better in different size communities.

Chapter 6: Settlement Services

1. Service providers in all seven of the host cities report a full range of services, including orientation, English as a second language (ESL) training, employment training/job finding, help finding housing, and translation. However, the scope of the services varies according to the size of the community.
2. The majority of refugees in all cities access language training, housing, and orientation services. But, contrary to the intuitions of service providers, a smaller percentage of refugees make use of these services in Calgary and Edmonton than in the other cities. The access rates for ESL are particularly notable. The rates are lower in the two large centres than in the smaller communities, despite the fact that both Edmonton and Calgary have a higher percentage of non-English speakers than do the other cities.
3. Where services are available, refugees continue to use them after the first year, particularly language training. However, the range of offerings after the first year varies from one city to the next (Fort McMurray has none, for example).
4. Refugees reported receiving less help finding a job in Grande Prairie and Calgary than in the other cities. In addition, occupational training was accessed by the smallest percentage of refugees in Edmonton and Calgary, this despite the fact that the highest unemployment rates for refugees are in these cities (26% and 15%, respectively).
5. In general, refugees were least satisfied with employment-related services. Many expressed a need for more job-related services, more ESL instruction, and more information in general. They viewed these as absolutely necessary for their integration into the labour force and society.
6. The public opinion survey indicated a disparity in perceptions of newcomers’ needs, compared to those expressed by the refugees themselves and those identified by service providers. A minority of the general public (37%) cited ESL as a necessary service, and only 10% felt that newcomers require employment assistance, the two services viewed as most important by the refugees.
7. Having a place of worship was very important for refugees from the Middle East (primarily Muslims) and from Central and South America (mainly Roman Catholics).

Chapter 7: Settlement Experiences of Refugees

1. When questioned about their assessment of the "destining" process and their experiences on arrival, most refugees reported that they knew very little about the Alberta city to which they were initially sent.
2. Forty-four percent of the general public (in the seven host cities) felt that the number of immigrants admitted to Canada each year is appropriate. Two thirds believed that the mix of cultures and races is well-balanced, and 76% said that knowledge of an official language is not important upon entry
3. One-quarter of adult refugees reported having experienced discrimination while living in Alberta, but very few said that it happens "very often." Medicine Hat was unique in that a majority (53%) of refugees in that city reported experiences of discrimination. The experience of discrimination appears to be linked to visible minority status; compared to refugees from other global regions, the former Yugoslavians reported fewer experiences of discrimination.
4. When asked about the most important issue for succeeding in Canada, most refugees mentioned learning English, followed by finding a good job. A large majority felt that settlement agencies are crucial to success as well. In general, the refugees wanted better job training/job finding services and more ESL. They also felt that they should not have to pay for settlement services.
5. Lack of recognition of educational and occupational credentials was a major frustration for many refugees, a large percentage of whom had professional qualifications. Obtaining Canadian work experience was also considered to be a problem by many.
6. When asked to rate their communities as good places to live, refugees resident in Red Deer were most enthusiastic about their city, while refugees living in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat were the least positive.
7. Refugees are quick to take out Canadian citizenship, unless they are unable to afford the required fees.

Chapter 8: Policy Insights and Recommendations

The policy recommendations that emerged from this study can be classified into the following four categories: destining, services, employment, refugee costs.

Destining Policy

1. More accurate and complete information regarding destination communities in Alberta is required by both Citizenship and Immigration personnel and by refugees themselves prior to entry into Canada.
2. Refugees should no longer be destined to Fort McMurray or Grande Prairie; the retention rates in these two cities are very low. Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat should continue to receive refugees.

   Services

3. English language instruction should not be limited to LINC 3. Many refugees require English skills at a much higher proficiency level if they are to obtain employment commensurate with their qualifications. Further, we recommend additional funding to cover instruction at LINC 4 level, so that existing levels of language training are not compromised.
4. Services should be culturally sensitive and fair to all refugee groups. This is especially important in centres where there are very few people from a particular ethnic group, and in centres where refugees frequently experience racism.
5. There is a need for improved employment preparation programs and job-finding assistance. A very high proportion of refugees are unemployed or underemployed. Many are working part-time and employed in temporary positions.
6. Settlement services should be available to those who need them after the first year in Canada. A significant percentage of refugees felt the need for additional support.
7. Settlement agencies should be funded on the basis of the number of sessions per client rather than the total number of clients served. The current funding structure puts refugees with multiple barriers at a disadvantage, as well as the agencies that serve them.
8. The quality of service in Lethbridge should be improved. Many people who were sent to that city were dissatisfied with the availability and quality of services provided.

   Employment

9. An employer-government cost-sharing program should be implemented to ensure that refugees have opportunities to gain Canadian work experience and references.
10. Recognition of foreign credentials must be reviewed. Many refugees are selected to come to Canada because of their post-secondary training and/or occupational credentials, but they face barriers because there is limited recognition of their credentials by Canadian employers.

    Refugee Costs

11. The costs borne by refugees for travel loans, living expenses, and citizenship applications should be reviewed. Some of the expectations with regard to payment schedules are unrealistic given the life circumstances of refugees.