economic development strategy and action plan 2009 ... - City of Barrie

While the rate of growth is significant, visible minorities comprise only 6.6% of the local population
compared to 31% in the Toronto-Centred Region. With future labour force growth in the province
dependent on the immigration of skilled individuals from outside of North America, the City of Barrie
needs to ensure that it is better positioned to attract and retain workers from diverse cultural groups to
ensure future competitiveness and economic growth. This also has implications for the range of services
and support needed in the community to enable a faster, successful integration into the community.
Figure 6 - Population by Visible Minority Status, 2001-2006
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 and 2006 Census of Population
Barrie Toronto-Centred Region Ontario
2006 2001 % Change 2006 2001 % Change 2006 2001 % Change
Total 126,830 102,345 23.9% 7,704,190 7,097,330 8.6% 12,028,895 11,285,550 6.6%
Total visible
minority
population
8,525 4,965 71.7% 2,415,425 1,885,365 28.1% 2,745,200 2,153,045 27.5%
Chinese 1,005 710 41.5% 520,435 434,465 19.8% 576,980 481,510 19.8%
South Asian 1,590 985 61.4% 738,090 512,420 44.0% 794,170 554,870 43.1%
Black 1,880 1,185 58.6% 401,635 346,910 15.8% 473,760 411,095 15.2%
Filipino 815 330 147.0% 186,655 143,925 29.7% 203,220 156,515 29.8%
Latin American 1,025 535 91.6% 121,890 90,020 35.4% 147,135 106,835 37.7%
Southeast
Asian
470 225 108.9% 88,625 67,840 30.6% 110,045 86,410 27.4%
Arab 295 255 15.7% 66,700 51,655 29.1% 111,405 88,545 25.8%
West Asian 260 65 300.0% 85,570 58,550 46.1% 96,615 67,105 44.0%
Korean 390 340 14.7% 61,935 48,450 27.8% 69,540 53,955 28.9%
Japanese 210 150 40.0% 23,470 21,020 11.7% 28,080 24,925 12.7%
Visible
minority, n.i.e.
Multiple visible
minority
Not a visible
minority
235 100 135.0% 52,235 72,730 -28.2% 56,845 78,915 -28.0%
350 80 337.5% 68,110 37,395 82.1% 77,400 42,375 82.7%
118,310 97,380 21.5% 5,288,740 5,211,980 1.5% 9,283,690 9,132,500 1.7%
The data hints at a more general trend in Canadian immigration. While Canada’s largest urban areas still
act as a primary landing point for immigrants, recent data presented by the Canadian Federation of
Municipalities suggests that there is a significant trend towards secondary migration to smaller suburban
areas 7 . As well, Statistics Canada has reported that there is increasing evidence that higher proportions
of recent immigrants are choosing to settle in smaller areas outside of traditional destinations (Toronto,
Montreal, and Vancouver) 8 . Figure 7 offers a look at the top origins for the Recent Immigrant population in
the City of Barrie in 2006.
7
Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Quality of Life in Canadian Communities: Immigration & Diversity in Canadian Cities and
Communities, 2008
8
Statistics Canada, 2006 Census: Immigration in Canada: A Portrait of the Foreign-born Population, 2006
City of Barrie Economic Development Strategy 21 | P age