Pandemic border restrictions caused a record low of new immigrants filing taxes

A January 2022 report by Statistics Canada revealed the impact of COVID-19 on new immigrant integration in Canada. A record low number of new immigrants filed taxes in 2021 due to pandemic border restrictions. Over half of these tax-filing immigrants were already residing in Canada. However, the 2020 cohort had the highest median entry wages in the last decade, at $37,700, a significant increase over previous years. Despite this, female newcomers earned considerably less than their male counterparts. Immigrants with prior Canadian work experience were least affected by the economic downturn, highlighting the importance of such experience in immigrant integration and economic success.