Research and Papers Library

Current Research

Academic and Socioeconomic Experiences of International Students in Atlantic Canada
By Ather H. Akbari, Saint Mary’s University

Policy Brief (EN) - Document d'orientation (FR)  

Atlantic Canada’s Advantages in Attraction & Retention of International Students

by Peter Halpin, Executive Director, Association of Atlantic Universities, February 10, 2023

Muslims in Canada: current statistical portrait and some history

Education and Attitudes towards Workplace Diversity: Evidence from Canada

Employment Probability of Visible Minority Immigrants by Generational Status

Presentation at the 24th Annual National Metropolis Conference

Francophone Migrants and Immigrants in Nova Scotia: Who Are They?

by Louise Fontaine, Université Sainte-Anne, Professeure agrégée Département des Sciences administratives

Mental Health and Life Stress of Working Atlantic Canadians at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Maryam Dilmaghani, Department of Economics, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

The effect of COVID-19 on economic and social well-being of newcomers to Nova Scotia and their access to settlement services.

by Shadi Aljendi, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia

Immigration in Nova Scotia: Who Comes, Who Stays, Who Leaves and Why?
A Research Project Report prepared for Nova Scotia Office of Immigration

Stayers and Leavers Background Report

Stayers and Leavers Literature Review

by Ather H. Akbari 

From the Executive Summary

The main purpose of this research was to investigate why immigrants choose Nova Scotia as their destination in Canada, and why some stay in the province and others leave. The first project report used 2016 Canadian Census data to study general mobility patterns of Nova Scotia immigrants. The second report presented a literature review on mobility motivations of individuals and their location choice. This third and final report analyzes the results of an online survey of immigrants who arrived in Canada during 2011-2018 with either the intention to go to Nova Scotia or who lived in Nova Scotia at some point during the eight-year period.

Muslim Homeownership Patterns in Atlantic Canada - Dilmaghani

by Maryam Dilmaghani

Using the Canadian National Household Survey of 2011, this paper examines the homeownership patterns of Muslims in Atlantic Canada. Three outcomes of homeownership, value of the dwelling, and the likelihood of carrying a mortgage are considered. Muslims are found less likely to own their dwelling, compared with similarly situated non-Muslims. But, conditional on owning, neither the value of their dwelling nor their likelihood of carrying a mortgage differs from non-Muslim residents of Atlantic Canada.

Download Transforming the Mainstream - final report

In November, 2016, the Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity held a research symposium called Transforming the Mainstream. This report captures the high level findings and policy implications of the presentations that day. View the presentations and more details of the event here.

Quebec’s Universal Childcare Policy: Immigrant Women’s Labour Supply & Childcare (July, 2016)

by Habiba Khalifa

The 1997 Quebec childcare policy is the first and only universal childcare program to be introduced in Canada. By using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth from Statistics Canada, this paper analyzes the effects of this policy on immigrant women’s labour supply and their childcare usage over the course of 8 different cycles: 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2004-20005, 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. A double difference-in-difference method is used to estimate the effects. The results show an increase in immigrant women’s labour force participation, affecting the lower educated mothers more than the higher educated ones. In the case of childcare usage, whilst the results show an overall increase in usage, the increase is largely for informal childcare. This research adds to the existing literature, as it is the first to analyze the effects of the policy on immigrants in particular; the assumption that immigrants behave in the same way as non-immigrants is not fully supported by the findings. This paper opens up a new line of inquiry regarding the impacts of the 1997 Quebec childcare policy. 

“Homeownership rates among visible minority immigrants.” Paper presented by Ather H. Akbari (co-authored by Azad Haider) at the 50th Canadian Economics Association meeting (Ottawa, Ontario). Home ownership: Research Paper Akbari & Haider ‌‌‌

“Financial vulnerability across Canadian provinces: Age, human capital and family background.” Authored by Maryam Dilmaghani. Dilmaghani - Financial Vulnerability Across Canadian Provinces ‌‌

Presentation slides:

Express Entry presentation: IRCC (English)

Express Entry presentation: IRCC (French)

Express Entry presentation NS ‌

Homeownership rates among visible minority immigrants. CEA Presentation: Akbari & Haider

Wenjing Bi | Working in Self-Employment: The Case of Chinese Men in Canada Masters research report, Graduate Academic Unit of Economics, University of New Brunswick (Academic supervisor: Dr. Ted McDonald).

Who Are Recent Immigrants‌: Based on research conducted by ARGEIAD members Howard Ramos (Dalhousie University) and Nabiha Atallah (ISANS) along with Yoko Yoshida (Dalhousie University), Madine VanderPlaat (Saint Mary’s University) and Gerry Mills (ISANS). A more complete previous report written by Ather H. Akbari can be found here.

Infographics with the report: Immigrants Do Well In Nova Scotia

ISANS Report 2015: Family Sponsored Spouses

The Warmth of the Welcome: Review by Dr. M VanderPlaat (a Word document will download when you click the link. If you do not see it, please check your Downloads folder). The Warmth of the Welcome: Is Atlantic Canada a Home Away From Home for Immigrants? Edited by Evangelia Tastsoglou, Alexandra Dobrowolsky, and Barbara Cottrell (Cape Breton University Press).
Reviewed by Madine VanderPlaat, Professor of Sociology, Gender and Women’s Studies, Saint Mary’s University.

Dilmaghani & Dean: Religious Diversity & Labour Market Attainment in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia - 1911-2011

AIR Symposium Presentation, May 2014 - Temporary Migrants in Atlantic Canada: Some trends and issues. Presented by Ather Akbari at the Atlantic Immigration Research Symposium at Saint Mary's University. ‌

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Report prepared for the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, based on a research project that analyzed the socioeconomic and demographic profiles of immigrants in Nova Scotia.

Innovation, Technology and the Human Touch
New products for successful integration

Role of Government Policy in Immigrant Settlement and Integration
‌Presentation by Dr. Ather Akbari at 16th National Metropolis Conference, Gatineau Quebec, March 2014

Best Practices for the Integration of International Students in Atlantic Canada
A Study of the Policies and Practices Surrounding the Settlement of International Students in the Atlantic Provinces

Immigration Policy in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States
An Overview of Recent Trends

Dreaming Big, Coming Up Short
The Challenging Realities of International Students and Graduates in Atlantic Canada

A Challenge for Regional Economic Development