Refugee Settlement in New Brunswick

Abstract

Refugees who try to settle in sparsely populated areas often leave these areas for major metropolitan areas within a few years of arrival in Canada. The refugees often feel discouraged by the lack of satisfactory employment possibilities. If refugees settle in a rural area longer than 2 years, however, they are likely to remain there long-term (Carter et. al., International Journal of Migration and Integration 9:161-183, 2008; Donato et al., Rural Sociology 72:537-559, 2007; Fonseca, Population, Space and Place 14:525-535, 2008; Hugo, Population, Space and Place 14:553-571, 2008; Krahn et al., International Migration Review 39:872-894, 2005). For New Brunswick, this statistic is particularly important. New Brunswick is the only province in Canada with a declining population, and this demographic situation deeply worries the provincial government (Government of New Brunswick 2014). The province of New Brunswick sees refugee reception as a way to grow the population. However, the province suffers from high unemployment rates, which brings the issue of refugee retention into sharp focus for the region. This paper investigates the extent to which refugee experiences of settlement in New Brunswick correspond with evidence about the barriers and opportunities found in research regarding immigration settlement in rural communities and welcoming communities in other areas of the country. It then details the evidence collected from 40 refugee respondents in New Brunswick through semi-structured interviews (in Fredericton, Moncton, and Saint John) and one focus group (in Fredericton). The respondents identified several key systematic problems that impeded their settlement in the province, as well as suggested solutions to these problems.