‘Stand by me’: competitive subnational regimes and the politics of retaining immigrants

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the pivotal role of immigration for subnational units, focusing on their efforts to retain immigrants. In the global competition for ‘wanted’ immigrants, subnational governments have developed innovative immigration-related programmes tailored to their demographic, economic, and linguistic needs. While previous research has mainly focused on the selection of international immigrants, this study delves into subnational efforts to keeping immigrants ‘in’. Using Canadian provinces as a case study, and through a qualitative content analysis of policy documents and immigration schemes, this article asks: To what extent do Canadian provinces compete to retain immigrants? The analysis reveals ‘subnational competitive immigration regimes’, wherein subnational units take policy actions to not only attract immigrants but influence or hinder their internal mobility. Downstream, provinces employ settlement and integration services to encourage retention. Upstream, provinces fine-tune their selection streams to choose migrants who are deemed more likely to stay. Policy outputs reveal how ‘wanted immigrants’ are conceptualized at the subnational level: those who can demonstrate a commitment to staying, rather than solely those who fulfil economic and demographic needs. The results shed light on the interplay between international immigration policies and immigrants’ internal mobility, and emphasize the significance of subnational policy in retaining immigrants.