Ongoing Projects
Disparities in Settlement and Integration of Racialized Newcomers in Atlantic Canada: Lived Experiences, Root Causes, and Effective Remedies (Funded by IRCC)
Many racialized immigrants in Canada are members of more than one marginalized group, and the discrimination they face in accessing settlement and integration services may be compounded. With the strong support of our research partners, this program of research will use mixed methods to analyze racism, discrimination, and associated disparities in newcomer settlement and integration in Atlantic Canada. The lived experiences of racialized and non- racialized immigrant groups and settlement service providers will be sought by means of interviews and focus groups in order to study the unique barriers and challenges racialized immigrants face in comparison with non-racialized counterparts and what service providers can do to enhance their settlement experiences and integration outcomes.
The research findings will then be fed into policy-making and program-making as results are shared and discussed with various stakeholders near the end of the project to build a culturally and racially responsive settlement service delivery model and develop an integration guide for racialized immigrants to ensure long-lasting impacts.
The Recruitment and Retention of International High-Skilled Professionals for Innovation and Growth (Funded by SSHRC and ACOA)
This project makes use of both a quantitative model and qualitative methods to evaluate the impacts of large-scale immigration on the Atlantic Canadian economy. As a quantitative method, the FOCUS macro-econometric model of the Canadian economy - developed and maintained at the University of Toronto - will be used to examine the economic and demographic impacts of immigration.
We have conducted a series of simulations in order to model the effects of immigration on a variety of economic and demographic indicators, including economic growth, per capita income, labour productivity, earnings, unemployment, inflation and interest rates. We will also collaborate with our community partner, the Association for New Canadians (ANC) to implement various qualitative methods, such as public opinion surveys, public consultations, focus group discussions and interviews with major stakeholders including employers, policy makers, and newcomers to develop a better understanding of the economic contribution of immigrants to Atlantic Canada at the meso- and micro-levels. This will also help us understand various channels and mechanisms through which immigrants can make contributions to the Atlantic economy, such as stimulating consumption and investment, filling labour and skill shortages, creating jobs through entrepreneurship and innovation, and contributing to government revenues through various forms of taxation.
Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides (Funded by Canada First Research Excellence Fund, CFREF)
The research program will be supported for seven years by a $98.6-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) and is dedicated to building a new understanding of the challenges and opportunities that migrant integration poses for Canada (and all countries) locally and across borders.
The program’s unique interdisciplinary research design will drive leadership in the areas of citizenship and civic participation, the future of work, healthcare, and the responsible and ethical use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, which is changing the way we work, live and interact. This intersectional approach will further the modernization of global immigration policies and contribute to building communities and urban centres that are equitable, resilient and inclusive to migrants.
As an independent researcher, Dr. Fang will contribute to the research on the impacts of AI and other automation technologies on business and immigrant
workers in the post-COVID era.
https://www.torontomu.ca/bridging-divides/
Productivity, Firms and Incomes (Funded by SSHRC)
Jointly with Professor Mike Veall at McMaster, Dr. Fang has received an SSHRC partnership grant in the amount of $2.5 million for their project "Productivity, Firms and Income". The emphasis of Dr. Fang's sub-project is on the attraction and retention of highly skilled immigrants and international students, which is influenced by governance and public policy at federal, provincial, and municipal levels and will contribute to our understanding of community, regional and enterprise development. Such research will help Newfoundland and Labrador to meet looming demographic challenges, and alleviate labour and skill shortages, and in turn, enhance workplace productivity and organization. This would be a key driver for the long-term economic growth and social development in the province. The inflow of skilled immigrants and international students will also enrich the already vibrant and unique traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Immigrant Retention in Atlantic Canada: Who Stays, Who Leaves, and Who Returns? (Funded by SSHRC Explore Grant)
Using the Longitudinal Immigration Database merged with taxfiler data, the proposed study will examine the link between the characteristics of newcomers and their decision to either stay in Atlantic Canada or move to another province. Put simply, the study will assess what personal and job characteristics make newcomers more likely to stay in the region, versus those which make them more likely to leave. An additional element which will be studied, if there is adequate data, is the extent to which newcomers who landed in Atlantic Canada may return after moving to another province. Such a scenario may be thought of as “long-run retention”, and it is hypothesized that this likely occurs when a newcomer desires to live in Atlantic Canada, but must move for a time to find employment commensurate with their educational attainment and labour market experience.