Neil Armstrong
Freelance Editor

Statistics Canada 2016 has revealed that more Jamaican women have migrated to the country than men.

The survey shows that there were almost 20,000 more Jamaican women than men immigrants to Canada during 2012 to 2016 period.

The survey also shows that Jamaica is by far the largest country from which immigrants are drawn in the Americas (excluding the USA).

The data collection for the 2016 census was between May 2016 to September 2016 which showed a total of 138, 345 immigrants from Jamaica, of which 59,960 are male and 78,390 female.

Haiti recorded a total of 93,480 immigrants to Canada, with 40,955 being male and 52,525, female.

Tamari Kitossa, associate professor in the sociology department at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, says that this gender difference of the immigrant population from Jamaica raises some interesting questions.

He said it is important to know what in immigration policy is accounting for this significant gender disparity.

"If we assume that most persons have a strong preference both for cultural and ethnic/racial similarity in their spouses, where are these 'excess' Jamaican women to find spouses? Does this mean more single parent households headed by women? What community supports exist to assist such women and families?"

Jamaica-born Kitossa, though said, he could not find data on age distribution by sex and how many of these persons emigrated into family reunification situations.

"Basically I could not find out how many of these persons were adults and therefore of spousal age, nor could I find what the occupational and dependent status's are by gender. Whatever may be the case, this degree of disparity of gender distribution among Jamaican immigrants will have significant implications for family structure over the foreseeable future," he said.

The sociologist said the Jamaican Canadian Association, Tropicana, and other community service organisations really need to get ahead of the curve on this one.

Kitossa says as a percentage of population most immigrants to Canada have come from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

TREND ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN
The trend of more women moving to Canada than males was seen across Caribbean countries.

Of the 87,685 Guyanese who migrated to Canada, 38,940 are male and 48,745 female, while Trinidad and Tobago, which accounted for 65,040 of its citizens migrating, 29,325 are male and 35,710 female.

"This is certainly good news for Jamaica in two ways, " he said. First, he said, Jamaicans are making significant contributions to the Canadian economy.

"There is certainly cultural reputational rehabilitation here, given that Jamaicans were unfairly given a bad rap by Canadian politicians and the news media (Toronto Sun in particular) in the 1980s and 1990s."

He could not, however, say for certain whether Jamaicans are being employed in occupations and professions for which they are qualified.

"Indeed, it may well be that given the 'gig' economy and insecure work in Canada, Jamaicans are working at multiple jobs to make ends meet and to send home remittances. Even if that is the case, and even despite discrimination, the slight positive in this is that maybe, just maybe, Jamaicans are experiencing less racial discrimination in employment and immigration that in previous years."

Kitossa said given the census numbers on Jamaican immigration to Canada grew since 2012, remittances are likely to grow. He said the increased remittances from Canada, which according to Bank of Jamaica from 2010 to 2012 increased by $46 million dollars settling at $240 million.

RETURN OF BARREL CHILDREN PHENOMENON
He though raised questions on the resultant impact of women leaving Jamaica to live in other countries. Kitossa said that this could signal the return of the 'barrel children' phenomenon.

"It is less well known, discussed and researched, but 'barrel' children in Jamaica were also more likely to be exposed to exclusion, sexual and physical abuse, whatever the benefits and reality of 'other mothering' and caring communities that looked out for children."

Kitossa said the other concern is more strictly economic, though it will clearly have broader social implications. As Jamaicans are looking for options overseas, the country needs to look beyond its economic capacity beyond tourism. Education, according to him, is also one of the key 'pull factor' for Jamaicans to look at Canada.

"A positive in all this is that Jamaican educators are doing a remarkable job. But still, if it is the case that Jamaica is 'outsourcing' expertise and the government, as a result of balance of payment deficits, cannot invest in schools, hospitals and infrastructure, what is to become of Jamaica in the long term."

Kitossa notes that he has been long on conjecture, theorising and questions, but it seems to him it is important to give thought to what it means that Jamaican immigration to Canada, especially relative to its population, is so significant that it outstrips all countries in the Americas, excluding the USA, ranking 14th highest.

"This is no small feat and it has massive implications for both Canada and Jamaica which must be given more thought, no matter how conjectural," he said.