Effects of Climate Change on Human Mobility in the Pacific and Possible Impact on Canada

The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). [...] The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. [...] Migration arises out of a complex decision-making process affected by several related factors, implying that it is essential to understand the entire socioeconomic and political context of the migrant or potential migrant in order to ascertain the influence of one factor in relation to others on the final decision to migrate. [...] The most feasible methodology was therefore to conduct key informant interviews with experts with a strong understanding of the issue and FGDs to seek the perceptions and opinions of the community on the broader effect of climate change on migration. [...] Canada maintains a positive view of migration, stemming from the policies adopted in the 1980s to diversify the immigrant base, in terms of source countries and “type of arrival”, preserving the basic principle that immigrants are expected to contribute to the country (Hiebert, 2016).