According to immigration experts, Canada has been more successful than most countries at integrating immigrants into society.

Unlike in many European countries, almost all of Canada's immigrants become citizens, says William Kymlicka, the Canada Research Chair in political philosophy at Queen's University and a leading expert on Canadian immigration. And their children outperform offspring of non-immigrant families when it comes to education, something that doesn't happen in any other Western democracy, he adds.

Kymlicka also argues that visible minorities, both first and second generation, claim to feel a great sense of pride in Canada, which is on par with that felt among white Canadians. According to research, Muslims feel more welcome in Canada than in other countries, says Kymlicka. As a result, the vast majority of Canadians feel comfortable with immigrants as neighbours and co-workers.

Unlike other countries where immigrants often chose to live within their own communities resulting in such areas becoming ghettos, Canadian society does not lock people into poverty or breed anti-Canadian feelings.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) claims that Canada is among the western democracies least likely to develop an anti-immigrant backlash. This finding was reported after a presentation urging western democracies to keep their ports of entry open to newcomers despite the economic crisis.

Although the recession has disproportionately affected migrants, OECD called on member countries to come up with better programs to help struggling immigrants adapt in their new homelands.

OECD's John Martin, director for employment, labour and social affairs, described Canada as a "country of permanent settlement" because most newcomers typically arrive with the intention of making Canada their permanent home.

In many European countries, immigrants, many with basic schooling who arrive to take low-wage employment no one else wants, are often viewed as temporary travelers even if many end up establishing roots.

"I think the sense of backlash is much less in countries of permanent settlement like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. These are all countries that were built on immigration; people still feel it's important to accept immigrants," said Martin.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had announced in February that Canada welcomed 247,202 permanent residents in 2008, 70,000 more than a decade earlier. The government has plans for 240,000 to 265,000 this year.

"Our government will not follow the advice of those who believe that Canada should take steps to reduce immigration levels. In fact, we are maintaining our planned immigration levels for 2009," Kenney said. He categorically stated that Canada would not be led by short-sightedness and divisive rhetoric that pits immigration against Canadians and against the economy.

It should be noted that OECD is a Paris-based think-tank funded by Canada and 29 other member countries to provide governments with economic and social policy advice.