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All that these statistics therefore show is that different groups of people, with different education, different experiences, different skills, and working different jobs in different industries, will earn different incomes. This is not exactly an alarming revelation.

The United Way goes on to blame the “rise of precarious employment” for condemning minority, immigrant, and young workers to economic disadvantage. The fact that this is the preferred form of employment for many workers is ignored; according to Statistics Canada, 78 per cent of part-time workers are not looking to work full-time.

More government spending, stricter labour laws, higher minimum wages, and more unions are cited in the United Way report as ways to help immigrants and other disadvantaged workers by fighting the alleged perils of “precarious” employment. However, the evidence from around the world is that these interventionist ideas, especially minimum-wage laws, raise unemployment. The most seriously affected groups, according to the evidence, would be young, minority, and immigrant workers.

Notwithstanding counterproductive economic policies that can often deter immigration, including those supported by the United Way, the Greater Toronto Area remains an excellent place for immigrants to thrive and contribute to society. The best evidence for this is the continued increase, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the total population, of immigrants in the region

This suggests that the immigrants themselves view the city as a place of opportunity, not stagnation. Indeed, with nearly half of its population, and growing, comprised of immigrants, Toronto might well be one of the greatest immigration success stories there is.

Matthew Lau is a Toronto writer.