Canada relies on immigration for it s future prosperity. Its population is not growing fast enough to replenish the large number of workers set to retire and this means that the country cannot maintain its economic status nor can it develop and advance. Immigration is a solution to this problem. Yet, despite years of policy changes designed to improve the immigration system, certain problems continue to exist. Immigrants continue to experience economic and cultural hardships in the settlement phase. Using systems thinking methodology, system mapping and semi structured interviews with several key stakeholders in the immigration system, this study explores how stakeholders interact with each other to produce outcomes that negatively impact immigrant settlement. Using a systems map of stakeholders of varying power and influence, the exploration seeks out points of intervention to improve the immigration system’s efficiency and effectiveness in settling immigrants in Canada. The paper offers overall recommendations for the immigration system and for addressing settlement related problems such as access to settlement services, immigrant employment, culture shock and immigrant stereotypes.

• http://slab.ocadu.ca/people/uma-maharaj