week 6: Multiculturalism and Diversity Flashcards
Canada’s Founding
Built on two premises
- The displacement and marginalization of Indigenous peoples
- The settlement and development of the land by european immigrants
For most of canadian history, these immigrants were known as Canada’s charter groups
- English speaking and protestant
- French speaking and catholic
Until the 60s and 70s, these charter groups dominated
Changing demography (3 census’s)
While immigration has rapidly increased
Most immigrants settle in Van and Trt
2/3rds of visible minorities in big three cities
85% in top 7 cities coz of jobs and family sponsorship
1871 census (Canada’s first)
61% british isles ancestry
31% french ancestry
8% other ancestries, mainly other european countries and indigenous canadians (3%)
1971 census
44% british isles ancestry
29% french ancestry
2016 census
41% multiple ancestries
20% canadian ancestry
33% canadian and one other ancestry
33% british isles ancestry
14% french ancestry
Parliamentary Representation
As of 2021, 16% of candidates and elected MPs of the major parties were visible minorities (17% of population are visible minorities eligible to stand for office)
In comparison: 10% of australian population has non-european origins, but represent only 2% of the seats as of 2015
Latinos make up 15% of the U.S. population but only 5% of the seats in the H of R; Asians make up 5% population but only hold 1% of the seats
Aims of Official Multiculturalism
ROCA
To assist cultural groups/ immigrants in…
- retaining and fostering their identity
- overcoming barriers to their full participation in society
- creative exchanges among all Canadian cultural groups
- acquiring at least one official language
Rise of official multiculturalism
Pearson liberals created the Royal commission on bilingualism and biculturalism (B&B)
- Studied how canada should accommodate french nationalism and the demands of new canadians
- B&B commission recommended bicultural image should be replaced by a multicultural one
- Pierre trudeau responded to the B&B commission by introducing the Multiculturalism Policy 1971, formalized in the 1988 Multiculturalism Act
Created a new federal Ministry of State for Multiculturalism not the department of Canadian Heritage
1.1 billion dollars in grants as of 2017 to ethnic organizations
In 1977 the Canadian Human Rights Commission was established
Adjudicated claims of discrimination in employment
The employment equity act of 1986 amended in 1995, requires proactive employment of disadvantaged groups
Broadcasting act of 1991 asserts that canadian broadcasting should reflect cultural diversity
1999 amendment allows licenses for ethnic news media organizations if 60% of programming is of an ethnic character
Section 27 of the charter of rights and freedoms used as protection for minorities from dress code discrimination
Multiculturalism directorate established in 1972 to help provinces adopt multicultural education programs
Through the 1970s provinces began officially adopting it in schools
Other models of accommodation
There are other models of cultural accommodation outside of english canada
- Deep diversity multiculturalism (netherlands before 2006)
- Defacto and contested multiculturalism (US)
- Universalism (France)
- Interculturalism? (Quebec)
Deep diversity
Netherlands received waves of guest workers from 70-90s
Government experimented with a “deep diversity” model of public accommodation
- Instruction in minorities own language
- Radio and tv in minority language
- Government support for separate schools, religious organizations and community centers
- Policy resulted in de facto ethnic and religious segregation
- Social contact between white, native born dutch and minorities declined over time
- Incomes of minority groups, especially muslims, were by far the lowest in the country
- The dutch abandoned the experiment
De facto but contested multiculturalism
Citizens are encouraged to share a common civic identity
BUT: Gov services across the country often cater to other languages, especially Spanish; funding for ethnic organizations
There is also considerable celebration of diversity but it is more polarized
Universalism
Official ideology of french state is based on freedom, equality and social solidarity
Law prohibits authorities from asking people their race, ethnicity or religion
There are now some protections against discrimination
But citizenship values contracts and bans on burqa and niqab in public places
Interculturalism?
Multiculturalism is highly contested in quebec
Debate is primarily over whether newcomers can integrate into Quebec culture and society particularly immigrants from Muslim- majority countries
Quebec gov created the Bouchard Taylor Commission on reasonable accommodation
Recognizes a cultural majority and requires the majority and minority groups to make cultural concessions
PQ government introduced a charter of french values, denying public services and employment to women wearing face coverings
Liberals adopted this policy when replacing the defeated PQ government
The courts disabled the face covering bad as a violation of Charter rights
New CAQ government passed Bill 21, an Act Respective the Laicity of the State
Extended the previous act to all religious symbols
Used the notwithstanding clause to override the charter
Immigration in canada
Immediately after confederation (1867), immigration was heavily restricted by race
Head tax placed on chinese immigrants in 1885, which changed to a blanket ban from 1923-1947
Very small quota allotments for non-white countries
Economic development in europe after WW2 also limited inflow from non-european countries
Immigration act of 1967 created a colorblind points system based on capacity to integrate
Classes of immigrants: economic, family unification, refugee, business class
Two thirds of immigrants come under the economic class using the points system
The points system
PYAHA
Proficiency in one or both of canada’s official languages
Years of formal education and work experience
Age (20-50 especially)
Having arranged employment waiting in canada
Adaptability
Discriminatory?
An alternative to family reunification
Some say that it is inherently discriminatory in way that are not blind to different demographic characteristics
Proponents argue it is essential for integration into society
Immigrant integration
Language proficiency
Knowledge of canadian norms
Recognizable work experience by potential employers
Accepted professional occupational credentials
Canadian exceptionalism
Our government embraces one of the most robust multiculturalism regimes into the world
And members of the public are more pro immigration and diversity than elsewhere
To what degree is this true?
Evidence in favour
Based on Banting-Kymlicka Index
Official affirmation of multiculturalism
Featured in school curricula
Ethnic representation in media and licensing
Dress code exemptions
Dual citizenship
Funding of ethnic organizations
Affirmative action for immigrants
Canadians consistently at the top of the pack in
acceptance of immigration
Differences between important comparator countries are rather modest
Until the mid-1990s most canadians favoured lowering immigration levels
This has changed
Support for immigration heavily tied to economic conditions
Complicating the narrative
Asked about multiculturalism in the abstract, 50-70% of canadians support it
When asked directly about the different components of official multiculturalism, support is hostile to lukewarm
Support for diversity in weaker
Only 48% see increasing numbers of visible minorities as a good thing
41% say that Canada is “changing too quickly because of all the racial minorities we have here now”
Attitudes towards diversity haven’t improved over time
The conditional multiculturalists
Besco and tolley argue that the canadian population can be divided into thirds:
⅓ opposed to immigration, multiculturalism, and diversity
⅓ supportive
⅓ supportive if certain conditions are met
Only 30% think there are too many immigrants and oppose multiculturalism
BUT 65% say too many immigrants aren’t accepting of canadian values
67% think we should look after canadians born in this country first
57% think minorities should adapt to be more like other canadians
62% of canadians say that recent immigrants should have an equal say about canada’s future
But 85% reject the notion that minorities needs special rights
Only 41% of non quebec 28% of QC support modifying specific laws and norms when they could affect minorities
Conditional multiculturalists generally provide support conditional on equal rather than special treatment for minorities
A puzzle
Many canadians have ambivalent, complicated feelings towards multiculturalism
Ripe to be turned against the multicultural consensus by populist or reactionary politicians
This has occurred in the U.S and throughout Europe, why not here?
Incentives matter
Typically challenged to the multicultural consensus come from the political right. But:
Importance of ethnic communities in swing ridings for conservative party
First past the post incentives punish nationally dispersed small parties
Strong parties and party discipline allow marginalization of individual MPs trumpeting anti-immigrant rhetoric
Case 1: Kellie Leitch
2017 conservative leadership candidate
Ran on a platform to screen immigrants for canadian values based on face to face interviews with immigration
officers
Dominated media coverage and considered a frontrunner
Marginalized in her party and she received 7% of the vote, ending her political career
Case 2: Derek Sloan
MP for hastings-Lennox and addington and former leadership contestant
Took a donation from notorious white nationalist Paul Fromm
Publicly questioned Dr. Theresa Tam’s loyalty to canada, asking if she works “for canada, or for china”
Expelled from the conservative party caucus
