Discussion Facilitators: Aaron, Cheryl, Diana and Shirlene

Currently around 6 million foreign-born Canadians call Canada home. With this being said Canada has reached the highest peak in immigration. The province of Ontario is home to more than half of Canada’s foreign-born Canadians.

The cities in Canada that are the most diverse are Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Fleras points out that these statistics can also be misleading because cities can be made up of many ethnicities, cultures and unique individuals.

Question- How do you feel foreign-born Canadians are accepted in Canada? Do you feel that they are respected the same way that people born in Canada are accepted?

More visible minorities are making Canada their choice of destination Visible Minority- “Refers to an official government category of native- and foreign- born, non-white, non Caucasoid individuals, including Blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Indo-Pakistanis, West Asians and Arabs, Southeast Asians, Latin Americans, and Pacific Islanders” (Fleras, 2005).

The government in this case has defined what exactly a visible minority so that they will be able to distinguish between a person who is a visible minority and a person who is not. When we are to look at how visible minorities are spread out across Canada we can see that there is not an even distribution of minorities from province to province. Fleras points out that visible minorities are drawn to major metropolitan areas because they feel that they are given the chance to be successful and they feel that the areas that they are choosing will embrace them.

Question- Do you feel that the term visible minority is an acceptable way of referring to individuals?

Canada is recognized on an international level as a society of immigrants, hence, being referred to as a distinct nation.Canada is recognized on an international level as a society of immigrants, hence, being referred to as a distinct nation. There are three characteristics which distinguish immigration countries:There are three characteristics which distinguish immigration countries: 1.The institution of programs which focus on regulating the quantity and quality of immigrants into the country. 2.Government initiatives have been established and implemented to assist in the integration of immigrants – which include social and economic adjustment, as well as to ensure that immigrants receive all civil and political rights associated with citizenship in that country. 3. Lastly, immigration is considered paramount in nation-building.

Immigration as a social contract? As suggested by Fleras, a social contract is implied throughout the immigration process – where immigrants are expected to contribute to economic growth of society by taking jobs, filling in under populated areas, as well as contributing to population growth and obeying the law. At the same time, governments are obligated to guarantee equal opportunity, public safety and citizenship rights. Where immigration countries such as Canada emphasize the significance of inclusiveness, non-immigrant countries such as Germany fail to acknowledge immigration as a legitimate source of nation-building.

How is the flow of immigration controlled in non- immigrant societies? Establish “immigrant-dampening” policies that deter immigration flows Limit long-term stays Discourage permanent residences Label immigrants as guest workers Penalize them accordingly by withholding citizenship and attendant rights

What are the positive and/or negative effects of immigration upon Canadian society? Canada has become a more vibrant and dynamic society as a result of immigration. “immigrants have contributed to Canada’s cultural diversity and economic prosperity without unraveling its social fabric or national identity” (Fleras, pg 333). On the other hand, many citizens have expressed concerns and resentment towards immigration regarding national unity and identity, as well as the loss of job opportunities with the influx of economic immigrants. Furthermore, many people have argued that Canada’s lenient regulations and lax enforcement make Canadians more vulnerable of terrorist attacks.

Although many would agree that Canada requires immigration to maintain its standard of living, the conflict arises around the issue of “how many”, “where from,” and what “kind” of people are admitted into Canada (Fleras, 2005). In the end, Fleras concludes that, Immigration is one of the most visible expressions of many of the values that underpin our collective identity as Canadians: incorporation of differences, recognition of cultural diversity, building of communities based on mutual respect, and bringing the world inside our borders (Fleras, 2005, pg 334).

An Alternative View: Is Immigration the Reinforcement of Racism? From a critical perspective, I would argue that Fleras fails to acknowledge the systemic discrimination embedded within particular immigration policies and programs such as the garment industry. According to Tania Das Gupta, the garment industry discriminates against immigrant women, particularly women of colour who are subjected to extremely low wages and no opportunity for social upward mobility; thus, keeping them in powerless positions and ultimately maintaining the status quo.

Question: Although immigration policies have been reformed to remedy past discrimination, would you argue that racism still exists within recent immigration policies?

Prior to 1960’s the Canadian immigration policy was very discriminatory against those who were not of British or Northern European decent. In 1978 the act was revised and the 1978 Immigration act had four objectives. 1. Socially- To reunify families thorough sponsorship. 2. Economic- To foster a strong economy through a skilled work force. 3. Humanitarian- To fulfill Canada’s international obligations by providing safe refuge for those seeking asylum. 4. Security- To ensure safety of Canadians by managing the risks associated with immigration.

The act also consolidated the range of admissible immigrants. Entry conditions for admission into Canada are organized into three categories, they are sponsored, independent and nominated. The current immigration classification categories are family, economic and refugee; also temporary residents.

Family reunification class Immediate members of the family namely a spouse and dependent children under 21, are automatically allowed into Canada, providing they pass health and security requirements. This category accounts for 26% of all immigrants to Canada (this figure has dropped sharply in recent years.)

Economic (Independent) Class Includes- skilled workers, entrepreneurs, self-employed and investors. Canada depends on skilled immigrants for economic growth. Foreign-born independents comprise 19% of the labour force. Future projections increasing to 70%. The independent class point system assesses flexibility in skills, adaptability to changing economic conditions, education levels, official language proficiency, and ties to Canada and employment experience. The principal applicant requires 67 points for entry to Canada. (You must pass health/security requirements.)

The 3 rd and most controversial class of Canada’s immigrant categories A Refugee is defined as: Those who have fled their countries of origins and cannot return because of well founded fears of persecution based on race or national origins

Refugees are accepted as a part of Canada’s humanitarian commitments and legal obligation to the world community Since WWII, Canada has admitted over half a million refugees Recent annual intakes are within the 20,000 – 35,000 range

“Canada’s humanitarian efforts in providing a refuge for displaced individuals has been well documented and notably highlighted with the receipt of the Nansen Medal in 1986” (Fleras 2005)

Two groups of Refugees: Sponsored Refugees –Pre-selected abroad by government officials, private agencies, individuals, clubs, or church groups Convention Refugees –“I want asylum!” –Refugees who arrive unannounced –Claim refugee status upon arrival into Canada

Access to Canada can be abused If a refugee claim is not disqualified after 72 hours, then a claimant is entitled to: Housing Food Medical care Legal counsel

A temporary resident is a person who is lawfully in Canada for a temporary purpose. They include: Students Foreign workers Asylum seekers

Based on 2001 census, there were 273,662 temporary immigrants in Canada 15,000 are seasonal workers 8,000 are domestic workers/care-givers This number exceeds the combined immigration and refugee numbers

Of the claims finalized by the Immigration and Refugee Board, about 47% were granted refugee status China is the leading source country –33,000 or 15% of the total 2 nd and 3 rd source countries are India and Pakistan Economic immigrants account for 60% (138,226) Family class numbers stand at 29% (65,087) 49% of immigrants are destined for Toronto upon arrival

 The long term objective of the Canadian Government’s Immigration program is to expand immigration levels to approximately one percent (300,000) of Canada’s population, while bearing in mind the need for support to attract skilled labor, strengthen the social fabric, and enhance cultural diversity

The main imperatives of the New Act: Ensure the best interests of children Liberalize admission criteria Speed-up processing of applications Expand the circle of close relatives for family reunification

According to Fleras, the act conveys a negative tone It appears defensive rather than welcoming It Highlights control, containment and regulation Refugees in particular may become labeled as scapegoats

Fitting in and settling down may be just as challenging as getting in (Fleras 2005) Language barriers, maintaining tradition and links native culture Can be received as 2 nd class citizens by the public and within national discourses Government legislation such as the Employment Equity Act strive to correct these discrepancies

PROBLEM: Unity remains elusive because of settlement patterns “Cultural heterogeneity, political powerlessness, public unease, and general lack of economic clout,” make it difficult for immigrants to participate fully in programs meant to enhance social capital (Fleras 2005) Loss of economic well being as well as discriminatory barriers also inhibit inclusion Qualified individuals as overlooked, as well, their educational qualifications and employment experience are undervalued in Canada However, according to Fleras most new Canadians appear relatively satisfied with their new lives in Canada

According to Fleras, “fitting in is a three stage process”: 1.New comers require basic services: Shelter Language training Access to social services 2.Then begins the pursuit of self sufficiency and productivity through jobs 3.They need opportunities to participate fully in social and civic life in their communities

Immigrant needs are primarily focused on equality, participation and freedom Immigrant Needs Include: 1.Elimination of discrimination, racism, and exploitation 2.More opportunities in labor and education markets 3.Conferral of full citizenship rights 4.Maintaining cultural identities 5.Freedom of expression in terms of their identity 6.Public acceptance

on Critics to current immigration policies state that increased immigration will pose a threat to Canadian values and norms creating a nation of “polite bigots”, How would you respond to that claim? Do you agree or disagree with this claim?