Anti-Refugee Sentiment in Canada

Canada’s Role Source: Canadian Council for Refugees, 2011.

Canada’s Role In all countries, with some variation, majority is ‘restrictionist’: In all countries, with some variation, majority is ‘restrictionist’: Believes country has accepted enough refugees and asylum seekers, (Simon & Lynch, 1999). Believes country has accepted enough refugees and asylum seekers, (Simon & Lynch, 1999). BUT, did you know that Canada accepts only about 0.1% of the world’s refugees! (Amnesty International Canada, 2011). BUT, did you know that Canada accepts only about 0.1% of the world’s refugees! (Amnesty International Canada, 2011).

Chinese Migrants, 1999

Tamil Migrants, 2009

Unexpected Findings Canadians actually support high immigration levels! Canadians actually support high immigration levels! Pro-immigration explanations Pro-immigration explanations political political *economic *economic education education age age gender gender Source: Institute for Research on Public Policy, 2011.

Why not pro-refugees then? Dependent variable Dependent variable Anti-refugee sentiment Anti-refugee sentiment Independent variables Independent variables Political Political Affiliation Affiliation Rhetoric Rhetoric Economic factors Economic factors Individual Individual National National Social factors Social factors Education Education Age Age Gender Gender Threat to national identity? Threat to national identity? Media influence: tone; discourse Media influence: tone; discourse Research Question: What can help explain the rise in anti-refugee sentiment in Canada?

Negative Framing Media and political discourse Media and political discourse “Illegal migrants, queue jumpers, mass arrivals, smugglers” (Neve & Russell, 2011). “Illegal migrants, queue jumpers, mass arrivals, smugglers” (Neve & Russell, 2011). “Resource stealers” and security threats (Rutledge, 2011). “Resource stealers” and security threats (Rutledge, 2011). Political rhetoric Political rhetoric “Canada’s Generous Program for Refugee Resettlement Is Undermined by Human Smugglers Who Abuse Canada’s Immigration System” “Canada’s Generous Program for Refugee Resettlement Is Undermined by Human Smugglers Who Abuse Canada’s Immigration System” Source: Public Safety Canada, 2010 News Release “Our government is committed to cracking down on bogus refugees.” Source: Immigration Minister’s spokeswoman, “Our government is committed to cracking down on bogus refugees.” Source: Immigration Minister’s spokeswoman, 2010.

Potential Challenges Are the two cases even comparable? Are the two cases even comparable? We were just coming out of economic tough times We were just coming out of economic tough times We had just had an economic crash We had just had an economic crash Is the anti-refugee sentiment only specific to migrants who arrive by boats? Is the anti-refugee sentiment only specific to migrants who arrive by boats? Are the cases only “situational triggers,” ? (Sniderman et al., 2004). Are the cases only “situational triggers,” ? (Sniderman et al., 2004). Direction of causation Direction of causation Do elite attitudes (politicians) influence public attitudes? Or do public attitudes influence elite attitudes? Do elite attitudes (politicians) influence public attitudes? Or do public attitudes influence elite attitudes?