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Do ethnic enclaves impede integration into the supposedly multicultural Canadian society?
"The number of ethnic enclaves . . . has exploded in Canada," Marina Jiménez writes in Thursday's Globe and Mail
"In 1981, there were only six in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. By 2001, there were 254, according to a study by Statistics Canada, which defines ethnic enclaves as communities with 30 per cent of the population from one visible minority group."
"What are the long-term consequences of this explosion in ethnic enclaves? Does self-isolation impede integration? Will the children of these immigrants eventually blend into Canadian society like previous generations, or will their status as visible minorities block their progress no matter where they live?
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"Mostly, it's too early to tell. But one thing is already clear: Multiculturalism isn't working that well for visible-minority newcomers."
What do you think?
Does the geographic self-segregation of immigrants mean that multiculturalism in Canada is somehow failing? Is isolation impeding integration? Is it necessarily even a bad thing?
Ms. Jiménez kindly agreed to join us online Thursday to answer questions about her story, which also draws on her own experience as the child of immigrant parents. Your questions and Ms. Jiménez's replies will appear at the bottom of this page once the discussion begins.
Ms. Jiménez won a National Newspaper Award in 2003 for beat reporting (immigration) and was one of three finalists in 2004 for the same award.
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Alexandre Karol from Brazil writes: I've been in touch with at least 3 different cultures in Canada (strongly with Brazilian, Portuguese, Polish people ... also some Spanish speaking in general and Italian as well) and I could not see so many negative happenings among them. This defined clustering of cultures in specific neighborhoods must have also positive aspects. My questions to Marina are: What are some of the positive aspects you find in this? What are the contributions these aspects bring to Canada and Canadians in general? Thanks for the opportunity of asking.
Marina Jiménez: Yes, there are positive aspects. For immigrant communities, ethnic enclaves give them a sense of cultural solidarity and hopefully a chance to network with other members of the diaspora who can help them find employment, access cheap housing and direct them to shops and services that cater to their tastes. For the general public, ethnic enclaves often enliven new neighbourhoods, bringing in new businesses, restaurants and other services. Everyone loves to visit neighbourhoods specializing in one ethnic group's cuisine. The drawback is if these newcomers lack ready access to people from other cultures who can help them sort out other aspects of their adopted homeland.
Geoff Wilmshurst from Chandigarh, India Canada writes: Hi Marina, What can the government (s) do to encourage new immigrants to settle outside of these enclaves? It is clear they provide a comfort zone, especially for first generation immigrants, but don't these enclaves cause serious social problems for the subsequent generations?
Marina Jiménez: I think the government could encourage newcomers to settle outside of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver through provincial nominee programs, which fast-track prospective immigrants going to provincially designated jobs. In this way newcomers can help re-invigorate cities in the Maritimes, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where the populations are in decline. Provincial nominee programs already exist, but the numbers of immigrants entering through these channels are quite small compared to other categories of immigrants.
John Stanson from Toronto Canada writes: Since the majority of Canadians believe that immigrants should adapt to Canada and not the other way around, when will official multiculturalism be finally be seen as the farce that it is? If I chose to immigrate to another country, I would never expect that country to alter its customs for me. Why does Canada roll over and bend over backwards doing that for its immigrants? Presumably they wanted to become Canadians when they selected Canada; why are we discouraging them from doing so? Do you think we will ever get a government with the political will to stand up and say, 'Enough!'
