Diversity in Urban Centres
Cities offer economic, social and political opportunities to immigrants and native Canadians alike. One would more likely be drawn to the city because of job opportunities, rather than moving to the countryside; where there is little work and lower standards of living. Some may argue that Canadian cities are a great example of culturally diverse hubs; which house people from across the world. But there is growing evidence that ethnic diversity in cities is providing mixed results. Some may be gaining access to greater job opportunities and higher standards of living. However, there are a growing number of ghetto-like neighbourhoods developing throughout cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver; which possibly suggests a failure of ethnic diversity.
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Immigration in cities across Canada has dramatically ‘changed the composition of the population’, in a relatively ‘short period of time’[1]. Dewing’s observation would be looked upon as a positive attribute and development, as it suggests a positive image being conveyed to immigrants; which consequently encourages them to emigrate to Canada. Allan Gregg dismisses this utopian view, pointing to the growing evidence in cities such as ‘Toronto, Montreal [and] Vancouver’[2] where racial groups are ‘clustering in tightly knit, ethnically homogenous neighbourhoods’5. This growing sense of ghettoisation within Canadian urban centres, suggests that ethnic diversity has not been as successful as it had previously appeared to be. ‘White Canadians’ in a great majority of cases ‘tend to stay within their own communities, rarely venturing into ethnic enclaves’[3]. This shows a growing feeling of separation between different ethnic groups, mainly the white/colour divide, causing political problems across the world; which could be noted as just one of the negative impacts of the British Empire seen in the world today. But one should not be so quick to draw conclusions, from information gathered by an individual who views ethnic diversity as a failed set of affairs in Canada. There is a great deal of information which points towards cities attracting immigrants who bring much needed skills to a country with a relatively small population. ‘Canadians are more likely to say that immigration is beneficial, less likely to believe that immigrants are prone to crime, and more likely to support multiculturalism and view it as a source of pride’[4]. Prof. Kymlicka and Dewing therefore point to a society which readily embraces immigration and ethnic diversity, because every citizen of Canada is an immigrant (excluding the remaining native population); which in time only strengthens unity.
[1] Michael Dewing, Canadian Multiculturalism; as issued and used by the Library of the Canadian Parliament. (revised 15th September 2009), Library of Parliament, Social Affairs Division, 2009, p5.
[2] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[3] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[4] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p7.
[2] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[3] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[4] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p7.