Diversity in Canada
Presented by: Jacques Paquette, Director General, Multiculturalism and Human Rights Branch, Canadian Heritage.
Diversity
- Diversity, in terms of multiculturalism, refers to the
varied and complex ethno-demographic make-up of Canada. It refers to
what we might call several key identity "markers" like ethnicity, race,
and religion.
Immigration Patterns and Ethnic Diversity in Canada
Immigration is important to population growth in Canada:
- Immigration is an increasingly important component of population growth.
- In
1976, natural increase (births minus deaths) represented over 80% of
the demographic growth in Canada. Today, the situation is almost
reversed as immigration represents close to 70% of the growth.
- 2001 shows the growth rate of the population had slowed down and was the lowest in Canadian History.
- If
current trends continue, in less than 25 years, immigration will be the
only growth factor, as natural increase will be negative.
Immigrants to Canada Are Increasingly Diverse
- In the 1990s, more than half of all immigrants to Canada
were born in Asia and the Middle East whereas very few people came from
these areas in the 1950s.
- Immigrants born in the United
Kingdom or other European countries made up almost 90% of all
immigrants in the 1950s, but only 20% of those who arrived in the 1990s.
Religions In Canada
| % of Canadians that say they belong to each religion |
| Religion |
Percentage |
| Roman Catholicism |
43% |
| Protestantism |
29.2% |
| No religion |
16.2% |
| Islam |
2% |
| Judaism |
1.1% |
| Buddhism |
0.9% |
| Hinduism |
0.9% |
| Sikhism |
0.9% |
Source : 2001 census
Non-Christian Religions Are Growing
| % growth of religions in Canada between 1991 and 2001 |
| Religion |
Percentage growth |
| Roman Catholicism |
4.8% |
| Protestantism |
8.2% |
| No religion |
43.9% |
| Islam |
128.9% |
| Judaism |
3.7% |
| Buddhism |
83.8% |
| Hinduism |
89.3% |
| Sikhism |
88.8% |
Source : 2001 census
In Toronto and Vancouver, 37% of the population is a Visible Minority
- Growth of the visible minority population has been high in all metropolitan areas.
- Projections suggest that if current trends continue, over 50% of both Toronto and Vancouver would be visible minority by 2016.
- 30% of all visible minorities are born in Canada.
Visible minorities as a percentage of metropolitan population
| Cities |
% of visible
minorities |
% growth
1996-2001 |
| Vancouver |
36.9 |
28.5 |
| Toronto |
36.8 |
28.0 |
| Abbotsford |
17.8 |
48.2 |
| Calgary |
17.5 |
29.3 |
| Edmonton |
14.6 |
17.6 |
| Ottawa-Hull |
14.1 |
28.9 |
| Montréal |
13.6 |
14.2 |
| Canada |
13.4 |
|
| Windsor |
12.9 |
41.0 |
| Winnipeg |
12.5 |
12.6 |
| Kitchener |
10.7 |
29.4 |
Source : 2001 census
Foreign-born populations by City:
An increasing proportion of immigrants settle in the three largest urban areas (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal).
| Distribution of immigrants 10 years or less in Canada |
| |
Immigrants
of the 1970s
in 1981
Census |
Immigrants
of the 1980s
in 1991
Census |
Immigrants
of the 1990s
in 2001
Census |
| Toronto |
34% |
40% |
43% |
| Vancouver |
11% |
13% |
18% |
| Montreal |
13% |
14% |
12% |
| Calgary |
4% |
4% |
4% |
| Edmonton |
4% |
4% |
3% |
| Ottawa-Gatineau |
3% |
4% |
4% |
Other CMAs
and non CMAs |
30% |
22% |
17% |
Source: Statistics Canada, 1981, 1991 and 2001 Censuses.
Why settle in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver (MTV)?
- Joining family/friends most important reason for destination choice especially for family class (more than 90%)
- Joining family/friends also ranks first for economic class PAs (44%)
- Other
key reasons for economic PAs differ by place of residence: language
(Montreal), job prospects (Toronto) and climate (Vancouver)
- Economic
class PAs cite "job prospects" and "joining family/friends" in almost
equal shares when they settle outside MTV (respectively 32% and 36%)
Ethnic Diversity Survey: The First Survey of Its Kind
- Ground-breaking
- First
large scale survey (about 42,500 respondents) focussed on ethnicity
conducted in Canada (Statistics Canada - Canadian Heritage
collaboration).
- Ethnic Self-definition
- Explores
both ethnic origin and ethnic identity in relation to place of birth,
religion, language and population group (visible minority).
- Inter-generational
- Explores and compares the backgrounds of respondents with the backgrounds of their parents and grandparents.
Top 10 Ethnic Ancestries by Generation
Total
population |
1st
generation |
2nd
generation |
3+
generation |
| 1.English |
1.Chinese |
1.English |
1.English |
| 2.Scottish |
2.East Indian |
2.Scottish |
2.Irish |
| 3.Irish |
3.Italian |
3.Irish |
3.Scottish |
| 4.French |
4.English |
4.German |
4.French |
| 5.German |
5.German |
5.Italian |
5.Canadian |
| 6.Canadian |
6.Scottish |
6.Canadian |
6.German |
| 7.Québécois |
7.Filipino |
7.Dutch |
7.Québécois |
| 8.Italian |
8.Portuguese |
8.Ukrainian |
8.French-Can. |
| 9.French-Can. |
9.Polish |
9.French |
9.Ukrainian |
| 10.Chinese |
10.Irish |
10.British, n.i.e. |
10.British, n.i.e. |
Strongest Sense of Belonging to Family and Canada
Percentage who gave a 4 or 5 in response to the
sense of belonging questions |
| Family |
91 % |
| Ethnic or cultural group |
50 % |
| Town, city or municipality |
54 % |
| Province |
63 % |
| Canada |
80 % |
| North America |
59 % |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Who Provided Assistance?
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Access
health services |
Relatives/
fam. members |
Friends |
Health workers |
Find
housing |
Friends |
Relatives/
fam. members |
Settlement Org. |
Further
education |
Friends |
Relatives/
fam. members |
School/College/
University |
| Find a job |
Friends |
Relatives/
fam. members |
Settlement Org. |
Source: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada
Both Men and Women Have A Strong Sense of Belonging to Canada
Percentage of respondent who said they have
a strong sense of belonging to Canada |
| Total |
|
| Men |
79% |
| Women |
82% |
| Not a Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
79% |
| Women |
82% |
| Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
81% |
| Women |
81% |
| Chinese |
|
| Men |
77% |
| Women |
77% |
| South Asian |
|
| Men |
87% |
| Women |
88% |
| Blacks |
|
| Men |
81% |
| Women |
85% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Most Common Type of Group or Organization: Sports Clubs or Teams
| |
Sports
club or
team |
Hobby,
art,
dance
or
cultural
group |
Community
organization |
Religious-
affiliated
group |
Service
club or
charitable
organization |
Ethnic or
immigrant
association |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
generation |
12 % |
8 % |
6 % |
8 % |
4 % |
6 % |
Second
generation |
23 % |
10 % |
7 % |
7 % |
7 % |
2 % |
Third
generation
or more |
23 % |
9 % |
8 % |
5 % |
6 % |
1 % |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
NOTE : Because respondents may belong to more than one group or organization, total will add up to more than 100%
Voter Participation Increases the Longer They are in Canada
| Percentage of first generation that were eligible to vote and voted in the last Federal election |
| 1st generation arrived 1991-2001 |
53% |
| 1st generation arrived 1981-1991 |
71% |
| 1st generation arrived 1971-1981 |
82% |
| 1st generation arrived 1961-1971 |
88% |
| 1st generation arrived pre-1961 |
92% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Visible Minority Women are Less Likely to Participate in Groups or Organizations
| % of respondents who participated in Groups and Organisations |
| Total |
|
| Men |
47% |
| Women |
44% |
| Not a Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
48% |
| Women |
46% |
| Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
42% |
| Women |
35% |
| Chinese |
|
| Men |
36% |
| Women |
35% |
| South Asian |
|
| Men |
42% |
| Women |
35% |
| Blacks |
|
| Men |
49% |
| Women |
43% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Discrimination in Canada
Visible Minorities More Likely To Feel Discriminated Against
| % who experienced discrimination/unfair treatment |
| Total |
14% |
| Not a visible minority |
10% |
| Visible minority |
36% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Among South Asians and Blacks, Men are More likely to Experience Discrimination than Women
| % who experienced discrimination/unfair treatment |
| Total |
|
| Men |
15% |
| Women |
12% |
| Not a Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
12% |
| Women |
9% |
| Visible Minority |
|
| Men |
37% |
| Women |
35% |
| Blacks |
|
| Men |
53% |
| Women |
47% |
| South Asian |
|
| Men |
38% |
| Women |
27% |
| Chinese |
|
| Men |
33% |
| Women |
33% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Location of Discrimination/Unfair Treatment
| % who reported discrimination or unfair treatment sometimes or often |
| |
Work |
Store/Bank |
On the street |
Dealing with
Courts/Police |
| Total |
56% |
35% |
26% |
12% |
Not a visible
minority |
51% |
32% |
24% |
8% |
| Visible minority |
64% |
40% |
29% |
17% |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Discrimination/Unfair Treatment Across the Regions
| |
Often/Sometimes |
Rarely |
| Canada |
7 % |
6 % |
| Quebec |
6 % |
4 % |
| Ontario |
8 % |
7 % |
| Prairies |
8 % |
7 % |
| Bristish Columbia |
8 % |
8 % |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
NOTE : Atlantic Provinces not included due to small cell count.
Discrimination/Unfair Treatment In Canadian Cities
| % who reported discrimination or unfair treatment sometimes or often |
| |
Total population |
Not a visible
minority |
Visible minority |
| Canada |
7 % |
5 % |
20 % |
| Toronto |
11 % |
5 % |
22 % |
| Montréal |
9 % |
7 % |
19 % |
| Vancouver |
11 % |
7 % |
19 % |
Source : Ethnic Diversity Survey
Percentages are calculated using total valid responses
Conclusion
- The data presented from the 2001 Census makes its clear that
Canada is a very diverse society and this diversity is likely to
increase in the years to come.
- We have a key role to play
in ensuring that government policies, programs and services are adapted
to the needs of an increasingly diverse population.
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