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Serving Canada's Multicultural Population: Practical Approaches for Public Servants

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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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Date modified: 2004-11-29
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