Immigration, Ethnicity, and Race: The Transformation of Transnationalism, Localism, and Identities -

Immigration, Ethnicity, and Immigration, Ethnicity, and Race: Race:

The Transformation of The Transformation of Transnationalism, Transnationalism,

Localism, and IdentitiesLocalism, and Identities-

Presentation by:Presentation by:LAURA, JOANNA LAURA, JOANNA

and MILENAand MILENA

Immigration In Immigration In CanadaCanada In the late twentieth century, In the late twentieth century,

immigration was based on a immigration was based on a patternpattern – – this means that mainly white males this means that mainly white males from the United States, Britain, and from the United States, Britain, and Europe were migrating to Canada (a Europe were migrating to Canada (a white settler colonywhite settler colony))

Presently, immigrants to Canada are Presently, immigrants to Canada are from Asia, the Caribbean, South and from Asia, the Caribbean, South and Central America, and AfricaCentral America, and Africa

Past vs. PresentPast vs. Present

In the past, there In the past, there was was immigrant immigrant integrationintegration

Migrants adopted Migrants adopted a Canadian way a Canadian way of life, and broke of life, and broke away from their away from their ancestral homesancestral homes

Now, there is an Now, there is an increasing increasing transnational transnational approachapproach to being to being a Canadian citizen a Canadian citizen

Immigrants and Immigrants and ethnic groups ethnic groups possess links with possess links with other communities, other communities, institutions, and institutions, and political systems political systems

Vic Satzewich and Vic Satzewich and Lloyd Wong argue Lloyd Wong argue that…that…

Transnationalism is Transnationalism is transforming the Canadian transforming the Canadian political economy of political economy of immigration, race, and immigration, race, and ethnicity.ethnicity.

WHY???WHY???

Well, we must first look Well, we must first look at the at the CANADIAN CANADIAN IMMIGRATION POLICYIMMIGRATION POLICY and the global political and the global political economyeconomy

Canadian Canadian Immigration PolicyImmigration Policy

Based on #1) Based on #1) ECONOMICS:ECONOMICS: Canada no longer wants unskilled or Canada no longer wants unskilled or

semi-skilled workers like in the past, it semi-skilled workers like in the past, it wants wants highly skilled workershighly skilled workers from the from the high-tech industries from China and high-tech industries from China and IndiaIndia

These immigrants are called These immigrants are called “value-“value-added”added” immigrants for bringing human immigrants for bringing human capital to the Canadian economycapital to the Canadian economy

Policy continued…Policy continued…

Based on #2) Based on #2) STATE FORMATIONSTATE FORMATION:: Immigrants are not only workers, Immigrants are not only workers,

but potential future but potential future citizenscitizens of of Canada, so…Canada, so…

The identities of the many ethnic The identities of the many ethnic communities need to be defined communities need to be defined and respected!and respected!

Policy also based on…Policy also based on…

#3) DOMESTIC and INTERNATIONAL #3) DOMESTIC and INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:POLITICS:

The increase of the The increase of the militarizationmilitarization and and policingpolicing of Canadian borders (more of Canadian borders (more security screenings of refugee security screenings of refugee claimants, more deportation capacities, claimants, more deportation capacities, more staff at ports of entry, etc.)more staff at ports of entry, etc.)

A A continental approachcontinental approach between the between the U.S. and Canadian immigration policiesU.S. and Canadian immigration policies

A closer look at A closer look at ContinentalismContinentalism……

Basically, with the introduction of a Basically, with the introduction of a converging Canadian and U.S. converging Canadian and U.S. immigration policy, there will be an immigration policy, there will be an increasingly open Canada-U.S. increasingly open Canada-U.S. border. border.

This is with respect to capital, goods, This is with respect to capital, goods, and skilled labour (and skilled labour (globalizationglobalization); ); however it is also a general however it is also a general restriction on other peoplerestriction on other people

TransnationalisTransnationalismm Transnational social spacesTransnational social spaces – the – the

organization of networks, like organization of networks, like activities and patterns of living, activities and patterns of living, that span geographically and that span geographically and internationallyinternationally

A way for immigrants in Canada A way for immigrants in Canada to maintain their ethnic identityto maintain their ethnic identity

The The Practice of Practice of TransnationalismTransnationalism

Financial transfersFinancial transfers with ancestral with ancestral homelandshomelands

Ethnic businessEthnic business, for example , for example Chinese entrepreneurs in Vancouver Chinese entrepreneurs in Vancouver who send money back homewho send money back home

Ethnic mediaEthnic media, for example , for example Bollywood is India’s transnationally Bollywood is India’s transnationally distributed film industry based out of distributed film industry based out of BombayBombay

What Does What Does Transnationalism Mean Transnationalism Mean

For For CitizenshipCitizenship?? A challenge for nation-states A challenge for nation-states

because of the erasing of the because of the erasing of the nation’s one main culturenation’s one main culture

Hybrid identities within a nation-Hybrid identities within a nation-state pressure countries to pass state pressure countries to pass laws that allow for laws that allow for dual and dual and multiple citizenshipmultiple citizenship

What Does What Does Transnationalism Mean Transnationalism Mean

for for Social IdentitySocial Identity?? Multiculturalism Multiculturalism

promotes promotes individual choices individual choices of identity, but of identity, but with a Canadian with a Canadian citizenship, citizenship, immigrants are immigrants are also encouraged also encouraged to have a to have a Canadian identity Canadian identity

Immigration Immigration According to…According to… Gender and raceGender and race: :

since the 1980’s, since the 1980’s, many immigrants many immigrants to Canada are to Canada are women of colour. women of colour. They are mainly They are mainly domestic workers domestic workers and garment and garment workers.workers.

Education:Education: they they lack the necessary lack the necessary language skills in language skills in English and FrenchEnglish and French

Immigration According Immigration According

to to ClassClass Many immigrants start off with Many immigrants start off with

low-paying jobs, and then move low-paying jobs, and then move into the middle-class, or even into the middle-class, or even become elitesbecome elites

Many become entrepreneurs to Many become entrepreneurs to escape their lack of social capital escape their lack of social capital and become less socially and become less socially excluded (a form of excluded (a form of resistanceresistance))

General Conclusions:

Class, ethnic, and racial composition has

broadened in Canada

“migrants to Canada consist of men and women,

workers, professionals and capitalists …

producers and consumers, and national

and transnational citizens.”

DISCUSSION TIME!!!DISCUSSION TIME!!!

#1: Do you feel #1: Do you feel that the events of that the events of September 11September 11thth enforced enforced continentalism? continentalism?

(ie: pressures on (ie: pressures on Canada to move Canada to move towards a more towards a more restrictive restrictive immigration immigration policy?)policy?)

True or True or False???False???

Canada’s population is Canada’s population is relying more on relying more on immigration than immigration than natural natural births…births…

TRUE!!!TRUE!!!From July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005, Canada had a total of 337, 856 natural births, and 244, 579 immigrants arrive to the country.

(Population Growth, Statistics Canada)

BUT, besides this past year, Canada’s total figures are…

Canada’s Immigrant Population:

29 639 035

Canada’s natural births:

23 991 905

(2001 Census Data, Statistics Canada)