Canada s Visible Minorities: 1967-2017 Andrew Cardozo and Ravi Pendakur
Introduction Introductory remarks Demographic overview Labour market outcomes Policy initiatives Some defining moments Demographic projections 2017 Issues for the future
Introductory remarks Canadian society has evolved over the past half century and will continue to do so over the next half century. Governments have brought in polices to manage and respond to changing demographic characteristics There is substantial evidence to suggest that visible minorities face inequality in different facets of life. The visible minority population could double over the period 2001 to 2017.what are the implications?
Immigrant intake, Canada, 1946-2001 300 000 250 000 200 000 150 000 100 000 50 000 0 1946 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 * Figures prior to 1951 do not include New foundland
Ethnic origin, Canada, 1941 Other 20% British 50% French 30% Source: 1941 Census of Canada
Ethnic origin, Canada, 2001 Can. & Br. 4% Can & Br. & Fr. 1% Canadian only 23% Other only 30% Can. & Fr. 3% French only 6% Br. & Fr. 2% British only 14% Other 47% Br. & Oth. 8% Fr. & Oth. 1% Can. & Oth. 3% Br. & Fr. & Oth. 2% Oth. & Can. &/or Br. Fr. 3% Source: 2001 Census of Canada
Most frequently reported ethnic origins other than British or French, Canada, 1941 German Ukrainian Scandinavian Netherlands Jewish Polish Aboriginal Italian Russian Hungarian 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 Source: 1941 Census of Canada
Most frequently reported ethnic origins other than British, French or Canadian, 2001 German Italian Chinese Ukrainian N. American Indian South Asian Dutch Polish Norwegian Portuguese Jewish Russian Filipino Métis Swedish 0 500 000 1 000 000 1 500 000 2 000 000 2 500 000 3 000 000 Source: 2001 Census of Canada
Mean earnings disparity, Visible Minorities born in Canada vs Whites born in Canada, 1971-2001 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% -20% 1971 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 females males Results from regressions which include age, education, official language knowledge, marital status, household size and city of residence (from Pendakur and Pendakur, 2007).
Mean earnings differential, Visible Minorities born in Canada vs Whites born selected CMAs 1996 Halifax Montreal Ottawa-Hull Toronto Hamilton Winnipeg Calgary Edmonton Vancouver -25% -15% -5% 5% Filled in bars significant at.05 Females Males
Earnings differentials, by quantile, Visible minority vs white females, Canada 2001 0.0% -0.5% -1.0% -1.5% -2.0% -2.5% -3.0% -3.5% -4.0% -4.5% -5.0% q20 q50 q80 q90 Personal work Results from regressions which include age, education, official language knowledge, marital status, household size and city of residence (from Pendakur and Pendakur, 2007).
Earnings differentials, by quantile, Visible minority vs white males, Canada 2001 0.0% -2.0% -4.0% -6.0% -8.0% -10.0% -12.0% -14.0% -16.0% q20 q50 q80 q90 Personal work Results from regressions which include age, education, official language knowledge, marital status, household size and city of residence (from Pendakur and Pendakur, 2007).
Summary labour force gaps Visible minorities, even those born in Canada, earn less than majority workers with similar characteristics. The earnings differentials faced by visible minorities are persistent over time. The earnings gap is often worse at the bottom of the distribution. The gap is very different by gender. Visible minority women do not face the same magnitude of earnings discrimination as do men.
Policy Initiatives The Canadian Bill of Rights (1960) The Canadian Human Rights Act (1969) Multiculturalism Policy (1971) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) Employment Equity (1986) The Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1988) Provincial initiatives
Multiculturalism Policy Multiculturalism Policy announced in House of Commons (October 8, 1971) Advancement of the diversity of cultures Advancement of equality (anti-racism) Promoting inter-cultural understanding Integration of immigrants
Charter of Rights Clauses addressed: (2) Religious freedom (15.1) Equality rights (1985) (15.2) Affirmative action/corrective policies (1985) (27) Multicultural heritage to be respected
Canadian Multiculturalism Act Gave the policy a legislative basis Equitable employment practices Civic participation Cross-cultural understanding Statistical data on diversity Making use of multi-lingual skills Respecting diversity
Provincial policies Specific legislation in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia Related laws or policies in Ontario, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador
Defining moments (selected) The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Turbans in the RCMP / in the Legions Adoption of Sharia Law in Ontario Redress of past injustices Herouxville
Visible Minorities in 2017 Demographics Religious diversity Foreign policy issues Reasonable Accommodation
2017 Growth of the Visible Minority Population: Between 6.3 and 8.5 million visible minority persons in 2017 (19% to 23% of total population). 22% of Canada s population will be immigrants. Roughly half the visible minority population will be either South Asian or Chinese origin Age structure of the visible minority population Visible minorities will be younger (on average) than the rest of the population. Provincial distribution ¾ of the visible minority population will live in Ontario and British Columbia. Almost 1/3 rd of the BC population will be a member of a visible minority group The Census Metropolitan Areas: Almost ¾ of visible minority persons will be in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal More than half the population of Toronto and Vancouver will be visible minority. Almost ½ of Vancouver s visible minority population will be Chinese.
Visible Minority Population, Selected CMAs, 2001 & 2017 Halifax Rest of Nova Scotia Montreal Toronto Ottawa Hamilton Kitchener Windsor London Winnipeg Calgary Edmonton Vancouver Victoria Abbotsford 2001 2017 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500
Visible Minority Groups, 2001 & 2017 Chinese South Asian Black Filipino Latin American SE Asian Arab 2001 2017 W. Asian Korean Japanese Other 0 400 800 1,200 1,600 2,000 (thousands)
Religious diversity Religious controversies are likely to continue Some will be related to geo-political issues Some issues will be related to liberal versus traditional values
Foreign affairs As communities grow their impact on Canadian foreign policy will also likely increase. Will require balancing interest group views with broader government interests.
Reasonable accommodation The report of the commission on reasonable accommodation in Quebec will be instructive federally and provincially.
Conclusions The last 50 years have witnessed substantial social, demographic, economic and cultural change. The next 50 will likely witness the same degree of change. What does it mean to be Canadian? What is reasonable accommodation? Are existing policies up to the task ahead? Whither 2067?