Said Al-Badri's Reading Note # 4: Tolley, E., Biles, J., Vineberg, R., Burstein, M. & Frideres, J. (2011). The integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada

Summary:

            In this chapter, Tolley, Biles, Vineberg, Burstein and Frideres (2011) introduce a volume they have written consisting of 13 chapters and a conclusion. As this volume discusses the integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada, it outlines the various policies and programs being implemented in different communities across the country (Tolley et al., 2011). Tolley et al. (2011) discuss how this volume emerges, explain the major themes that recur throughout it, and emphasize how this volume significantly contribute to the issues related to integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada.

            Tolley et al. (2011) argue that although Canada is regarded as a "country of immigrants" because it is "tolerant and multicultrual" (p. 1), this issue remains contentious. Additionally, Tolley et al. (2011) point out that both the literature and public discourse appear to have overlooked some of the more recent policy developments. Tolley et al. (2011) argue that research emphasize problem recognition over the solutions being tried by various actors in jurisdictions across the country. Thus, Tolley et al. (2011) have written this volume aiming to fill this gap. Tolley et al. (2011) discuss  a range of policies and programs that Canada pursues in order to ensure the integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across the country. Moreover, Tolley et al. (2011) state that the Canadian government has introduced legislation asserting that newcomers should not be facing the challenges associated with integration and inclusion by themselves. Instead, successful integration, as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2001) states, "involves mutual obligations for new immigrants and Canadian society" (as cited in Tolley et al., 2011, p. 2). This approach is called the "two-way street" model of integration (Tolley et al., 2011, p. 2). Therefore, Canadians are expected to play a vital role in the integration process where they need to be flexible about social, economic and cultural practices. This flexibility will enable Canadians to accommodate new immigrants, tolerate their different behavior and beliefs, as well as value the advantages of immigration and diversity (Tolley et al., 2011). Tolley et al. (2011) discuss the enormous economic and demographic advantages of immigration. By way of example, "[a]s Canada's population ages and its fertility rate continues to drop, immigration has become increasingly important as a potential mechanism to facilitate economic development and adjustment" (Tolley et al., 2011, p. 2). However, Tolley et al. (2011) emphasize that Canada can only gain these advantages if newcomers decide to stay in Canada and are capable of finding shelters, jobs, and a promising future. Therefore, immigration and settlement issues have become one of the most important topics on the policy agenda because the changing composition of the immigrant population and its increased diversity assert that integration can only be achieved through both government action and society collaboration (Tolley et al., 2011). As a result, the Centre for Immigration Policy Reform was launched in 2010 which points that "greater effort should be made to ensure that immigrants to Canada are willing and able to integrate fully into the Canadian economy and society within a reasonable timeframe" (Tolley et al., 2011, p. 3). In addition, Tolley et al. (2011) argue that policy-makers have to cope not only with the complications of immigration, integration, and inclusion but also with the ways that these issues are linked to other areas of governance.

            Tolley et al. (2011) point that immigration programs were merely run by the federal government until the mid-1970s when provinces and territories started to be actively involved in the immigration process. Thus, there has been a remarkable change in the immigration landscape of these provinces and territories with regard to the policy agenda, the available resources, program delivery models, and community involvement (Tolley et al., 2011). Tolley et al. (2011) studied the different aspects of each immigration model in order to extract some lessons that can be conveyed across the country. Given the increased interest in immigration related issues, there has been a huge increase in the resources devoted to the settlement of new immigrants. For example, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) allocates more than triple of its spending for immigration programs. Additionally, a range of creative practices have been examined and approved such as the Local Immigration Partnerships Program and ministerial advisory councils (Tolley et al., 2011). In this chapter, Tolley et al. (2011) do not only discuss the various immigration programs undertaken across Canada and their impacts on immigration, integration, and inclusion but also offer insights into "intergovernmental relations, multi-level governance arrangements, and the role of communities and NGOs in policy formation and service delivery" (Tolley et al., 2011, p. 5). Tolley et al. (2011) note that this model of governance, which Leo and August (2009) called "deep federalism" (as cited in Tolley et al., 2011, p. 5), has become very popular in a number of fields, including transportation, health care, the labor market, and education. Tolley et al. (2011) argue that although Canada has made significant success in immigration and multiculturalism policies, as well as in federalism and multi-level governance arrangements, it is still an imperfect model.

            Tolley et al. (2011) note that the size and diversity of migration flows justify the recent increased emphasis on immigration, integration, and inclusion in Canada. Additionally, Tolley et al. (2011) point that the diversification of migration, which is progressively made-in-Canada, affects Canada's racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic composition. Tolley et al. (2011) argue that although integration programs facilitate the settlement of new immigrants, there are reports stating that the children of these immigrants still experience discrimination and feelings of exclusion even when they were born in Canada and are well-educated. Thus, as this attitude persists, it becomes difficult for newcomers and minorities to integrate into the Canadian society (Tolley et al., 2011). Moreover, Tolley et al. (2011) indicate that the media discuss other immigration-related concerns, including honor-based violence, resistance to integration, and what Ryan calls "multicultiphobia" (p. 8), which have an impact on policy discussions as well as public opinion about immigration and its effects. Tolley et al. (2011) also highlight that Canada has to introduce effective measures and develop innovative strategies, that facilitate newcomers' integration and inclusion into Canadian society, in order to remain an attractive destination and win the competition. Additionally, Tolley et al. (2011) point that the competition to recruit and retain immigrants, particularly the highly skilled ones, is not only between Canada and other international countries but also between different provinces, territories and municipalities within Canada. For example, provinces, like Quebec and Manitoba, consider in-migration to be vital to long-term economic and demographic prosperity (Tolley et al., 2011). Tolley et al. (2011) emphasize that the shift in "admissions technology" witnessed in various provinces across Canada has resulted in "increasing student and temporary worker numbers and rising in-Canada landings" (p. 9).

            Tolley et al. (2011) conclude the chapter with a number of themes that emerge from their discussion about "integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada". These themes are:

1.      immigration is clearly a key component of the Canadian landscape, but work is needed to ensure that we capitalize on this resource by facilitating newcomer integration and ensuring that all Canadians — regardless of origin, race, ethnicity, language, or religion — feel welcome and included.

2.      There is evidence that federal, provincial, and territorial interest in immigration, integration, and inclusion is evolving.

3.      There is the matter of the changing demographics of the newcomers population, the locales where they choose to settle, and their status.

4.      It is clear that immigration, integration, and inclusion must be examined using a sub-national lens.

5.      While provincial and territorial governments have reawakened to the need for active engagement in attracting and retaining newcomers and minorities, many of the critical elements of successful integration and inclusion strategies are controlled by municipalities and other local actors. (pp. 10-12)

Assessment, critique and questions:

            I personally found Tolley et al.'s (2011) chapter a very interesting read as it discusses various issues related to immigration which differ from one country to another. Tolley et al.'s (2011) discussion about integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada resonates with me because it makes me think about the immigration and inclusion policies in Oman. Reading this chapter makes me recall a lot of people who have lived in Oman for more than 20 years and are still unable to get the Omani citizenship or at least the permanent resident status. In Oman, there are no clear policies on immigration and it is the government in close collaboration with the Sultan who decide whether or not to give the Omani citizenship to certain individuals. As an international student who came to Canada last year, It was very interesting to learn about how federal, provincial, and territorial interest in immigration, integration, and inclusion has evolved. Additionally, I have gained considerable knowledge of different immigration, integration, and inclusion policies and programs being implemented in various communities across Canada.

            I think that Tolley et al. (2011) did a great job in this chapter because they examined immigrants' integration and inclusion across Canada through both a provincial and territorial lens. Tolley et al. (2011) also looked at immigration, integration, and inclusion form civic, political, economic, demographic, and social points of view. Thus, I personally believe that Tolley et al. (2011) provided a comprehensive overview of immigration, integration, and inclusion in Canada. Moreover, at the beginning of the chapter, Tolley et al. (2011) clearly outline the main points they want to cover and the sequence in which these themes will run through the chapter. Thus, I found that this chapter is easy to follow because Tolley et al. (2011) guide the readers through the content of their chapter. In addition, Tolley et al. (2011) "illustrate a number of best and promising practices and provide evidence and ideas for future policy-making, program design, research, and evaluation" (p. 12). On the other hand, I think that Tolley et al. (2011) show a strong bias towards their own work. This can be easily noticed in the way Tolley et al. (2011) consider their work to be unique. Additionally, Tolley et al. (2011) emphasize how different their study is compared to other scholars' work and they express little appreciation for the work of other researchers cited in their chapter. Moreover, Tolley et al. (2011) do not reveal the limitations they might have encountered during their study. However, the fact that Tolley et al. (2011) merely used data from a limited number of provinces, such as Quebec and Manitoba, indicates that these authors were unable to collect data from all provinces. Furthermore, I personally believe that it would have been very beneficial to the readers if Tolley et al. (2011) had included some examples of immigration, integration, and inclusion policies and programs from countries which have made great success in this field. Reading Tolley et al.'s (2011) chapter, the following questions came to my mind:

1.      Tolley et al. (2011) mention that the Centre for Immigration Policy Reform "supports continued immigration, but insists that newcomers have an unequivocal commitment to the basic Canadian values and a strong loyalty to Canada" (p. 3). How can this centre ensure that new immigrants have "an unequivocal commitment to the basic Canadian values and a strong loyalty to Canada"?

2.      Isn't it the time for Canada to think of viable alternatives other than immigration to boost its economy?

3.      Does the notion of globalization help newcomers to easily integrate into Canadian society?

4.      Does the concept of globalization help Canadians become more tolerant of new immigrants?

5.      Can you think of some strategies Canada can pursue in order to welcome newcomers and help them integrate easily into the society?

6.      Don't you think that the increasing number of immigrants from a particular ethnic or religious group can pose a serious threat to the country as a whole?

Reference:

Tolley, E., Biles, J., Vineberg, R., Burstein, M. & Frideres, J. (2011). The integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities across Canada. Montreal
and
Kingston: McGill‐Queen's
University
Press.