|
|
|||
|
||||
|
Home 
News
Conference Dispatches
Multiculturalism Speakers Series, June 27th, 2007
Promoting Mutliculturalism and Diversity in Canada's Remote Regions
|
|
|
|
||
|
Multiculturalism Speakers Series presents -
Promoting Multiculturalism and Diversity in Canada’s Remote Regions June 27th, 2007 2:00pm – 3:00pm 25 Eddy Street 11th Floor Room 38 Gaitneau, QC "Immediate action is required to promote multiculturalism and diversity in remote Canadian areas" said Ekuwa Smith, Research Officer, Multiculturalism and Human Rights Branch, in an address to public servants on Canadian Multiculturalism Day, June 27, 2007. Smith said that given the current and projected demographic trends, the Canadian policy community urgently needs to act. Visible minority populations have steadily grown over the last 20 years. By 2017, visible minorities will account for 23% of the population. Canada is currently experiencing a very low birth rate while the country’s population and workforce are rapidly aging. Two-thirds of remote regions are experiencing population decline. Currently, 98% of visible minorities living in Canada are located in metropolitan areas. Her ongoing research is attempting to identify what attracts visible minorities to remote areas. Possible explanations include: pre-existing ethnic communities; strong social networks and institutional resources; a community’s economic condition; a locations’ attraction; and the population size of a community. Preliminary finding indicate that visible minorities living in rural areas are faring well. Employment is found mostly in managerial, business and financial sectors. Furthermore, the unemployment rate of visible minorities is significantly lower in remote or rural as compared to those in urban areas. Future research will determine why economic indicators for visible minorities in remote areas are stronger than in urban areas. Cities and towns must develop strategies and policies regarding visible minorities so they can fully participate within a community. First and foremost there must be: the facilitation of policies, strategies, and activities that welcome newcomers to a community. Secondly, the following factors must also be in place: opportunities for employment and education; a vibrant local economy and community plan; opportunities to match professional skills with employment; and access to community resources. The second speaker, Meyer Burstein, consultant and co-founder of the Metropolis Project, believes that mobility is a key factor in drawing visible minorities to urban areas. Discussions on how to promote the presence of visible minorities across Canada include: policies strategies and activities uniting immigration, and promoting visible minorities as important for all Canadians. Quebec, Atlantic Canada and the Prairies actively recruit and integrate immigrants. Equity and social justice are crucial as visible minorities are repulsed by discrimination and an unwelcoming environment. British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Quebec have initiated local strategies and development plans concerning visible minorities, immigration, integration, demographic changes and multiculturalism. Collaboration between the territories, provinces and the federal government is essential for the successful development and implementation of strategic policies. Vision and leadership is required to coordinate strategies, activities and programs and to mobilize people. The department of Canadian Heritage is an excellent catalyst for this type of collaboration. Community leaders and employers must inject intellectual and financial capital. The resources invested within strategies and programs are as important as the outcomes of these activities. The sustainability of small towns and remote areas and their cultures are directly linked to demographic changes. Francesco Manganiello, Canadian Cultural Observatory |
Printer friendly version|
Culturescope.ca is a service of the Canadian Cultural Observatory and its partners.
|
The Canadian Cultural Observatory and Culturescope.ca do not endorse and are not responsible for the content of external sites. Links will open in a new window.
Some of the material available in the resource collection originates with an organization not subject to the Official Languages Act and is available on this site in the language in which it was written. |
|
|
|
|||