Encouraging Evidence of Diversity in Canada – Key facts
Facts and statistics from workplaces, residential relationships, and inclusive policies show diversity in Canada. In this article, we look at the facts and figures that present Canada as one of the world’s most inclusive countries for immigrants.
Diversity is undoubtedly one of the many elements to be expected in a country like Canada, where all nationalities of the world are welcomed. Canada’s immigration, more than providing the needed foreign skills to boost its economy, also enables the inclusiveness of diverse groups of people into its communities.
What is diversity?
Diversity may be defined as the practice or quality of including or involving people from different social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
While diversity in Canada holds so many promises, it also has drawbacks impacting its socio and communal relationships.
From the look of things, the advantages of diversity in Canada surpass its disadvantages if there is a demerit.
We’ll take a deep dive to understand how inclusive co-existence has contributed to the growth and development of the country and, after that, provide answers to questions about limitations, bottlenecks, and difficulties posed by the element of diversity in the overall living experience of Canadians.
We also hope to explore how diversity in Canada promoted economic, political, and social peace in the country.
Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Canada
The right honorable Justine Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, in an address on November 26, 2015, expounded on the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in Canada at the Canadian House in London, United Kingdom.
In his address, he stated that Canada has grown to be strong not in spite of its diversity but rather because of it, and onward from hence, that capacity will be at the very core of both its success and what the country presents to the world.
Canada’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is not only limited to Canadians being nice and polite, even if that’s the case. This commitment, he revealed, is a powerful and ambitious approach to making Canada and the world at prominent a better and safer place.
Why Diversity is Good
People worldwide are becoming aware of the diversity of Canada, even down to its cabinet and parliaments; however, diversity is no news in Canada.
About one-fifth of all Canadians are given birth outside of Canada and therefore made a choice to immigrate to Canada; even though this diversity can most times be taken for granted, there is no doubt that Canada as a country is stronger and more successful because of it.
Newcomers programs are one of the many areas in which Canada opens its doors to welcome foreign immigrants, thereby increasing its diversity and strengthening its economy.
Paying attention to the words that people use to describe Canada, such as; open, receptive and accepting, progressive and prosperous, one will realize that there is a straight linkage between each of these attributes and Canada’s success in building a more diverse and inclusive society.
Canada’s diversity is a monumental source of strength; therefore, we know that Canada has succeeded both culturally, politically, and economically because of this and not in spite of it.
Statistical evidence of diversity in Canada
- 23.6% of Canada’s population as of 2018 are reported to be foreign-born. This represents the highest proportion in the G8 countries. In addition, the vast majority of this population lives in the Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta provinces.
- In 2017, a survey by the Ontario Human Rights Commission revealed that 40% of the racialized people living in Ontario reported having experienced discrimination due to their race or color in the last five years.
- About 6,264,800 people identified themselves as a member of a visible minority group
- Canada’s largest source of immigration from 2006 to 2020 is in Asia.
- 61.8% of new immigrants were born in Asia in 2016, including the Middle East; Africa ranks second at 13.4% as a recent source of immigrants to Canada.
- Regarding ethnocultural diversity, the number of ethnic origins and ancestries reported in the Canadian population in 2016 was 250.
- Canada is an increasingly diverse country—data from the 2016 Census indicated that 22.3% of the population belonged to one or more visible minority groups. Through population projections from 2017, Statistics Canada projects that this percentage will rise to 31.2% and 35.9% by 2036.
Employment gaps among races and ethnicities in Canada
Employment gaps exist between racially diverse groups in Canada, like in any other country with great diversity.
However, the crux of the matter is how this gap is managed and how it is covered so that the effect is not so profound as to impact such groups and, consequently, the economy.
According to reports, names that sound foreign 20-40 percent of the time are less liable to get a call back for a job interview.
This is one of the so many other challenges faced by immigrants, racialized people, and particularly women within these two groups, notwithstanding the candidate’s skills and qualifications.
Evidence of Non-Inclusiveness in Canada
In corporate leadership, one study reveals that white women outnumbered racialized women 17:1. Also, racialized women barely constitute 6.4% of the management workforce.
Employers who prefer to hire less skilled workers are also underutilize skills from highly educated immigrants.
Data from the 2016 census and the Legislative Employment Equity Program (LEEP) reveals that racialized immigrants and minorities experience far greater unemployment and underemployment altogether; it also shows that immigrant women experience far poorer outcomes than immigrant men.
On the whole, racialized immigrants and workers are employed in lesser-paying occupations and sectors.
Foreigners from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East are worse off than Canadian-born workers; on the other hand, European immigrants are better off than non-Europe immigrants.
Furthermore, foreign credential devaluation, language proficiency, and perceived fit with the Canadian workplace persistently remain barriers to immigrant labor market integration.
Racism in Canada
Fundamental to the discourse of diversity in Canada is the element of racism; in this discussion are the views of Canadians who fundamentally agree or disagree that the country has an inherent problem with race.
34%, one-third of Canadians, agree that, yes, there is a fundamental race issue in the country. However, this point of view is held by women below 55 years old and men 18-34 years old.
On the other hand, 66%, two-thirds disagree, stating the statement is overreaching; therefore, they do not concede to the opinion that Canada is a racist country.
Statistics, nevertheless, reveals that Saskatchewan and Manitoba citizens are most likely to feel that Canada is a racist country in addition to British Columbia. Furthermore, these are the provinces where at least 2 in 5 agree that the statement is true.
Is Canada a racist country?
Many human rights activists and scholars of critical race continue to supply evidence that inequality is woven into the fabric of Canadian institutions and normalized in everyday life.
Scholar Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, in his book “Racism Without Racist,” states that “The absence of racism is one of Canada’s fable-like stories,” and we keep telling and retelling ourselves the same moral stories.
A vast majority of racism is hidden within a façade of normality; this is experienced in the acts of domination that pervade Canadian universities, schools, religious institutions, and communities, expressed in various dimensions as; race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, and disability, all of which can be mighty in Canadian institutions.
A six years study released in July called the “Black Experience Project” found that Blacks compared to non-Blacks, earn much lesser income, have greater rates of incarceration and experience way more excellent rates of unemployment, undergo more housing hardships, and are prone to become victims of violence, and suffer poorer health conditions than other races.
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion is a national charitable organization with the responsibility and goal of assisting individuals and organizations to be inclusive, be free of prejudice and discrimination and to bring awareness, kick start dialogue and action so that people will realize that diversity is an asset and not a liability or an obstacle.
The biggest clients of the CCDI are employers. Furthermore, the organization hosts its Community of Practice events in 18 cities across Canada, alongside its webinars and the yearly D and I: The Un-Conference held in 9 cities.
This is created to foster research and thought leadership and provide toolkits that can drive change; it conducts in-person workshops and also makes available E-learning solutions to educate and assist people on the broad issues of diversity and inclusion; the CCDI also hosts Canada’s most extensive digital library of resources related to diversity and inclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there favoritism/preference for a particular race for Canadian immigration?
A recent poll by Macleans reveals that about 40% of Canadians hold an unfavorable stand on the pace of immigration and the number of visible minority people among immigrants. In the poll, respondents stated that there were too many nonwhites among Canada’s newly arrived immigrants.
Does Diversity in Canada breed racism?
According to the Statistics Canada Ethnic Diversity Survey, one out of five people who is a member of a visible minority group reported having been discriminated against or treated unfairly sometimes or most of the time.
Race and skin color have been attributed to be the reason for this discrimination and unfair treatment. These acts are most likely to occur in the workplace.
Is there a community of inclusiveness for foreigners in Canada?
Canada recently ranked 1st amongst 25 countries on overall inclusiveness, just slightly ahead of the United States, which ranked second.
Japan, Turkey, Serbia, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia ranked lowest on the inclusiveness spectrum. Canada’s first-place ranking is due to a result of the combination of the following six indices:
- 1st on Religious Inclusiveness
- 3rd on Naturalized-Citizen Inclusiveness
- The1st on Second Generation Inclusiveness Score
- 2nd on LGBTQ Inclusiveness
- First on Criminal Offence Inclusiveness Score
- Fourth on Extreme Political Views Inclusiveness Score
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is encouraging to see evidence of diversity in Canada. The key facts show that Canada is a country that values and respects the contributions of all its citizens. This country is open to new ideas and perspectives and celebrates the richness of its cultural heritage. Canada is where people from all over the world can come together and build a better future for themselves and their children.
