Living out diversity? Neighbours in Canada

At the beginning of April, Statistics Canada released data from the 2006 Census. In this release, one particular finding created much media buzz: Canada’s visible minority population is now over 5 million, comprising 16.2 per cent of the population.

The visible minority population grew 27.4 per cent from 2001-2006, compared to the population as a whole, which grew 5.4 per cent. And the census also showed that most immigrants – over 80 per cent – are coming from places outside of Europe.

While the numbers are new, this announcement points to something Canadians have long known and proudly stated: we are a diverse country. Our history of welcome extends far back, and we have received people from around the globe to be part of our multicultural mosaic.

This pride may stem from our history as a newcomer nation. Today, Canada is made up of many newcomers, some who arrived yesterday, others who arrived 60 years ago. Whether people are immigrants from Belgium or refugees from Rwanda, we have shown we will extend open arms to them. Our neighbourly attitude is seen to be a typical Canadian trait.

Truly welcoming?

This ideal of Canada as a warm, welcoming and diverse country has been upheld for many years. But when the ideal is compared to reality, we don’t always measure up. Our reputation of welcome is marred by events revealing we haven’t always fulfilled our duty as neighbours.

For example, the Colour of Poverty website shows that many new immigrants have trouble finding jobs and accessing basic health care. And when they do not have a good grasp of either official language, it can be difficult to find classes to help them learn.

And this lack of welcome, this lack of becoming neighbours extends back from today to the settlement of our country. Coming to this ‘new world,’ European explorers chose not to become neighbours with the Aboriginal peoples. Instead, Aboriginal peoples were subjected to harsh assimilation measures and forced integration.

Currently, many Aboriginal peoples live in third-world conditions on reserves, without adequate housing, clean water or access to health care. Many of the older Aboriginal generations are still scarred and broken from the abuse they suffered in residential schools.

Today, living out our diversity is not as easy as it may appear. For example, poverty affects different groups more severely – in Toronto, racialized Canadians (people of colour who are Canadian-born and newcomer communities of colour) are three times more likely to be living in poverty. Canadian social policy does not always ensure that everyone is equally welcomed and cared for.

So while many people are happily welcomed into Canada each year, the commitment to being neighbourly does not always succeed.

Being neighbours

While the reasons behind these facts and statistics are many, our actions as neighbours – or lack thereof – have contributed to these situations. And as our neighbourhoods become more diverse and our culture is enriched, how do we make sure we as citizens and our governments welcome the stranger and become neighbours?

Public justice includes a call to be welcoming, and within this call lies a deep and compelling call to action – action that includes responsibilities for governments and citizens. Through public policy, governments can respond to the needs of diverse populations – including refugees in need of language training and Aboriginal peoples lacking basic necessities. Public policy needs to account for how people are affected differently by policies, social structures and environmental change.

As citizens, we are called to be welcoming and to respond to our neighbours in need. These actions could include greeting your new next-door neighbour with a word of welcome and a smile. It could mean removing policy barriers so refugees can find safety here and escape countries of harm. Recognizing diversity and being welcoming means we need to ensure public policies and the common good are actually good for everyone.

Responding to this public justice call to action involves being creative and open to new ways that we can be welcoming. And it requires openness to structuring our public dialogue differently so that everyone – regardless of how long they have lived in this diverse country – can participate.

The Catalyst, Vol. 31, No. 2