Social Justice and Social Cohesion in Canada

1. Social Justice and Social Cohesion in Canada Charles Ungerleider Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group, llp August 19, 2010

2. A fundamental problem of all social units How much and what kinds of differences can the social group permit or sustain and still remain a cohesive group? Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

3. Canada: a fragile nation • Vast geography • Diverse population • Proximity to the United States • Lack of evocative, unifying symbols • Fragmented political landscape • Weak central institutions • Regional differences Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

4. Discrimination • Mistreatment Indigenous Canadians • Limitation on immigration from China • Chinese Immigration Acts (1885, 1903, 1923) • Limitation on immigration from India • Act to Amend the Immigration Act (1908) • Limitation on European Jews seeking sanctuary • Japanese Internment Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

5. Social Justice and Human Rights • Uniting Canadians during WWII • United Nations Charter (1948) • Human rights legislation • Racial Discrimination Act (Ontario, 1944) • Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act (1947) • Ontario Human Rights code (1962) • French-English relations • Simultaneous translation in Parliamentary proceedings (1958) • Issuance of Government of Canada cheques in French (1962) • Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1963-1969) • Official Languages Act (1969) • Immigration reform 1967-1978 Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

6. Social Justice and Human Rights • Multicultural policy proclaimed (1971) • Constitutional reform 1982 • Employment Equity Act 1986 • Anti-racism initiatives in Canada’s third order of government 1980-1990 • Multiculturalism Act proclaimed 1988 • Japanese Redress (1991) • Chinese Redress (1996) • Apology to former students of Indian residential schools (2008) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

7. Canada’s unique course Canadians may retain their heritage, languages, and cultural identifications so long as doing so does not create inequalities within or between groups Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

8. Out-group pairing by visible minority group (2006) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

9. % of persons in couples in inter-religious unions (2001) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

10. Political Engagement Among Canadian Immigrants (pooled sample 1993-2004) Bilodeau, A. and M. Kanji (2006) Political Engagement Among Immigrants in Four Anglo-Democracies http://www.elections.ca/eca/eim/article_search/article.asp?id=149&lang=e&frmPageSize=&textonly=false Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

11. Inequality threatens Canada’s social cohesion Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

12. Language used at home: Cumulative graduation rates, Montreal (1999 cohort) Mc Andrew, M. et. al., (2009) Educational Pathways and Academic Performance of Youth of Immigrant Origin. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

13. Language used at home: Cumulative graduation rates two years after expected, Vancouver (1999 cohort) Mc Andrew, M. et. al., (2009) Educational Pathways and Academic Performance of Youth of Immigrant Origin. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

14. Language used at home: Graduation, Toronto (2000 cohort) Mc Andrew, M. et. al., (2009) Educational Pathways and Academic Performance of Youth of Immigrant Origin. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

15. Income inequality in Canada is increasing (OECD, 2008) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

16. Income poverty in Canada is increasing(OECD, 2008) Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group

17. Thank you Charles Ungerleider Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group, llp 1055 Dunsmuir Street - Bentall Four Vancouver, BC V7X 1A2 Tel: 604 569 1471 Mobile: 604 600 1040 Email: cungerleider@directions-eprg.ca