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Keith Banting Queen’s University C ÉRIUM Annual Conference

Social Integration and Shared Citizenship in Canada Immigrant Integration in a Multination / Multilevel State. Keith Banting Queen’s University C ÉRIUM Annual Conference Universit é de Montr é al April 2008. Images from Europe. Images from Australia. Images from the United States.

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Keith Banting Queen’s University C ÉRIUM Annual Conference

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  1. Social Integration and Shared Citizenship in CanadaImmigrant Integration in a Multination / Multilevel State Keith Banting Queen’s University CÉRIUM Annual Conference Université de Montréal April 2008

  2. Images from Europe

  3. Images from Australia

  4. Images from the United States

  5. Images from Canada?

  6. Growing Concerns in Canada • Flashpoints • Growing problems in economic integration • Residential segregation • Gang violence and terrorism arrests • Sharia law and public funding of faith-based schools • Debate over reasonable accommodation in Quebec • Debate over dual citizenship • Canada has its own social integration debate

  7. Focus on social integration • Nature of the integration agenda • Challenges go beyond economic integration • Challenge of social integration • High level of immigration • Diverse diversity • High levels of immigration / racial diversity • Diverse sources of immigration • Multination state: role of founding peoples • Not simply “old” versus “new” Canadians • Divisions with the ranks of the “old” are critical

  8. Nature of social integration: two approaches • Cultural: “Who is Us?” • Shared national identity, values and history • Belonging, attachment, commitment, solidarity • Participative: “How do we live together?” • Legitimacy of diverse identities and values • Consensus on liberal democracy and citizenship rights • Engagement in civic and political processes

  9. Does Canada have a problem? Who is us? • Measures of belonging and attachment • Not simply “new” versus “old” Canadians • Lower attachment among québécois and Aboriginals • Newcomers attachment grows with time • Difference between white and racial minority immigrants • Second generation • Differences between Quebec and the rest of Canada

  10. Does Canada have a problem? How do we live together? • Measures of engagement and participation • Civic engagement • Putnam: “hunkering down” in U.S. • Canadian evidence more reassuring • Interpersonal trust / engagement • Political participation • High level of naturalization (84%) • Newcomers and racial minorities do report voting • Minorities are underrepresented in elected bodies and public bureaucracies

  11. Framing a Policy Response “Who is Us?” Building a “people” with a common culture • Common language • Shared sense of identity and national values • Deeper understandings of history • Instruments • Immigration policies and naturalization policies • Settlement and integration services • Citizen education: grand historical narrative • Celebration of nation symbols: ceremonies, holiday, flag • Oaths of allegiance

  12. Framing a Policy Response“How Do We Live Together?” • Reinforce rights culture • Democratic rights and equalities • Anti-discrimination and human rights legislation • Civic networks • Support civic associations • Encourage participation in civic associations • Political participation • Voting at the municipal level • Representation in legislatures and city councils

  13. The Canadian ResponseConstraints on a cultural strategy • Cultural instruments • Language priority in immigration • Citizenship tests • Citizenship ceremonies and lots of flags • Constraints on cultural strategies • Multination state • Identities of the “old” Canadians preclude common culture • Multiculturalism as a defining feature? Contested • Multilevel state • Different pathways to integration across the country • Larger obstacle to cultural strategies • Tip balance to participative strategy

  14. “Shared Citizenship” • Citizenship in multinational / multilevel state • Nature of “shared citizenship” • Key issue: • How to strengthen “shared citizenship” in a society without a common culture? • Canadian echoes of T.H. Marshall • Civil, political and social rights • Assumes rights will generate attachment

  15. Shared citizenship in practice • Multinational / multilevel constraints • Instruments on which country relies to mitigate its internal divisions are themselves shared by the more powerful of those divisions • Variable geometry of citizenship rights • Some rights established on pan-Canadian basis • Charter of Rights • Controversial among founding peoples • Framework for immigrant integration (eg Sharia) • Some rights established in a more variegated pattern • Social rights and retrenchment • Social rights and federalism

  16. Conclusions • Nature of the problem • Economic and social integration • Is social integration a problem: Cultural versus participative answers • Nature of the policy response • Integration strategies shaped by domestic politics • Canadian drivers: multinational / multilevel state • Limits the scope for a cultural strategy • Tips balance to a rights-based, participative strategy • Variable geometry of “shared citizenship” • Effectiveness • A leap of faith • Future of Canada assumes “Who is us?” is the wrong question

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