Law and Public Policy

D17 - Perceptions vs Realities - Immigration, Citizenship and Border Crossings in Canada

Date: Jun 4 | Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm | Location:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Sule Tomkinson (Université Laval)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Sule Tomkinson (Université Laval)

Canada’s Im/migration and Citizenship Pitches, Plans and Policies: Plotting Changes or Convergences?: Alexandra Dobrowolsky (Saint Mary's University)
Abstract: This paper will query whether Canada represents a case of divergence, convergence (Dauverghe 2016), or “divergence within convergence” (Abu-Laban 2007) when it comes to how Western states are currently responding to im/migration and citizenship concerns. More specifically, to answer these broad questions, this paper will detail and assess, as well as compare and contrast, the treatment of im/migration and citizenship across two election cycles in Canada (the 2015 and 2019 general elections), between two political parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives, and with a particular focus on how these issues have involved gender, race, ethnicity, class and Indigeneity and their intersections. In the lead up to the 2015 election, the Liberals under Justin Trudeau set up a stark contrast between their approach to citizenship and im/migration, one that celebrated openness, equality, and diversity, as well as Nation to Nation governance, and the more exclusionary and mean-spirited policies of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. In power, the Trudeau Liberals both acted on some of their promises, and engaged in some significant backtracking. At the same time, the new leader of the Conservative party, Andrew Scheer, struggled to situate himself on issues of migration, citizenship, equality, and diversity, often flirting with even more retrogressive posturing and thereby influencing the Liberals’ positioning. By comparing and contrasting campaign platforms as well as election and policy outcomes, this paper seeks to draw some conclusions on the so-called “convergence hypothesis” and how it applies to Canada with respect to migration and citizenship rhetoric and realities.

Unveiling Citizenship and Immigration in Canada v. Zunera Ishaq / Dévoilement de la citoyennetéet de l'immigration au Canada c. Zunera Ishaq: Herbert McCullough (Midwestern State University)
Abstract: Dress Codes are tools that dominant cultures have historically used to assimilate minority cultures. This paper will analyze this in Canada vs Ishaq, which shows the contemporary power of dress code debates in legal and political activism. In this case, Zunera Ishaq challenged the Canadian government’s regulation to remove any form of face covering while taking the Oath of Citizenship. Ishaq claimed this regulation would require her to remove her niqab, violating her religious freedom. Canada celebrates multiculturalism, but the government argued removing the niqab would encourage female, Muslim immigrants to integrate into society. Should the government be able to ban the niqab under the guise of social integration and women’s empowerment or should religious and cultural freedom include the ability to reject assimilation and Western conceptions of women’s rights? Opponents claimed that it was forced assimilation, which contradicts Canada’s Mosaic Theory where newcomers are encouraged to keep their own cultural heritage and integrate within society. Supporters argued that the niqab is based on misogyny and its ban would help integrate Muslim women. This paper argues that the dress code is a venue for political and cultural struggles in Canada, where dress codes have been used to segregate cultural communities.

Perceptions vs Realities: Framing border crossings in Canada: Andrea Lawlor (King's University College, Western University), Mireille Paquet (Concordia University)
Abstract: Since 2015, two dynamics have affected the politics of immigration in Canada : the decision to resettle over 25,000 refugees from Syria and the increase in irregular arrivals at the Canada-U.S. border. These dynamics have made refugees and the policies about their settlement in Canada more salient. In this paper, we explore Canadian’s perception of different types of asylum claimants and refugees in this new context. We draw upon a new survey, fielded in mid-2019, of a representative sample of Canadians. The data focuses on the policy decisions made in the area of immigration and refugee acceptance with particular reference to key concepts such as immigration levels, types of migrants/refugees, and understandings of “deservedness”. In the paper, we include the results of a question wording experiment that varies the ethno-racial, religious, socio-demographic and professional characteristics of migrants to examine how Canadians perceive what makes a “deserving” migrant in immigration and refugee scenarios. Findings suggest that framing affects perspectives towards migrants, but these effects play out differently depending on the type of migration cued.

Increasing Language Requirements Upon Entry, an Effective Tool for Immigrant Integration? The Role of Learning Official Languages: Jean-Philippe Gauvin (Concordia University), Antoine Bilodeau (Concordia University)
Abstract: In the last decade, most Western democracies have increased civic requirements for naturalization or for allowing entry in the country. As a result, proof of proficiency in a country’s official languages is now one of the most widespread requirements. Yet, it is not clear to what extent official language proficiency indeed ensures better integration outcomes. One of the most salient gaps in research is the need to distinguish between the impact of being proficient in the official language of a country and learning that language after entry in a country. This project asks the following question: Is learning the language of the host society a more efficient mean of integration than knowing the language upon entry? To answer the proposed research question, three groups of immigrants will be compared: those who spoke an official language upon entry, those who did not but learned it, and those who still don’t have proficiency in the official language. This project relies on a survey of 2,000 immigrants in Quebec, Canada. Indicators include measures of current levels of proficiency in French and English and evolution of that proficiency since their arrival. Integration is measured in terms of satisfaction with the immigration experience, political participation, as well as feelings of identification with Quebec, Canada and the country of origin.

Participants:
Jean-Phillippe Gauvin (Concordia University)
Alexandra Dobrowolsky (Saint Mary's University)
Andrea Lawlor (King's UC Western University)