Research Roundup: Is the Canadian dream broken?

The pillar of the Canadian dream for newcomers is the hope that their children and future generations will have more opportunity for a better life than they, themselves, have had. Join us for a thought-provoking public event that delves into the socio-economic experiences of second-generation immigrants to understand social mobility in Canada.

New research will be released on the education and employment experiences of successive birth cohorts from the 1960s to the 1990s, revealing how well the next generation of immigrant Canadians fare. The progress of individuals from five racialized groups—South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, and Latin American—will be compared with those who are third-and-higher generation White Canadians (the mainstream).

The study reveals that mobility among young adults, in terms of advancing in education and employment earnings, is not equal across gender or racialized groups, and for the most recent cohorts has in some groups begun to diverge significantly below the mainstream average. Our comprehensive examination of education and economic well-being brings into question longer-term processes of integration among different ethno-racial minorities in Canada and will be of interest not only to members of the minority groups themselves, but also to policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, and all who are interested in the degree to which Canada is an inclusive society.

After a summary of key findings, a distinguished panel, representing diverse perspectives and experiences within immigration and minority integration, will consider policy implications, addressing questions such as:

• Do the divergent trends among minority groups require government attention beyond existing policies, and if so, what types of interventions may be effective?

This event is an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion about the implications of these findings for policy and society. The research highlights new and concerning economic divergences among groups, emphasizing the need for a broad conversation about the policy implications of these trends. A research brief will be available after the event upon request. A sign up form will be provided by the end of day, February 20, 2024.

Author-Speakers:

• Rupa Banerjee, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
• Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey (external link) , Department of History and Classical Studies, McGill University
• Jeffrey G. Reitz (external link) , Professor Emeritus of Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies, University of Toronto

Panelists:

• Debbie Douglas, Executive Director, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
• Gervan Fearon (external link) , Chair of External Reference Group–Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, President of George Brown College
• Nicholas Keung (external link) , Immigration Reporter, Toronto Star
• Naheed Nenshi (external link) , Former Mayor of the City of Calgary

The forthcoming paper Second-Generation Assimilation and Segmentation in Canada: Ethno-racial Divergences across Birth Cohorts was co-authored by Rupa Banerjee, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Jeffrey Reitz, Department of Sociology and Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Feng Hou, Department of Sociology, Western University, and Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey, Department of History and Classical Studies, McGill University.