Pathways to Prosperity: Ontario

The Welcoming Communities initiative (WCI) is committed to developing a comprehensive research program that focuses on the institutions, policies, programs, and interventions that contribute to the settlement and integration of immigrants and minorities in cities across Ontario. This research extends to measures aimed at attracting and retaining newcomers, including international students and foreign workers. WCI research is organized into seven research domains, each headed by a university or university-community team. The seven current domains are listed below. The descriptions of each define the domain’s scope, along with the names and affiliations of the co-leaders. It is expected that the number and scope of the domains will evolve in response to shifting needs and project maturity.

Attraction and Recruitment of Workers and Entrepreneurs

Domain Leaders: John Nadeau (Nipissing University), johnn@nipissingu.ca and Vic Satzewich (McMaster University), satzewic@mcmaster.ca

The domain is concerned with the attraction and recruitment of migrants by federal, provincial, and municipal authorities working with local organizations. The migrants include skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial nominees, temporary foreign workers, international students, and Francophone immigrants destined to Francophone minority communities. The domain is especially interested in facilitating efforts by small and mid-sized cities, working with employers, business associations, and community organizations, to attract workers and entrepreneurs. Research examines the influence of current policy designs, processing methods and processing locations on flows (including provincial nominees and temporary foreign workers) to smaller centres. Attention is also paid to the potential role of universities in channeling and shaping the movement of international students to smaller centres, and to the ability of municipalities and communities to re-brand themselves in order to increase their appeal (including the use of culture and sports). Related to this, research examines the role of domestic and international networks, including employer networks, to foster interest in smaller centres. The domain will develop advice for local organizations, municipalities, and provincial and federal ministries on alternative policy, program and practice designs for attracting and recruiting newcomers.

Children and Youth

Domain Leader: Audrey Kobayashi (Queen’s University), kobayasi@queensu.ca

The Children and Youth domain addresses the capacity, methods, appropriateness and range of interventions available to public and voluntary institutions to respond to the socio-emotional and service needs of immigrant and minority youth, particularly in smaller centres. The domain is concerned with enhancing youth involvement in the voluntary sector (both mainstream voluntary institutions and immigrant and minority-specific institutions) through youth training programs, programs that promote participation in the voluntary sector, and measures that identify and remove the barriers that impede particular youth groups. The domain has three initial research foci: studies of the social and psycho-social conditions—racism, social marginalization, cultural conflict, identity, and intergenerational relations— that shape the experiences of minority and immigrant children and youth in second and third tier Ontario cities; studies of relations between immigrant and minority children and youth and long-settled non-minority children and youth; and studies of discriminatory barriers and the transition from school to work by minority and immigrant youth.

Community Civic Resources and Initiatives

Domain Leaders: Caroline Andrew (University of Ottawa), candrew@uottawa.ca and Carl Nicholson (Catholic Immigration Centre, Ottawa), carl@cic.ca

The Community Civic Resources and Initiatives domain focuses on the policies, programs, and activities of municipal governments, civil society actors, and employer associations that contribute to the formation of welcoming communities. The domain is also interested in the local implementation and effectiveness of federal and provincial policies and programs, and how these governments support and interact with local institutions and promote innovation. A key research priority is to compare second and third tier Ontario communities to each other and to smaller urban centres in other jurisdictions, with a view to identifying innovative policies and practices. The research is sensitive to the cross-cutting themes of intergenerational links, gender, and Francophone immigrant communities. The development of Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) is also of interest to the domain. Topics such as justice and policing, public libraries, political participation at the municipal level, models of municipal structures, ethnic media, and the representation of immigrants in the media is pursued in collaboration with other WCI domains that have overlapping interests.

Education and Education Policy

Domain Leader: Dawn Zinga (Brock University), dzinga@brocku.ca

The Education and Education Policy Domain focuses on the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational contexts and experiences of newcomer youth, particularly in smaller centres. Four priority research areas have been identified: understanding the post-secondary choices of immigrant students; establishing a baseline inventory of policies and programs associated with diversity that serve the needs of newcomer students and teachers in educational settings; tracking the educational and practice experiences of foreign-trained teacher candidates; and examining the educational experiences and aspirations of newcomer students. In all four areas, particular attention is devoted to analyzing and understanding the needs and situations facing minority and racialized groups. Key policy research topics include: successful policies, programs and practices within elementary, secondary and postsecondary educational institutions; the manner and success with which equity and diversity issues are integrated into the classroom; educational outcomes and educational inequalities for immigrant and racialized students; second language learning practices and policies; and approaches to equity and diversity issues in teacher education.

Health and Healthcare

Domain Leaders: Bruce Newbold (McMaster University), newbold@mcmaster.ca and Kevin Pottie (University of Ottawa), kpottie@uottawa.ca

The Health and Healthcare domain focuses on understanding immigrant and minority health experiences and needs, including mental health and other specific needs (e.g., reproductive health), the role of the community, service provision, and barriers to care, particularly in second and third tier Ontario cities. While the health disparities between Canada’s immigrant and native-born populations, and between members of different ethnic and racial minority groups, have been well-documented, this research is largely national in scope or limited to immigrant experiences in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Our research priority is to understand the health of new arrivals and the reasons for changes to their health over time, particularly in smaller communities. We explore promising practices for meeting the health needs (including the mental health needs) of immigrants and minorities in smaller centres, including innovative approaches that rely on collaboration between the formal health sector and immigrant serving agencies. The domain is also concerned with integrating internationally educated health professionals into the Canadian health system, including in non-conventional roles.

Optimizing Social, Cultural, and Political Inclusion

Domain Leaders: Victoria Esses (University of Western Ontario), vesses@uwo.ca and Livianna Tossutti (Brock University), ltossutti@brocku.ca

The Optimizing Social, Cultural, and Political Participation domain is concerned with factors affecting the ability of Ontario cities to welcome and retain immigrants (including refugees) and ethnic/religious minorities, and with developing strategies to promote a positive reception for these groups. The domain’s four overarching research priorities include: tracking public attitudes about immigrants and minorities in second and third tier cities; understanding immigrant and minority experiences of inclusion and discrimination; comparing the identities and values of immigrants, minorities, and members of the majority population; and identifying the key determinants of attitudes, experiences, and identities, including the role of the media and opinion leaders in shaping these outcomes. The research will be used to develop policies that promote a sense of belonging and attachment for immigrants and minorities, to disseminate information about best practices, and to identify the institutions and government-supported activities that facilitate the mutual adaptation of immigrants, minorities, and dominant majorities.

Workplace Integration

Domain Leader: Mitch Rothstein (University of Western Ontario), mgrothst@uwo.ca

The domain focuses on industry and organizational policies and activities that promote inclusive work settings for immigrants and minorities, particularly in second and third tier cities. The domain is also interested in the role of business and professional associations and immigrant-serving agencies in fostering inclusive work environments. Research priorities are to identify the extent to which immigrant and minority workers have been integrated into the workplace, the metrics of successful integration, and the identification of promising practices. The research will inform municipal, provincial, and federal efforts to improve and strengthen business and professional networks and programs that foster a more welcoming workplace. Key policy-research topics include: workplace innovation in service of inclusion and integration; innovative work arrangements that promote the acceptance of foreign credentials, experience, and competencies; the role of social capital and networking; alternative language training methods; business investment in immigrant talent management and career development; understanding employer attitudes and information needs in regard to newcomers; self-employment strategies; and the special challenges facing minority immigrants and temporary foreign workers, employers, and communities in rural and remote settings. The domain also concerns itself with how government policies and practices condition workplace integration outcomes.