Canadian immigration policy : a critique of intent and practices
Date
1996
Authors
Versaevel, Jaqueline Nancy Dawn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Immigration policy is an area of government decision-making where the beliefs and assumptions are unclear and, often entirely deceptive. Every Canadian federal government since 1967 has claimed to remove racial discrimination and to balance the opposing goals of global responsibility and national self-interest. Since conflicts in immigration policy are great, one must question the motives behind these goals. The Immigration Act of 1993 represents a range of beliefs that include a priority on immigrants' wealth rather than social contribution, differentiation between immigrants and citizens' rights, and allows immigration officials and the federal Minister much broader discretionary powers than in previous legislation.
This thesis argues that the implicit agenda undermining all efforts to reform this system can be understood through a critique of the prevalence of xenophobia or "otherness" in the policy-making process. Because these beliefs and norms have not been explicitly addressed, discrimination and arbitrariness have continued. In this study, historical research and textual analysis provide a broad examination of the underlying beliefs, and how issues have changed or remained the same over time. Efforts to improve legislation, regulations, research information, and consultation cannot overcome the established societal norms which place a greater priority on deterring immigration than on enhancing it.