Who are you? ethnic identity in Canada

Abstract

Canada is comprised of a rich tapestry of language, ethnic groups, culture and history. Historically, the Canadian government viewed immigration as a means to an end, in which the incoming labour force would populate the vast landscape and ultimately boost the economy to make to make Canada a viable country. Today, immigration is viewed not only in terms of the obvious economic benefits, but as an addition to our already successful pluralist society. The integration process starts the moment the newcomer steps onto Canadian soil; but to what degree, if ever, an individual will identify as ‘Canadian’ is of great interest to sociological researchers. The 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey provides a useful dataset for the examination of ethnic identity in Canada, and this thesis explores which variables have an effect on whether or not an individual will report ‘Canadian’ as their ethnic identity.