Abstract

"Why and how have public attitudes towards immigration in Canada grown more positive in the last 20 years? Can the changes in attitudes be accounted for by changes in population characteristics, or in the change in the effect of these characteristics? Did the 2008-2010 financial crisis affect support for immigration?

Our logit regression analysis shows that positive attitudes towards immigration are positively related to higher levels of education attainment regardless of the survey years but negatively associated with the support for conservative political parties, especially during and after the financial crisis. We use a decomposition analysis to investigate the shift in public opinions across individual characteristics before, during and after the 2008 financial crisis.

We find that, for all periods, most of the attitude shift results from the change in the effect of population characteristics rather than the change in the characteristics themselves. Differences in educational attainment across survey years, however, explain a small portion of the shift before and during the financial crisis, though the impact disappears after the financial crisis period. Our analysis also shows that some groups' attitudes fluctuate more than others with the economic cycle. Regardless of the financial crisis, the change in the positive opinions of the supporters of liberal parties contributes significantly to the overall shift in positive attitudes in all periods.

On the other hand, while the change in the views of the conservative party supporters and respondents with the 'weaker' perceptions of current Canadian economic conditions contributes to the overall shift in the positive attitudes in the pre-financial crisis period, their impact is reversed in the financial crisis period and thereafter."

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Why_are_public_attitudes_towards_immigration_in_Canada_becoming_increasingly_positive-2022.pdf" title="Why_are_public_attitudes_towards_immigration_in_Canada_becoming_increasingly_positive (2022)"]

This thesis explores the recursive interaction among technology, human action and institutional properties in three networks of nonprofit organizations: Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, and Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies.

The aims of the research are two-fold:

1. to make a theoretical contibution to literature on organizations and technology by applying concepts of institutionalism and the structurational model of technology to a unique organizational form; and,
2. to make a practical contribution to the nonprofit sector by improving knowledge of how networks of nonprofit organizations interact with information and communication technologies.

The research process involved 13 interviews, 44 qualitative surveys and copious document and website analysis. The findings indicate that technology is not institutionalized uniformly within the network structures but instead comes to assume different roles within different parts of the networks. This leads to an extension of the structurational model of technology and also highlights the importance of flexible technologies that can be adapted to the variable circumstances of a single network structure.

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Information-and-Communication-Technologies-in-Networks-of-Nonprofit-Organizations-2005.pdf" title="Information and Communication Technologies in Networks of Nonprofit Organizations (2005)"]

"This study explores the perspective of immigrant entrepreneurs in Ontario and the supports available to them. It aims to understand the factors that shape an immigrant entrepreneur’s decision in terms of where to locate their business. We focused on immigrant entrepreneurs in Mississauga, Niagara and Picton. Our study surveyed entrepreneurs with a focus on those born outside of Canada. In addition, we mapped existing services at the federal, provincial, and local level and interviewed relevant service providers working with immigrant entrepreneurs in order to understand gaps in available services."

Summary of some findings

• In spite of perceptions that immigrants are often pushed into entrepreneurship because of exclusion from traditional job markets, this study shows that for many immigrants entrepreneurship is a desirable career path that can offer them opportunities and benefits
• Immigrants are slightly more likely than Canadian-born entrepreneurs to see entrepreneurship as a desirable career choice that comes with status and respect and that is positively portrayed in the media
• Newcomer entrepreneurs face more barriers than Canadian-born entrepreneurs in terms of understanding legislation, navigating the landscape of regulations and taxes involved in establishing a businesses, and finding financing and talent
• Newcomer entrepreneurs face more barriers accessing financing than do Canadian-born entrepreneurs and are likely to report receiving government funding
• Many diverse programs are available but most programs that focus on building awareness and engagement target post-secondary students. There is little available for aspiring entrepreneurs or newcomers. Similarly, while many programs focus on skills development, they often lack practical application

Recommendations

• Examine policies to ensure easy transition for students to entrepreneurial opportunities
• Ensure service providers consider entrepreneurship as a viable opportunity and have information about relevant supports and services
• Develop diversity accountability in government-funded entrepreneurship services and programs, including attentiveness to issues facing women, immigrants and other under-represented groups
• Provide more robust support to raise awareness of entrepreneurship as a viable path and feature success stories
• Support networking, mentoring and sponsorship of immigrant entrepreneurs by connecting them to other entrepreneurs
• Provide more multilingual supports
• Recognize that entrepreneurial opportunities and businesses are diverse and extend beyond technology
• Provide better integration of services, including “concierge” approaches to providing information about the full range of programs supporting startups, talent, financing, research and development
• [pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Immigrant-Entrepreneurship-Barriers-and-Facilitators-to-Growth-2017.pdf" title="Immigrant Entrepreneurship - Barriers and Facilitators to Growth (2017)"]

This book chapter explores eight urban ethnic enclaves in the inner city of Toronto based on existing studies and eight Chinese and South Asian retail clusters in Toronto’s suburbs through extensive field research and interviews and surveys with key informants.

Abstract

"Toronto’s ethnic retail clusters have not only sprouted across the inner city but have also speckled suburban landscapes. Driven by the increasing settlement of contemporary immigrants in the suburbs, ethnic businesses and ethnic economies have flourished and become the catalyst for neighborhood change and suburban retrofitting. Research has demonstrated that the development of immigrant entrepreneurship has contributed to social cohesion and economic vitality. What remains unexplored is the role of ethnic businesses in influencing space, (re)defining place, and (re)shaping community.

Furthermore, little is known about how ethnic entrepreneurs interact with other key players in city- and community-building processes and affect policy development, or vice versa.

Case studies reveal the role of ethnic entrepreneurs as city builders, and also how public policy and institutional structure promote or impede the development of ethnic entrepreneurship. The findings also point to important differences in urban and suburban settings such as built forms, physical constraints, and municipal governance and policy frameworks that may affect the interactions among various key players and spaces."

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/The-Impact-of-Immigrant-Entrepreneurship-on-City-Building-Learning-from-Toronto-2021.pdf" title="The Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurship on City Building - Learning from Toronto (2021)"]

This report provides an overview of challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs and offers suggestions in four areas to help address them so that immigrant entrepreneurs can perform better and help advance Canada’s international trade agenda.

Summary

"Canada needs to diversify and expand its international trade to strengthen its economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs can help this cause due to favourable characteristics such as their foreign language skills. However, their ability to do so is limited by the unique challenges that they face, such as their weak social and business networks in Canada."

Summary of suggestions

• Canada needs to diversify and expand its international trade to strengthen its economy.
• In light of their foreign language skills, engagement in knowledge-based industries, and predisposition to export beyond Canada’s traditional markets, immigrant entrepreneurs are ideal for helping to advance Canada’s international trade agenda.
• However, when it comes to firm size, business survival rates, and export revenues, immigrant entrepreneurs underperform compared with their Canadianborn counterparts.
• Strengthening their networks, raising awareness of domestic and international business supports, creating dedicated settlement support programs, and improving access to financing will enhance immigrant entrepreneurs’ success and role in boosting Canada’s international trade.

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Enhancing-Success-Canadas-Immigrant-Entrepreneurs-and-International-Trade-2018.pdf" title="Enhancing Success - Canada’s Immigrant Entrepreneurs and International Trade (2018)"]

This study explores entrepreneurship as an option for economic integration for newcomers living in the Greater Toronto Area.

What was the research about?

The objectives of the study were to:

• Examine the level of entrepreneurial activity amongst newcomers in Ontario, particularly women newcomers;
• explore the pathways to and the role of social capital in newcomers’ entrepreneurial activities;
• understand the barriers faced by newcomer entrepreneurs seeking to scale up their businesses; and
• examine the regulatory framework governing entrepreneurship in Ontario in terms of incentives and impediments and how these affect newcomers' entrepreneurial activities in particular.

What did researchers do?

"The research program involved collaboration with newcomer entrepreneurs, drawing on their experiences to capture the complexity and diversity (factors of influence) of economic integration and entrepreneurship in the Greater Toronto Area. The research team completed qualitative interviews with 100 newcomer entrepreneurs to gather information about their lived experiences of entrepreneurship and gain insight into the obstacles encountered by those who have endeavoured to start small businesses before. The research team also completed a quantitative survey with 229 newcomer entrepreneurs to develop a profile of newcomer entrepreneurship in the Greater Toronto Area. The quantitative survey provided insight into the different motivations for and pathways to entrepreneurship for newcomers in the Greater Toronto Area and information about the influence of specific factors affecting entrepreneurs’ experiences. Participants in the qualitative interviews and the quantitative survey were people over the age of 25, with experience starting a business in Canada, who came to Canada within the last 30 years through an immigration pathway (e.g. refugee, economic, family).

The research team also conducted interviews with Business Improvement Associations (BIAs), both mainstream and ethnic-racial, to better understand the regulatory environment impacting entrepreneurial activity in the Greater Toronto Area. Participants in these informational interviews were knowledgeable individuals from service provider organizations offering resources and support to new entrepreneurs in Ontario."

What did researchers find?

Findings from Interviews with Representatives from Business Improvement Areas and Service Provider Organizations:

• Participants noted that a number of province-wide organizations and non-profit organizations do outreach to newcomers.
• Participants noted a limited number of resources specific to newcomer entrepreneurs but reported that many resources are suitable for anyone who wants to start a business.
• Overall, the majority of participants described the regulatory environment for entrepreneurship in Ontario as complex.
• Estimates of women's participation ranged from 30% to 50% in some cases.
• Most participants were not aware of any special programs for scaling up existing businesses; however, some indicated that resources are available online.
• Several factors were identified as barriers to newcomers starting or scaling up a business. Many participants felt access to funding or capital was the most significant barrier preventing newcomers from starting or scaling up their businesses.

Findings from Interviews with Newcomer Entrepreneurs:

"Participants reported many motivations for starting their businesses, including having family and friends who were entrepreneurs; experiences of credential non-recognition and deskilling; wanting to be their own boss; career dissatisfaction; and the perception of Canada as a good place for business. Participants also faced many barriers when establishing and scaling up their businesses, including widespread financial challenges primarily centred around high start-up costs and the inability to secure loans or alternative funding sources. Other significant barriers included various marketing and sales challenges contributing to difficulty attracting customers; a lack of support from family, friends, and the government; limited personal and professional networks; complications related to hiring employees; and experiences with various forms of discrimination (e.g. racism, accentism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, etc.).

Participants expressed a desire for more newcomer-specific supports in the form of mentorship programs, pre-incubation courses, incubators, accelerators, and financing options. Participants also felt that the government could do a more effective job of communicating with newcomers and connecting them to existing entrepreneurship and employment supports and services upon their arrival. There is also a strong need for more newcomer women entrepreneurs and more supports for women in business in general, particularly for women working in male-dominated industries. Participants need more resources dedicated to assisting women entrepreneurs that want to start families, as there is a notable gap in services regarding affordable childcare and practical maternity leave. Refugees would also benefit from additional programming, as they face significant barriers and arrive under different circumstances than other newcomers."

Quantitative Survey Data Reported by Newcomer Entrepreneur Participants:

"Men represented 60.1% of the participants who completed the survey. The average age of participants completing the survey was 40. Of all participants, 19.7% self-identified as Latin American, 16.2% as being of European descent, 47.8% as South Asian, 8.7% as Black, and 6.6% as East Asian. The majority of participants (42.9%) entered Canada through an Economic category or were sponsored by family (39.15%). Many participants were highly educated, with 71% reporting a bachelor’s degree or higher. Participants had been in Canada for an average of 12 years; however, almost one-third (28.4%) of participants had been in Canada for 20 or more years. Most participants indicated that their small business targets 'the entire Canadian market.' The most frequent entrepreneurial activities and businesses reported were associated with the Food and Beverage industry (24.9%) and the Business and Finance industry (13.1%). The average time in business among participants was 5 to 7 years, with the mean of yearly earned business income ranging from C$30,000.00 to $34,000.00 Canadian.

Common challenges in starting and expanding businesses included financial struggles, navigating through regulations and the tax system, choice of location and industry, and marketing and advertising. Technical, business, and language fluency issues; lack of a network; and unfamiliarity with Canada's business culture, though repeatedly mentioned as barriers by participants in the interviews, were less frequently reported in the survey. The need for supportive services in establishing entrepreneurship was reported by 58% of participants, while only 16% of participants reported receiving support outside of their family.

Participants reporting higher yearly income through their own businesses were individuals who have lived longer in Canada, who did not feel the need to access support services, and who are solely self-employed. Other variables of high significance that correlated with participants success – in which success is associated with higher yearly income – included having more Canadian working experience, a higher level of training or education, and a stronger desire to be an entrepreneur specifically. Survey findings suggest that newcomers who are 'pushed' into entrepreneurship due to difficulties finding full-time employment in Canada, dissatisfaction with their previous job, or discrimination will experience less success than entrepreneurs who have not had such experiences."

Visit the project website.

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Newcomer_Entrepreneurship_Study_Report-2021.pdf" title="Newcomer_Entrepreneurship_Study_Report (2021)"]

This study examines the settlement experiences and information practices of recently-arrived Afghan immigrant and refugee youth in Toronto. As part of this ethnographic study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Afghan youth between the ages of 18 and 28 who had lived in Canada for less than 10 years.

Research questions:

1. What challenges and unmet settlement needs do Afghan youth in Toronto experience?
2. What are the settlement-related information practices of Afghan newcomer youth in Toronto?
3. What do the leisure activities of Afghan youth reveal about their settlement experiences and information practices?

Study implications:

"This study identifies the challenges and unmet settlement needs of Afghan youth in Toronto, and enhances our understanding of the information practices used by recent immigrant and refugee youth to make the transition of settlement. As such, it enhances our understanding of the context in which newcomer youth seek use and share information for settlement, and therefore has implications for the design and implementation of outreach strategies appropriate to reach these groups and deliver settlement information through trusted sources. By offering an in-depth portrait of the lives and information practices of Afghan youth during their settlement in Toronto, this study offers Afghan newcomer youth the opportunity to share their unique perspectives on their experiences since migration."

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Exploring-the-Settlement-Experiences-and-Information-Practices-of-Afghan-Newcomer-Youth-in-Toronto-2021.pdf" title="Exploring the Settlement Experiences and Information Practices of Afghan Newcomer Youth in Toronto (2021)"]

This article describes a study that investigated the pandemic-related work of community-based adult educators in the ethno-culturally diverse Canadian province of British Columbia.

Abstract

"The societal lockdown imposed in Canada in March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19 severed key points of connection for low-income Canadians who rely upon schools, libraries and even fast-food chains for internet connectivity. This has had dire implications for timely access to vital information and resources, and has revealed the extent to which women, transgender and racialised communities are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s effects.  Interviews were conducted with 18 educators who were working on the “front lines” of the pandemic, to document their support of low-income and newcomer communities, to understand how these educators responded in terms of pedagogies and strategies, and to map how these pedagogies and practices might be leveraged for more equitable relationships in post-pandemic community-based education.

The authors found that the educators developed a range of inventive and dynamic pedagogies oriented to social solidarity and to taking up intersectional oppressions. These “pandemic pedagogies” may contribute to more equitable and inclusive social–technology relationships in a post-pandemic future."

This paper examines the intersection of the increasing adoption of remote work in Canada and Canada's ambitious immigration targets aimed at tackling growing demographic and labour challenges.

The authors explored this intersection through four lenses: immigrants themselves, federal immigration policy, provinces, territories, and municipalities, and employers. Researchers indicated "that the impact of remote work on immigration is still in its earliest stages and has been mostly unstudied as a result. Nevertheless, drawing from the existing literature and interviews with industry experts, community leaders, and immigrants themselves, this paper offers recommendations on possible policy actions, as well as several suggested areas for future research."

The authors framed the discussion with these points:

• Immigration accounts for over 80% of Canada’s population growth, which is essential for economic development.
• Canada struggles to attract and retain enough top-talent in various sectors.
• Canada receives more applications for economic immigration than it accepts, creating a large backlog.
• The number of people who work from home has risen by 159% since 2009.
• 99% of people say they would choose to continue working remotely either full-or part-time.
• Canada is a choice destination for remote workers, especially from the US.

Recommendations Regarding Federal Immigration Policy: 

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) should explore new expedited work visa pathways for immigrants in sectors well suited to remote work.  
• IRCC should consider a temporary work visa to attract workers who can work remotely.
• IRCC should develop robust targeted marketing on new immigration pathways, highlighting Canada as a remote work destination.  

 Recommendations Regarding Provinces, Territories, and Municipalities: 

• IRCC should coordinate with and provide supports for regional initiatives that successfully relocate remote workers to Canada, especially to communities with demographic and labour challenges.  
• Governments at all levels should develop holistic strategies for preparing communities for remote work.  

 Recommendations Regarding Employers:   

• The Government of Canada should convene relevant stakeholders to create guidelines and best practices for businesses considering adopting remote work arrangements. 
• The Government of Canada should collaborate with organizations like the Business Development Bank of Canada to create additional support to small and medium-sized enterprises for attracting and retaining immigrants working remotely. 

In this presentation the authors share their report findings:

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/Immigration-in-the-Era-of-Remote-Work-Challenges-and-Opportunities-for-Canada-2022.pdf" title="Immigration in the Era of Remote Work - Challenges and Opportunities for Canada (2022)"]