What do canadians really think about immigrants...
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 38
What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
#2
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
#3
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
More than half the population of Toronto was born outside Canada. Some huge chunk of the remaining population was born here to immigrant parents. There are few unhyphenated Canadians and they stick to specific occupations; fireman, cop, politician, military so their opinion is, by and large, irrelevant. Torontonians generally maintain the animosities of their homelands, Greeks and Turks, Israelis and Palestinians, French and Algerians, feud as they would at home.
#4
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
A while back I took a taxi driven by a native Quebecker. He really laid in to immigrants. I pointed out that I am an immigrant. He countered that I am "one of the family". I took that to mean a white European.
There are plenty more like him.
#5
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
There are some unifying themes among the immigrants. In Toronto I have heard the "How do you make a Chinaman go blind?" joke from cab drivers of all manner of colours and nationalities.
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
I think that where ever you are in the world outsiders coming in from another country will be an issue for someone somewhere and that is just, it seems the case in Canada
#7
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
More than half the population of Toronto was born outside Canada. Some huge chunk of the remaining population was born here to immigrant parents. There are few unhyphenated Canadians and they stick to specific occupations; fireman, cop, politician, military so their opinion is, by and large, irrelevant. Torontonians generally maintain the animosities of their homelands, Greeks and Turks, Israelis and Palestinians, French and Algerians, feud as they would at home.
#8
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
I've found Winnipeg to be a remarkably good City for accepting different races.
We have a lot a family's who's grandparents came here to escape persecution in the Mennonite and Hutterite families, along with others from the Ukraine and Poland. More recently an Influx of Jews between the wars. So alot of the "Old" Canadian family's here were escaping persecution and have that as part of their "back story". Perhaps the tolerance rubbed off????
As I've said before, the Peoples who get it bad are the Aboriginals/Natives/Indians who suffer a lot from prejudice.
We have a lot a family's who's grandparents came here to escape persecution in the Mennonite and Hutterite families, along with others from the Ukraine and Poland. More recently an Influx of Jews between the wars. So alot of the "Old" Canadian family's here were escaping persecution and have that as part of their "back story". Perhaps the tolerance rubbed off????
As I've said before, the Peoples who get it bad are the Aboriginals/Natives/Indians who suffer a lot from prejudice.
#9
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Isn't it just.
This is something I gave a fair bit of consideration before deciding on my Canada plans. I was dubious about going somewhere where I may be discriminated against/disliked due to my nationality....I can get enough of that in the UK!
I had a lengthy conversation with a friend in Ontario who assured me that she didn't see any issues, because I want to go to Canada to work and enjoy what the place has to offer while hopefully giving something back myself.
Her attitude was that people object most to immigrants coming over & being a 'drain' on the country.
This is something I gave a fair bit of consideration before deciding on my Canada plans. I was dubious about going somewhere where I may be discriminated against/disliked due to my nationality....I can get enough of that in the UK!
I had a lengthy conversation with a friend in Ontario who assured me that she didn't see any issues, because I want to go to Canada to work and enjoy what the place has to offer while hopefully giving something back myself.
Her attitude was that people object most to immigrants coming over & being a 'drain' on the country.
#10
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
My experience in Calgary is that, on the surface, everyone seems to accept immigrants. However, scratch below the surface and you will find the same issues as in the UK.
The Chinese appear to be universally hated and the locals don't like immigrants from the countries that "don't want to integrate, learn our language, expect us to accept their religions without accepting ours etc, etc" So not hugely different to most of the UK really.
The Chinese appear to be universally hated and the locals don't like immigrants from the countries that "don't want to integrate, learn our language, expect us to accept their religions without accepting ours etc, etc" So not hugely different to most of the UK really.
#11
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Isn't it just.
This is something I gave a fair bit of consideration before deciding on my Canada plans. I was dubious about going somewhere where I may be discriminated against/disliked due to my nationality....I can get enough of that in the UK!
I had a lengthy conversation with a friend in Ontario who assured me that she didn't see any issues, because I want to go to Canada to work and enjoy what the place has to offer while hopefully giving something back myself.
Her attitude was that people object most to immigrants coming over & being a 'drain' on the country.
This is something I gave a fair bit of consideration before deciding on my Canada plans. I was dubious about going somewhere where I may be discriminated against/disliked due to my nationality....I can get enough of that in the UK!
I had a lengthy conversation with a friend in Ontario who assured me that she didn't see any issues, because I want to go to Canada to work and enjoy what the place has to offer while hopefully giving something back myself.
Her attitude was that people object most to immigrants coming over & being a 'drain' on the country.
Few people other than the Brits will be able to tell you are from NI, by the way. Most cradle Canadians would be lucky to guess the right continent.
#12
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: "Teh Westurn Zone D'oh Quebec"
Posts: 334
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
It's a national fact that Albertans hate everyone .
#13
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 38
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
hmmm certainly food for thought. Like ireland2canada, i too wouldn't like to go to a country to start a new life only to find everybody hated the fact i was there.
I can't see it putting us off, though something that needs to be thought about.
Guess it's just one of those things you either learn to have a thick skin about or don't bother emmigrating?!
Anybody emmigrated to NS, in particular Halifax? Is it pretty much the same there?
Like most of you we intend to move their and work for a living and hope to put as much into Canada as we expect to get out of it - in terms of a great life
I can't see it putting us off, though something that needs to be thought about.
Guess it's just one of those things you either learn to have a thick skin about or don't bother emmigrating?!
Anybody emmigrated to NS, in particular Halifax? Is it pretty much the same there?
Like most of you we intend to move their and work for a living and hope to put as much into Canada as we expect to get out of it - in terms of a great life
#14
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
My perspective of being an immigrant purely means willingness to integrate.
If you throw yourself head on into the local community they will accept you - there is a fijian guy who runs a gas station here (Drum is quite insular in a Redneck way and people are not overly welcoming of "outsiders") however this guy is really great and just gets on with everyone.
When I said to a buddy - well how come you like "Bob" and not any of the other immigrants (theres quite a few Fillipino's) the answer is "well they all stick together and don't make the effort.
I think that sums it up - if we had a large Brit population here I would not make an effort to stay exclusively with "my own kind" meaning from my home country - as the locals would see it as two fingers up to them and their hospitality.
I think this is where dislike of immigrants stems from as non English speakers would tend to stick together as they are in a group of people who have the same language and traditions etc and that creates the animosity.
If you throw yourself head on into the local community they will accept you - there is a fijian guy who runs a gas station here (Drum is quite insular in a Redneck way and people are not overly welcoming of "outsiders") however this guy is really great and just gets on with everyone.
When I said to a buddy - well how come you like "Bob" and not any of the other immigrants (theres quite a few Fillipino's) the answer is "well they all stick together and don't make the effort.
I think that sums it up - if we had a large Brit population here I would not make an effort to stay exclusively with "my own kind" meaning from my home country - as the locals would see it as two fingers up to them and their hospitality.
I think this is where dislike of immigrants stems from as non English speakers would tend to stick together as they are in a group of people who have the same language and traditions etc and that creates the animosity.
#15
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Beautiful BC
Posts: 1,106
Re: What do canadians really think about immigrants...
Hi all,
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren
pretty simple question really. Knowing that people in the UK are pretty split when it comes to their feelings about immigrants i wondered, what do the Canadians 'really' think about immigrants?
Are there as many ignorant people in Canda as there are here when it comes to immigration?
Or are they far more accepting?
Darren