This paper will analyze Debra Black’s article Canada’s Immigration System Lacks Heart, Critics Say in regards to the messages that popular media convey about the values and beliefs of Canadian national identity. National identity can be defined as a sense of belonging to a particular community where culture and values are shared between members (Murray: Formation of Nation-State, Nov 14). This paper will provide a brief summary of Debra Black’s article as well as interpret significant terms that convey Canadian identity, followed by the connection of anthropological concepts with the overall message of the article.
In her article, Debra Black discusses the changes that have transpired on Canada’s immigration system and the ways it has impacted …show more content…
The article implicitly contends that there are specific groups of individuals whom Canadian immigration policies discriminate upon in respect to class, ethnicity, and ideology. The article provides the example of Dmitri Smirnov whose permanent resident application was rejected because he did not meet language proficiency requirements (Black, 2013, par. 18). Through this example, it can be interpreted that Canada primarily seeks immigrants of higher classes who have a distinguished education (Antecol et al., 2003, 203) and who can then preserve Canada’s identity as a “developed” …show more content…
38). This example demonstrates that the ideologies of individuals from differing ethnicities are heavily scrutinized and it becomes evident that mainly obedient individuals that conform to Canada’s peaceful and inclusionary identity are preferred as immigrants. Finally, immigrant applicants may be excluded on the basis of age as in the case of Ratnam Appudurai, who is seventy-eight years old (Black, 2013, par. 34). Through this, it can be interpreted that immigration policies carefully examine the productivity of prospective immigrants in Canadian society (Antecol et al., 2003, 194). Therefore, while Canada’s identity is perceived as humanitarian and multicultural, its immigration policies ultimately restrict access and favours a specific class of individuals of appropriate age, who have a specific mindset and can contribute to the economic prosperity of the
In her article, Debra Black discusses the changes that have transpired on Canada’s immigration system and the ways it has impacted …show more content…
The article implicitly contends that there are specific groups of individuals whom Canadian immigration policies discriminate upon in respect to class, ethnicity, and ideology. The article provides the example of Dmitri Smirnov whose permanent resident application was rejected because he did not meet language proficiency requirements (Black, 2013, par. 18). Through this example, it can be interpreted that Canada primarily seeks immigrants of higher classes who have a distinguished education (Antecol et al., 2003, 203) and who can then preserve Canada’s identity as a “developed” …show more content…
38). This example demonstrates that the ideologies of individuals from differing ethnicities are heavily scrutinized and it becomes evident that mainly obedient individuals that conform to Canada’s peaceful and inclusionary identity are preferred as immigrants. Finally, immigrant applicants may be excluded on the basis of age as in the case of Ratnam Appudurai, who is seventy-eight years old (Black, 2013, par. 34). Through this, it can be interpreted that immigration policies carefully examine the productivity of prospective immigrants in Canadian society (Antecol et al., 2003, 194). Therefore, while Canada’s identity is perceived as humanitarian and multicultural, its immigration policies ultimately restrict access and favours a specific class of individuals of appropriate age, who have a specific mindset and can contribute to the economic prosperity of the