Project Fair Overview

As a group, we chose to investigate the various discriminatory practices and biases embedded within Canada’s current immigration policies and guidelines. Issues of immigration relate to the ‘real world’ as they affect the structure of Canadian society as a diverse nation composed of a spectrum of immigrants and settlers from a multitude of different countries. We investigated the idea of Canada as a society divided by the idea of the immigrant other, with a focus on discrepancies between those who portray characteristics of ‘whiteness’ and other races. We also explored the false idea of multiculturalism and its effects on immigration policies and practices, the wrongs in the Canadian immigration system and gendered immigration practices. The immigration policies existing in Canada are relevant not just to those who wish to immigrate into the country, but also to those who are already settled, as they ultimately establish the future of the country by determining who will and will not be allowed entry. Our consensus is that many Canadian citizens, and most notably, the Canadian federal government, have prejudices and biases against potential immigrants and refugees seeking citizenship in Canada. In response to this, we created a blog where we shared our opinions and perspectives about the wrongs we see in Canada’s immigration policies. By looking at newspaper and journal articles as well as videos, we took in the perspectives of others and used these to take our own critical stance. Collectively, we have come to the consensus that the discriminatory attitudes entrenched in Canadian legislation and in the minds of Canadian citizens need to be altered. If we are truly to call ourselves a multicultural and diverse society, then these ideals must be reflected in our mindsets and our practices. If they are not, then we as Canadians risk being labeled hypocritical.