Alexander Gunn
POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
Department of Political Science
Winter Session 2015-2016, Second Term (January-April)
POLI 369 (Section A02)
Issues in Canadian Politics: The Politics of Immigration and Integration
(CRN 20496)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:30 am – 11:20 am
Classroom: Cornett B143
Instructor: Alexander Gunn
Office: David Turpin Building (DTB) A334
Office Hours: Wednesdays 9:00 am – 10:30 am & Fridays 11:30 am – 1:00 pm (or by
appointment)
Email: [email protected]
Course Description and Learning Objectives
In this course, we will explore the complex politics surrounding the immigration,
settlement and integration of newcomers within Canada. Through an analysis of Canada’s
history as a major immigrant-receiving country, students will learn about the relationship
between immigration and the evolution of Canadian society, as well as the role of immigration in
shaping national identity, political culture, federalism, electoral politics, and public policy in
Canada. The course will also examine the impact of immigration and integration issues on
present-day Canadian politics, as well as the role of immigration in addressing Canada’s
demographic challenges.
The course will begin with a comprehensive overview of the Canadian immigration
policy framework, as well as discussion of historical and contemporary immigration patterns to
Canada. We will then explore the relationship between immigration and Canadian federalism
exploring the role of the federal government, the provinces/territories and cities in the Canadian
immigration process. In February, we will analyze the impact of immigration and increased
social diversity on Canadian demographics, national identity and political culture. We will also
study the diverse methods employed for integrating newcomers into Canadian society and the
role of federal multiculturalism policy as a means of managing the growing diversity within
Canadian society. We will also explore Quebec’s distinct role in the Canadian settlement and
integration policy fields, including the province’s “interculturalism” integration framework, as
well as the complex relationship between immigrant integration, Québécois nationalism and the
ongoing Canada-Quebec constitutional impasse.
The classes in March will focus on major political debates within Canada in recent years
surrounding specific immigration and integration issues. Topics of discussion include: 1) the
reasonable accommodation debate in Quebec and the attempt by the PQ government of Pauline
Marois to resolve it through the “Charter of Quebec Values”; 2) the complex relationship
between minority immigrant communities and Canadian electoral politics, and the politicization
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
of the Canadian citizenship process through the “niqab debate” in the 2015 federal election; 3)
the promotion of the Temporary Foreign Worker stream in the Canadian immigration process,
and the public concerns and political backlash that the TFW stream has generated; and lastly, 4)
the evolution of Canadian refugee policy in recent years, including the policy changes introduced
by the Harper Conservatives and the response to the Syrian refugee crisis under the Trudeau
Liberals. The course will conclude with a discussion of future immigration challenges facing
Canada, particularly relating to climate change induced migration. Ultimately, this course will
provide you with an understanding of Canada’s immigration/integration framework, the
historical and contemporary debates surrounding immigration and integration in Canadian
politics, and the role of immigration in shaping present-day Canadian society.
Note: I reserve the right to correct, change or modify the syllabus as the course progresses.
Readings
There is not an assigned textbook for POLI 369 (Section A02). Instead, course readings consist
of academic journal articles and book chapters as well as government policy statements and
research institute reports that will be available through the POLI 369 CourseSpaces page. Please
refer to the “Course Schedule and Readings” section below for a complete list of the weekly
readings for the course and refer to the POLI 369 CourseSpaces page for access to the weekly
readings.
CourseSpaces
CourseSpaces is a web-based resource provided by the University of Victoria whose primary
purpose is to enhance learning experiences for students. The POLI 369 (Section A02)
CourseSpaces page provides important course material such as the syllabus, weekly readings and
information on the various course assignments. Any additional material or PowerPoint slides
relating to course will also be posted on the POLI 369 CourseSpaces page. Students must also
submit their essay proposal and research essay electronically through the POLI 369
CourseSpaces page.
Evaluation Criteria
This course emphasizes critical analysis and open discussion of the weekly readings, as well as
the development of your research and writing skills. Final grades are broken down accordingly:
Essay Proposal
Midterm Exam
Essay
Final Exam
Participation
Due February 2nd
February 19th
Due March 18th
Date to be determined by University
Throughout
10 %
20 %
35 %
30 %
5%
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Alexander Gunn
POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Essay Proposal: For your essay proposal, you must provide a brief overview of your planned
paper, in which you will identify your essay’s title and main research question, as well as provide
an annotated bibliography of five academic sources that you plan to draw on in your research.
This assignment will allow you to plan your essay and do some preliminary research, as well as
give me the opportunity to provide you with some constructive feedback on your proposed
research topic. Your essay proposal should be 2-3 page(s) in length and must follow proper
academic style, formatting and referencing guidelines. I will provide further information on this
assignment in mid-January. Please submit your essay proposal via the POLI 369
CourseSpaces page before the deadline of 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 2nd. I will grant
deadline extensions only in the event of an illness, an emergency, or on compassionate grounds
(with documentation provided in each scenario). Late proposals will be penalized 3% a day
(including weekends), and proposals submitted after February 9th will not be marked (unless I
have granted an extension).
Midterm Exam: The midterm exam will take place during class on Friday, February 19th. It is
a written exam and will last for 50 minutes. The midterm will cover both reading and lecture
material from the preceding weeks, and will consist of short essay questions in which you will
write about key concepts regarding immigration and integration in the Canadian context.
Essay: The research essay will allow you to engage critically with some of the policies, historical
debates, and contemporary issues surrounding immigration and integration in Canada that we
have explored in the course readings and lectures. Essays must be ten to twelve pages in length
(not including the title page and bibliography) and must follow proper academic style, formatting
and referencing guidelines. I will provide further information on this assignment in terms of
expectations and grading criteria in mid-January.
Please submit your essay via the POLI 369 CourseSpaces page before the deadline of 4:00
PM on Friday, March 18th. I will grant deadline extensions only in the event of an illness, an
emergency, or on compassionate grounds (with documentation provided in each scenario). Late
papers will be penalized 3% a day (including weekends), and papers handed in after March 25th
will not be marked (unless I have granted an extension).
Final Exam: The final exam will take place during the Second Term examination period, April
7th to April 25th (the exact date of the exam to be determined by the University of Victoria). It is
a written exam and will last for three hours. The exam will consist of essay questions in which
you will write about key concepts relating to immigration and integration in Canada, important
policies in the immigration/integration field, and contemporary political debates. The final exam
will be cumulative and will cover both readings and lecture material from the entire course.
Class Participation: Active attendance and participation in broader class discussion are
important aspects of this course. I strongly encourage you to come to class prepared to discuss
the readings as well as with questions and/or observations regarding the course material and the
issues that we are examining. I will occasionally devote classes on Fridays to broader class
discussion surrounding the course readings for that week or in relation to a relevant news story
pertaining to the topic we are exploring in class.
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
University of Victoria Undergraduate Grading System
As per University of Victoria policy, you must complete all assignments. Failure to do so will
result in a grade of ‘N’ (incomplete) for the course.
Classroom Etiquette and Collegiality
I expect appropriate and respectful behaviour from everyone in the course. You are in this class
to learn and that requires your full and undivided attention. Accordingly, please arrive to class
on time. Laptops are only permitted in class for taking notes. Further, texting is not permitted
and cell phones must be turned off during class time. Students must also be respectful to each
other and to each other’s contributions to class discussion.
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Accessibility
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you
have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to
approach me and/or the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability (RCSD) as soon as
possible. The RCSD staff are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide
referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations http://rcsd.uvic.ca/. The sooner you let them
know your needs the quicker they can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
(Adapted from Learning and Teaching Centre material)
Academic integrity is intellectual honesty and responsibility for academic work that you submit
individually or as a member of a group. It involves commitment to the values of honesty, trust
and responsibility. It is expected that students will respect these ethical values in all activities
related to learning, teaching, research and service. Therefore, plagiarism and other acts against
academic integrity are serious academic offences.
The responsibility of the institution - Instructors and academic units have the responsibility to
ensure that standards of academic honesty are met. By doing so, the institution recognizes
students for their hard work and assures them that other students do not have an unfair advantage
through cheating on essays, exams, and projects.
The responsibility of the student - Plagiarism sometimes occurs due to a misunderstanding
regarding the rules of academic integrity, but it is the responsibility of the student to know them.
If you are unsure about the standards for citations or for referencing your sources, ask your
instructor. Depending on the severity of the case, penalties include a warning, a failing grade, a
record on the student’s transcript, or a suspension. It is your responsibility to understand the
University’s policy on academic integrity, which can be found on pages 32-34 of the
undergraduate calendar.
UVic Undergraduate calendar can be accessed here: http://web.uvic.ca/calendar2015-05/uvicCalUndergraduate-2015-05.pdf
Useful information from UVic Libraries on plagiarism and tips on how to avoid it:
http://www.uvic.ca/library/research/citation/plagiarism/index.php
Course Experience Survey (CES)
I value your feedback on this course. Towards the end of term, as in all other courses at UVic,
you will have the opportunity to complete an anonymous survey regarding your learning
experience (CES). The survey is vital to providing feedback to me regarding the course and my
teaching, as well as to help the department improve the overall program for students in the
future. The survey is accessed via MyPage and can be done on your laptop, tablet, or mobile
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Alexander Gunn
POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
device. I will remind you and provide you with more detailed information nearer the time but
please be thinking about this important activity during the course.
Course Schedule and Readings
Please consult the POLI 369 CourseSpaces page in order to access PDF copies or links to the
weekly readings.
Week 1: January 5th, 6th and 8th



Introduction, discussion of syllabus, course requirements and expectations
Canada’s immigration framework
Immigration patterns to Canada
Required readings
Becklumb, P. (2008). Canada’s Immigration Program (Background Paper – BP-190E) (pp. 122). Ottawa, ON: Parliament of Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2012). Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities
of Citizenship (pp. 1-13 & pp. 52-53). Ottawa, ON: Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
I also encourage you to visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website to explore the
information available to newcomers in terms of the Canadian immigration process
(http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp), the different immigration streams offered by
the federal and provincial governments (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp),
and the process for acquiring Canadian citizenship
(http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/index.asp).
Week 2: January 12th, 13th and 15th


Evolution of modern Canadian immigration policy and the Canadian citizenship regime
Different immigrant “streams” (family, economic, refugee)
Required readings
Bradford, N. and Andrew, C. (2011). The Harper Immigration Agenda: Policy and Politics in
Historical Context. In B. Doern & C. Stoney (Eds.), How Ottawa Spends: Trimming Fat
or Slicing Pork? 2011-2012 (pp. 262-280). Montreal, QC & Kingston, ON: McGillQueen’s University Press.
Winter, E. (2014). Becoming Canadian: Making Sense of Recent Changes to Citizenship Rules
(IRPP Study, No. 44). Montreal, QC: Institute for Research on Public Policy.
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Week 3: January 19th, 20th and 22nd


Immigration and Canadian federalism/intergovernmental relations
Role of the provinces
Required readings
Banting, K. (2012). Canada. In C. Joppke and F.L. Seidle (Eds.), Immigrant integration in
federal countries (pp. 79-111). Montreal, QC & Kingston, ON: McGill-Queen’s
University Press.
Vineberg, R. (2011). History of Federal-Provincial Relations in Canadian Immigration and
Integration. In J. Biles, M. Burstein, J. Frideres, E. Tolley, & R. Vineberg (Eds.),
Integration and Inclusion of Newcomers and Minorities across Canada (pp. 17-43).
Montreal, QC & Kingston, ON: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Week 4: January 26th, 27th and 29th

Immigration and Canadian cities
Required readings
Good, K. (2005). Patterns of Politics in Canada’s Immigrant-Receiving Cities and Suburbs.
Policy Studies 26(3&4), 261-289.
Poirier, C. (2006). Ethnocultural Diversity, Democracy, and Intergovernmental Relations in
Canadian Cities. In R. Young & C. Leuprecht (Eds.), Canada: The State of the
Federation 2004: Municipal-Federal-Provincial Relations in Canada (pp. 201-220).
Montreal, QC & Kingston, ON: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Week 5: February 2nd, 3rd and 5th



Canada’s history as a diverse, immigrant-receiving society
Immigration’s impact on Canadian citizenship, political culture and identity
ESSAY PROPOSAL DUE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd
Required readings
Kymlicka, W. (2014). Citizenship, Communities and Identity in Canada. In J. Bickerton & A.G.
Gagnon (Eds.), Canadian Politics, 6th Edition (pp. 21-44). Toronto, ON: University of
Toronto Press.
Wiseman, N. (2007). In Search of Canadian Culture (pp. 13-34). Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.
Week 6: February 9th, 10th and 12th

READING BREAK – NO CLASSES ON FEBRUARY 9th, 10th & 12th
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Week 7: February 16th, 17th and 19th



Integration and diversity management
Multiculturalism policy
MID-TERM EXAM: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th
Required readings
Houle, F. (2004). Canadian Citizenship and Multiculturalism. In P. Boyer, L. Cardinal, & D.
Headon (Eds.), From Subjects to Citizens: A Hundred Years of Citizenship in Australia
and Canada (pp. 217-228). Ottawa, ON: University of Ottawa Press.
Jenson, J., & Papillon, M. (2001). The “Canadian Diversity Model”: A Repertoire in Search of a
Framework (CPRN Discussion Paper No. F-19). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Policy Research
Networks.
Week 8: February 23rd, 24th and 26th



Quebec’s asymmetrical status in the Canadian immigration framework
Interculturalism and Québécois nationalism
Nationalism and competing citizenship projects within Canada
Required readings
Barker, F. (2010). Learning to be a Majority: Negotiating Immigration, Integration and National
Membership in Quebec. Political Science 62(1), 11-36.
Blad, C., & Couton, P. (2009). The Rise of an Intercultural Nation: Immigration, Diversity and
Nationhood in Quebec. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 35(4), 645-667.
Week 9: March 1st, 2nd and 4th



Reasonable accommodation debate in Quebec
Bouchard Taylor Report
Charter of Quebec Values
Required readings
Bouchard, G., & Taylor, C. (2008). Building the Future: A Time for Reconciliation (pp. 15-22).
Quebec City, QC: Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to
Cultural Differences.
Iacovino, R. (2015). Contextualizing the Quebec Charter of Values: Belonging Without
Citizenship in Quebec. Canadian Ethnic Studies 47(1), 41-60.
Laxer, E., Carson, R.D., & Korteweg, A.C. (2014). Articulating Minority Nationhood: Cultural
and Political Dimensions in Québec’s Reasonable Accommodation Debate. Nations and
Nationalism 20(1), 133-153.
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Week 10: March 8th, 9th and 11th


Immigration and party/electoral politics in Canada
The 2015 federal election, the “niqab debate”, and the politicization of citizenship
Required readings
Marwah, I., Triadafilopoulos, T., & White, S. (2013). Immigration, Citizenship, and Canada’s
New Conservative Party. In D.M. Rayside & J.H. Farney (Eds.), Conservatism in Canada
(pp. 95-119). Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Stasiulis, D. & Abu-Laban, Y. (2008). Unequal Relations and the Struggle for Equality: Race
and Ethnicity in Canadian Politics. In M. Whittington & G. Williams (Eds.), Canadian
Politics in the 21st Century, 7th Edition (pp. 284-311). Toronto, ON: Thomson Nelson.
Week 11: March 15th, 16th and 18th


Temporary Foreign Worker program and related political controversy
ESSAY DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 18th
Required readings
Worswick, C. (2013, October). Economic Implications of Recent Changes to the Temporary
Foreign Worker Program (IRPP Insight, No. 4). Montreal, QC: Institute for Research on
Public Policy.
Week 12: March 22nd, 23rd and 25th


The evolution of Canadian refugee policy and the Syrian refugee crisis
CLASS CANCELLED FOR GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 25th
Required readings
Dhamoon, R., & Abu-Laban, Y. (2009). Dangerous (Internal) Foreigners and Nation-Building:
The Case of Canada. International Political Science Review 30(2), 163-183.
Elgersma, S. (2015, April). Resettling Refugees: Canada’s Humanitarian Commitments.
Parliamentary Information and Research Service (Publication No. 2015-11-E). Ottawa,
ON: Parliament of Canada.
Week 13: March 29th, 30th and April 1st




The future of Canadian immigration/integration policy and politics
Future immigration challenges and opportunities
Concluding observations and Course Evaluation Surveys
Review for Final Exam
Required readings
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POLI 369 (January-April 2016)
Adamo, S.B., & de Sherbinin, A.M. (2014). Migration and Environmental Change in North
America (USA and Canada). In E. Piguet & F. Laczko (Eds.), People on the Move in a
Changing Climate. Global Migration Issues 2 (pp. 135-153). Dordrecht, Germany & New
York, NY: Springer.
Becklumb, P. (2013). Climate Change and Forced Migration: Canada’s Role (Background
Paper – BP-2010-04-E). Ottawa, ON: Parliament of Canada.
FINAL EXAM:
Date of the final exam to be determined by the University of Victoria; final exam will take
place during the Second Term examination period (Thursday, April 7, 2016 to Monday,
April 25, 2016)
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