Residential segregation and socio-economic integration of visible minorities in Canada

Tattamangalam Balakrishnan, University of Western Ontario
Paul Maxim, University of Western Ontario

Using Canadian census data for the years 1991-2001 , this paper tests the validity of the spatial assimilation model for the visible minority groups. It shows that while residential segregation levels for these groups remain moderately high and do not show significant declines, their socio-economic integration in the Canadian society has been progressing well. There is a convergence in various indicators such as income, education, occupation, home ownership etc between them and the white European groups. Though the trend is more or less same for all the visible minority groups, substantial differences exist among them. Many visible minority enclaves in Canada do not show the urban blight often associated with Black neighbourhoods in the United States, and raises the question that some amount of spatial concentration and social integration can go together. Some credit for this may be attributable to the Multiculturalism policy of the Canadian government.