Federal Election Emblazes Ethnic Vote

Written just before the 2011 Federal Elections, the article examines the role of visible minority groups in Canadian elections.

Text by: Phoebe Yu

Edited by: Samuel Ramos

Published: April 19, 2011, The Source

The Conservatives' "ethnic vote strategy" and the subsequent criticisms it received from the public and opposition parties alike calls into question the importance of the role different ethno-cultural groups play in elections.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has continually slammed the idea of the ethnic vote, saying "A Canadian is a Canadian."

Immigration has steadily risen, making it hard to ignore the role ethnic votes have on elections.  Metro Vancouver reports that the proportion of the immigrant population in Metro Vancouver has risen from 29% of the total population in 1986 to 40% in 2006.  And in the same report, 65% of total immigrants in Metro Vancouver are from Asia.

Despite having Asians account for the largest number of immigrants in recent years in the Greater Vancouver area, voter turnout is low among this particular group.

A 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey by Statistics Canada reports that immigrants born in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America have lower rates of voter turnout in federal elections.

On Rasons for Low Voter Turnout

Thomas Tam, Chief Executive Officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., suggests that the main reason for the low turnout among visible minority groups, specifically the Chinese population, are language and cultural barriers.

"For people to go to [the] polls is easy, but for them to join political parties and to engage in long-term political participation is difficult because parties have their own traditions and it's hard to break in," said Tam.

He also makes the case that it may have something to do with a sense of contentment.  A lot of immigrants who have better living conditions here than back home, may not have the motivation to vote and change the system.

Allan Craigie, Political Science Professor at the University of British Columbia, also suggests that the problem may lie in acclimatizing new Canadians into the electoral process.

"Canadians, regardless of ethnic background, who have been here for generations have a better understanding of how the system works," said Craigie.

Craigie also mentions that getting involved in politics requires time and resources, which immigrant communities may lack.  Between having to deal with financial resources, starting a new career or taking care of a family, elections and politics may not be on their list of priorities.

On the other hand, Leo Valdes, Executive Director of the Multicultural Helping House Society, said that the Filipino community generally has a high level of voter turnout.

"It's only been a few years since we've [heard] talk about the 'ethnic vote.'  We know there's an excitement to vote after they [the Filipinos] have gotten their citizenship."

On Visible Minority Candidates

"I think the effect is not as big as people think," Tam said.  "For example a Chinese-Canadian candidate might be able to communicate better with the Chinese voters, but should also be careful about being 'too Chinese' and alienate other voters."

For the Filipino community, Valdes maintains that Filipinos would be more concerned if the candidate can support their point of view, instead of just voting for someone of the same ethnicity.

On the other hand, Craigie suggests that having ethnic candidates in ethnic constituencies is replicating a problem within democracy.

"I think it's a [double] edged-sword," he said, "it's good in targeting new immigrants into society, but at the same time it addresses the problem on a superficial level."

On a Disengaged Electorate

"To learn the Canadian system, it all depends on the motivation," Tam said.  He asserts that new immigrants with a strong attachment to their own cultural group have a higher motivation to participate in the bigger community.

Despite the generally high voter turnout among the Filipino community, Valdes attributes the rates of lower voter participation among youth.

"Apathy of low voter turnout is usually from ages 19-30, probably because they think candidates don't represent them," said Valdes.

Craigie suggests that one thing the parties could start doing is to make a better effort of listening to Canadians.

"I think the first thing is recognizing that everybody has a voice," Craigie explained, "parties need to make a better effort across the spectrum of engaging Canadians and listening to their concerns, not just putting on a show."