L’enquête sur la diversité ethnique : l’autodéfinition ethnique et la comparaison intergénérationnelle, vers une meilleure compréhension de la diversité ?

What is it about?

The Ethnic Diversity Survey (2002), carried out by Statistics Canada at the request of Canadian Heritage, uses a new way of depicting ethnic diversity in Canada. By introducing the criterion of ethnic self-definition, the survey makes it possible to assess more accurately the ethnic origin of respondents and their attachment to Canadian society. The use of this criterion also enables researchers to examine individuals’ feelings of belonging to multiple groups. Finally, the survey provides data on participation and discrimination of groups of various origins. However, though this new statistical approach may in some ways better reflect the new diverse Canadian reality, the inter-generational approach used elicits further questions on the homogenizing and falsely linear construction of immigrant generations. The remarks on the statistical representation of ethnicity and belonging presented in this article provide insight regarding certain issues underlying multicultural policy and Canadian identity.

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