Midterm Activities Report -- Metropolis Project CERIS Toronto Back to Table of Midterm Activities Report Contents D) 1999 RFP Funded Research Projects 1. An Analysis of Socioeconomic Situation by Ethnocultural Groups, Periods of Immigration and Gender for Canada and Toronto CMA: 1986, 1991 and 1996 Compared 2. Cultural Resources, Ethnic Strategies and Immigrant Entrepreneurship: A Comparative Study of Six Ethnic Groups in the Toronto CMA 3. "Thanks for Asking Us": A Public Legal Education Project for Immigrant Women in Domestic Violence Situations 4. Civic Participation and Homeland Ties: A Comparative Study of Croatians & Sri Lankan Tamils in the Greater Toronto Area 5. Pathways to Housing: The Experiences of Refugees in Accessing Permanent Housing in Toronto Economic Domain 1. An Analysis of Socioeconomic Situation by Ethnocultural Groups, Periods of Immigration and Gender for Canada and Toronto CMA: 1986, 1991 and 1996 Compared Research team (lead researcher, partners): Edward B. Harvey, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto COSTI Start date: May 1999 Projected date of completion: September 2000 Amount awarded from CERIS: $12,988 Abstract: Using 1986, 1991, and 1996 Census data, supplemented by focus group information, this project analyzes patterns of socioeconomic disadvantages across 58 ethnocultural groups at the Canada and Toronto CMA levels of geography. Differences will be examined by gender, immigrants/ non-immigrants and, for immigrants, by period of immigration. Particular attention will be given to situations of double or multiple disadvantages. The policy and program delivery implications of the results will be developed in consultation with our community partner, COSTI. Contribution to training and/or professional development: One graduate student will receive training in two areas that will be of direct assistance to her in her doctoral dissertation research and development as a sociologist: Training in working with public data sets and liaising with public data providers; and training in qualitative and quantitative forms of analysis and linking results to policy and program analysis. Policy implications of work: In accordance with the changing labour market and skills requirements, this study will assist policy makers to design new policies and target immigrant service programs to specific ethnocultural groups and/or specific geographic areas. The study will place the Toronto experience in the wider context of the national situation and encourage municipal-provincial-federal partnerships in the development of coordinated policies for housing, health care, job training and child care. Economic Domain 2. Cultural Resources, Ethnic Strategies and Immigrant Entrepreneurship: A Comparative Study of Six Ethnic Groups in the Toronto CMA Research team (lead researcher, partners): Lucia Lo, Department of Geography, York University Marie Truelove, School of Applied Geography, Ryerson Polytechnic University Carlos Teixeira, Department of Geography, University of Toronto Association of Somali Service Agencies Black Pages Canada Inc. Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals Korean Canadian Women's Association Polish Immigrant and Community Services The Bank of East Asia Canada Start date: May 1999 Projected date of completion: September 2001 Amount awarded from CERIS: $27,561 Abstract: There are considerable variations in the level and nature of immigrant entrepreneurship among ethnocultural groups. The literature focuses explanation largely on group characteristics and opportunity structure to the exclusion of race, class and gender considerations. It also lacks comparative studies especially in the Canadian context. This study aims to examine how class, culture, ethnicity/ race, and gender interplay to affect entrepreneurial participation by exploring the business development patterns and enterprising behaviours of the Caribbean, Chinese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese and Somali immigrants to Toronto. Immigrant entrepreneurship, contributing to economic and community development, has potent influence upon social cohesion and economic integration. Understanding its process and pattern has implications on the design of public policies. Contribution to training and/or professional development: Two graduate students and three undergraduate students will be hired for training in literature search, pilot testing, execution of survey, data coding and data analysis. One or more community-based researchers will be hired to target the groups not easily accessible through normal channels. Policy implications of work: In the face of international competition for "contributory immigrants", it is crucial that public policy makers design and maintain well-rounded, positive policies that foster the economic contribution of experiences of immigrants, especially women and family members in the area of small businesses. A comparison of groups can suggest programs to lower barriers and enhance employment/ entrepreneurial opportunities. Education Domain 3. "Thanks for Asking Us": A Public Legal Education Project for Immigrant Women in Domestic Violence Situations Research team (lead researcher, partners): Shahrzad Mojab, Adult Education, Community Development & Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto Maria Rosa Maggi, Ruth Lara, & Viviana Flemming, Women's Program, Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples Start date: May 1999 Projected date of completion: September 2000 Amount awarded from CERIS: $17,705.50 Abstract: It has long been recognized that traditional legal services do not adequately address the legal needs of disadvantaged individuals and groups. The recent inquiry into legal aid in Ontario, the McCamus Report, acknowledged that "...the demand for legal information is profound," (1997: 55) and yet there has been little research in Ontario on public legal education needs for immigrant women in domestic violence situations. The objective of this research project is to establish a public legal education program for the clients of the Women's Program at the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples, which provides counselling and support to women in domestic violence situations. Feminist participatory research methods will be used to achieve two goals. The first goal is to determine the women's legal education needs. The second goal is to determine how best to address these needs being sensitive to the impact of trauma on learning. The research partners, OISE/UT and the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples, will use the result to implement a public legal education program at the Centre. A model will be developed for use by other organizations working with immigrant women in domestic violence situations. Given the impending legal aid reform in Ontario (McCamus Report, 1997), the research is important and can help to establish the importance of public legal education for marginalized groups. Contribution to training and/or professional development: One graduate student will be hired to coordinate the project and to work as research assistant. This student will have the opportunity to participate in and conduct focus groups, code and analyze data, and to develop curriculum for training sessions for the participants in the study. Policy implications of work: The legal aid system in Ontario is currently undergoing reform. This research will highlight the legal education needs of immigrant women and the importance of public legal education in the delivery of legal services to immigrant women. The project aims to develop a model for assessing and delivering public legal education for immigrant women in domestic violence situations which could be used in other communities. Community Domain 4. Civic Participation and Homeland Ties: A Comparative Study of Croatians & Sri Lankan Tamils in the Greater Toronto Area Research team (lead researcher, partners): Daphne Winland, Department of Anthropology, York University Sarah Wayland, Department of Politics, Brock University Tamil Eelam Society of Canada Start date: May 1999 Projected date of completion: September 2000 Amount awarded from CERIS: $16,944 Abstract: The goal of this collaborative research project is to examine the influence of transnationalism on the civic participation of newcomers to Canada. We argue that only through a comprehensive understanding of the complex role of homeland affiliation can we develop policy directives that more effectively address the realities of immigrant group experiences, thereby cultivating a sense of political efficacy and ultimately greater levels of civic engagement. Through a comparative analysis of the Croatian and Sri Lankan Tamil communities in the GTA we will investigate the assumption that immigrant involvement in homeland affairs adversely affects their inclusion in the Canadian social fabric as well as contributing to a breakdown in social cohesion. Contribution to training and/or professional development: Three graduate students will be hired from the Department of Anthropology at York and from the Department of Politics at Brock for a research period spanning 40 weeks. This project will afford students and community researchers (who might also be students) a variety of research and training opportunities. The students will carry out the data gathering and processing aspect of this work in consultation with the lead researchers. The breadth of methodological training in quantitative and qualitative techniques that will be afforded to graduate students through working on this project will enhance the skill-set they will need in their own research endeavours. Policy implications of work: This research proposal will provide an understanding of how newomers with strong homeland orientations incorporate into Canadian society. The outcomes of this research will inform Canadian institutions and policymakers about the role of transnationalism in shaping the identity of new immigrant communities, and the degree to which it influences their level of civic involvement at the municipal level. Housing & Neighbourhoods Domain 5. Pathways to Housing: The Experiences of Refugees in Accessing Permanent Housing in Toronto Research team (lead researcher, partners): Robert A. Murdie, Department of Geography, York University Simon Liston, Shelter Housing, and Support Division, Community and Neighbourhood Services, City of Toronto Refugee Housing Task Group, City of Toronto Start date: May 1999 Projected date of completion: September 2000 Amount awarded from CERIS: $14,960 Abstract: This research will investigate the housing pathways of a sample of refugees in Toronto who began their housing career in a shelter or some other form of transitional accommodation but are now beyond the initial stage of settlement. In particular, it will examine the housing search process, the barriers encountered, the strategies used to overcome the barriers and the outcome of each search. From a policy perspective, access to good quality, sate, and affordable accommodation is essential to the integration process and therefore it is important to determine whether the housing situation of refugees has improved and how quickly this improvement has taken place. Contribution to training and/or professional development: Two graduate students will be involved in all aspects of the research. They will obtain skills in collaborative research, questionnaire design, interviewing, and data analysis. The students will be trained and supervised by the lead researcher. Policy implications of work: A recent report of the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force noted that "Refugees are particularly vulnerable to homelessness." This study will inform the City of Toronto's action plans to combat homelessness among refugees by evaluating the effectiveness of various service providers and the importance of social ties in facilitating the search for appropriate housing. This study is closely linked to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's policy research priorities for Metropolis: Residential Mobility of Immigrants and Access to Housing and Housing-Related Discrimination.

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