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Completing the Mirror: Indo-Canadian Representation in Municipal Vancouver Politics

Completing the Mirror: Indo-Canadian Representation in Municipal Vancouver Politics. Kyle Warwick Political Science 492 October 6, 2010. Outline. 1. Background 2. Why this topic? 3. Questions 4. Possible Answers 5. Methods 6. Key Literature 7. Obstacles 8. Questions and Suggestions.

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Completing the Mirror: Indo-Canadian Representation in Municipal Vancouver Politics

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  1. Completing the Mirror:Indo-Canadian Representation in Municipal Vancouver Politics Kyle Warwick Political Science 492 October 6, 2010

  2. Outline 1. Background 2. Why this topic? 3. Questions 4. Possible Answers 5. Methods 6. Key Literature 7. Obstacles 8. Questions and Suggestions

  3. Background 20% of all Indo-Canadians live in Vancouver Indo-Canadians are second largest visible minority in Vancouver Very heterogeneous group; this categorization contains many sub-groups, Sikhs from Punjab being the largest Somewhat geographically clustered Indo-Canadians have faced history of under representation, overtly racist policies

  4. Background In recent years, increasing number of Indo-Canadians have achieved high profile roles federally and provincially Examples from City of Vancouver alone- UjjalDosanjh, Herb Dhaliwal, Kash Heed, Wally Oppal, Rob Nijjar, MobinaJaffer Unlike Chinese community, this increase in federal and provincial representation has not been repeated at municipal level

  5. Why This Topic- Personal I live in Vancouver (South) Have been represented by an Indo-Canadian Member of Parliament for majority of my life First hand involvement in my riding since 2004 Later became involved in civic politics – absence of Indo-Canadian politicians seemed glaring

  6. Why This Topic- Scholarly Significance Canada has wealth of literature on multiculturalism, minority representation Municipal level seems under studied, both on ethnic representation and in general Possible discrimination inherent in at-large voting system a running concern in Vancouver politics Case study work exists in some suburbs – contribution towards picture of GVRD as a whole Ongoing and unresolved debate about importance of representatives mirroring constituents

  7. Tentative Primary Research Question What is/are the cause/causes of Indo-Canadian underrepresentation in the governance of the City of Vancouver? This is a complex puzzle – this one question triggers many more...

  8. Additional Questions Is under representation equally prevalent at non-elected levels, as at elected levels? (advisory groups/managers vs Boards/Council) Does a legislature need to mirror a population in order to legislate fairly towards it? If composition of legislature is important- how to make it more representative? Are areas/islands of representation clustered in any significant way?

  9. Possible Answers Electoral system a likely factor –geographic clustering Civic issues less salient for Indo-Canadians? Delta case study suggests civic committee membership is predictor of electoral success Possible unconscious racism of electorate? Current elites biased towards members of own socio-cultural groups?

  10. Methods: Very Likely Continue broad sweep of literature for background (more on upcoming slide) Contact City of Vancouver for primary sources (composition of senior staff, committees, archives) First hand interviews- want to get broad cross section of real people Community feedback- do not want to misrepresent/misappropriate voices

  11. Methods: Possible Comparative approach Considering Surrey and Los Angeles as possible subjects of comparison Los Angeles has wards – useful in examining electoral system Surrey shares at large voting and weak party system with Vancouver – achieved critical mass of population

  12. Key Literature Sharon Anne Petersen – MA Thesis provided idea for topic Multiculturalism- Kymlicka, Taylor, other 390 favourites Indo-Canadian first hand accounts UBC connections- Ken Carty, Frederick Cutler, Juanita Sundberg Kennedy Stewart- Vancouver electoral reform Barman, Smith- Vancouver political history Lightbody, Nylen, Davidson, if comparative view

  13. Obstacles Lack of deep contacts in Indo-Canadian community Challenge of accurately representing views of very heterogeneous community Space limits- topic leads neatly into other minority groups, and other levels of government Controls for confounding variables- particularly if employing comparative perspective

  14. Questions, Comments, Suggestions All of the above are extremely welcome In particular, is comparative approach worthwhile, or too ambitious?

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