Challenges of Minority

Representation
The Perspectives of Immigrant
Communities
Karen Bird
McMaster University

Why look at representation from

the perspective of citizens?

Poverty of descriptive and substantive

representation by MPs

especially in Canadian parliamentary context

Symbolic representation must begin with

citizens
Representation as dynamic relationship of
claim-making (M. Saward 2010)
Focus on citizens offers richer view of the
complex nexus of representation

Method

9 Focus group interviews (July 2010-Sept

2012)

South Asian, Chinese, Black

all citizens in Greater Toronto Area
6-10 participants per group
1 group interview in Mandarin; others English
mix of participants within each ethnic group
300 pp transcribed text

Emergent Themes
Political/institutional context and the limits
of acting for representation in Canada
Acting for ethnic minorities?
Standing for descriptive representation
Symbolic representation

Institutional context and the limits

of acting for representation

Intuitive understanding of fundamentals of

political life in Westminster-style system
they

care about their partys high

commandthey dont care about the people
In US you have to face election to win your
seat; in Canada the party elects you
I want them to listen but, in the end, they
have to vote the party line; otherwise
parliament will not work

Institutional context and the limits

of acting for representation

MP focus on constituency service as

compensatory strategy for constrained
legislative/policy role (Docherty 1997)
Discussants

praised MPs for providing

assistance in obtaining visas for relatives, and
other immigration-related problems

Institutional context and the limits

of acting for representation

Weak expectation for mandate-style

representation reduces potential for
conflict between so-called minority and
mainstream interests

When it is fundamental to Canadas character, an

MP should vote their conscience, vote their opinion,
because that constitutes leadershipyou dont vote
for a polling machine, you vote for an individual with
vision.

Standing for descriptive

representation

Broad disagreement over need for sameethnicity MP

But information giving, talking and deliberating
elements (Pitkin 1967, 84) matter

Olivia Chow understands the experiences of

immigrants
an MP with Chinese background could serve as a
bridge to communicate differences
an MP from our community will bring nuance to it; it
will not be straight from the party line

Symbolic representation

Theoretically under-developed

Pitkin associated it with fascism, manipulation

Typically operationalized as increased trust if samegroup MP/mayor elected to office
Discussants showed greater disappointment if trust in
a same-ethnic MP is violated, e.g., by floor-crossing
Overall, what happened is all South Asians in the
political area are looked at as a bunch of
opportunists
Lurking suspicions: they take care of their own
relatives or are there for the SA community and not
for others

Symbolic representation
Think about how both descriptive and nondescriptive MPs might make symbolic
representations that engender
trust/distrust
Reflect on institutional conditions that
make for more/less credible
representations of minority political
inclusion

Symbolic representation

Rich discussion and critical awareness of

symbolic representation
song

and dance routine for Tamil community

he will say something in Chinese to really
show, hes not acting
there is a balance between how much you
play it up and how much you dont play it up
PMs Komogata Maru apology

Symbolic representation
Pitkin: acceptance of symbolic
representation created by leaders
personality (1967, 108)
Institutional context also determines what
makes a symbolic representation credible

Canadas

Obama moment? need to look

at a different, wider range of actors and
events
MPs symbolic representation on Bill C-50

Conclusions

How minority representation in Canada works in

practice
Citizens responses to claims of representation
Rather than descriptive vs. substantive, think
about how elements work together in complex
and often compensatory fashion
Institutional context matters
Insights into factors that facilitate political
integration of newcomers and minorities within
Canada