DO POLICIES OF THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR BRING ABOUT SYSTEM-LEVEL SOCIAL CHANGE? EXAMINING THE SUCCESS FACTORS OF THE TORONTO REGION IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL by OLGA SHCHERBYNA B.Sc., The Odessa State Economic University (1998) A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (PLANNING) in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) September 2012 © Olga Shcherbyna, 2012 Abstract The employment outcomes of Canadian immigrants have been deteriorating over the last two decades. Given the scope of the problem, a more systemic-based problem solving approach that involves multiple stakeholders is required to address immigrant labor market misfortunes in Canada. The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) has been recognized as a promising multi- stakeholder collaboration model in the area of immigrant economic integration. This study attempts to examine the conditions that contributed to the perceived success of TRIEC, with the goals being to discover critical success factors that made TRIEC a ‘success story’, and to identify lessons that could be learned by other Immigrant Employment Councils (IECs) in Canada. The study finds six success factor groups that were associated with TRIEC’s accomplishments. These include TRIEC’s highly professional operational practices, its action-oriented approach, its strong leadership model (which included business, community and municipal leaders), its focus on employers, its unique contextual environment, and its professional and highly effective communication and public relations strategies. It is argued that the last factor contributed to the formation of TRIEC’s ‘successful multi-stakeholder model’ branding in Canada and overseas. When the strategies and activities of TRIEC were compared to those of seven other IECs in Canada, it was revealed that TRIEC was the only IEC whose leaders either were or became truly vocal on the topic of immigrant integration. It was also discovered that TRIEC was the only IEC to openly and consistently share its results, activities and finances with the general public. Finally, TRIEC was the first group in Canada and only one of IECs that managed to bring three levels of government together to discuss immigration issues. Shedding light on the role of municipalities in relation to immigrant economic integration issues, this research has shown that all the Canadian municipalities of reviewed communities were recognized by IECs for their capacity to initiate and support collaborative community efforts. The final discussion focuses on the implications of solely adopting an economic perspective in promoting the benefits of hiring immigrants to Canadian society. The study concludes that more research should be conducted to define the success of multi-stakeholder collaborations such as TRIEC, to develop appropriate frameworks to measure their effectiveness and to evaluate to what degree their interventions contributed to societal change(s). ii Preface This study involved human subjects. Thus, ethics approval was required by UBC Behavioural Research Ethics Board. The application was approved on June 28 2010. UBC BREB number is H10-01561. iii Table of Contents Abstract.............................................................................................................................. ii Preface .............................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. iv List of Tables .................................................................................................................. viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... x List of Equations............................................................................................................... xi Glossary ........................................................................................................................... xii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... xiii Dedication .......................................................................................................................xiv Foreword ..........................................................................................................................xv Chapter 1: Introduction................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Research Background.................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Significance of the Study in the Planning Context ........................................................ 3 1.1.3 Research Objectives and Primary and Supplement Questions ....................................... 4 1.2 Theoretical Foundation and Conceptual Framework of the Study ......................... 5 1.2.1 Defining Collaborations................................................................................................ 6 1.2.2 Systems Change and Outcomes of Collaborations......................................................... 7 1.2.3 Systems Change Success Factors.................................................................................... 9 1.2.4 Current Trends in Canadian MSCs Regarding Immigrant Economic Integration.......10 1.3 Study Methodology ............................................................................................. 12 1.3.1 Overview of Study Design and Methods .....................................................................13 1.3.2 Participant Observation and Role of the Researcher ....................................................15 1.3.3 Extreme Case Study Approach ....................................................................................17 1.3.4 Literature Review ........................................................................................................19 1.3.5 Two-phased Research: Interviews with Various Stakeholders ......................................21 1.3.5.1 Semi-structured Interviews with TRIEC Key Stakeholders.................................22 1.3.5.2 Structured Interviews with IECs Across Canada.................................................23 1.3.6 Quantitative Comparative Analysis of Factors, Sub-factors and Indicators ..................24 1.3.7 Research Protocols and Procedures..............................................................................25 1.3.8 Sampling and Limitations of the Study ....................................................................... 26 1.4 Outline of the Thesis ........................................................................................... 28 Chapter 2: Immigration to Canada: Policy and Social Contexts of Immigrant Employment Challenges............................................................................... 30 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 30 2.2 Contemporary Immigration to Canada................................................................ 31 2.2.1 Three Major Immigrant Classes ..................................................................................31 2.2.2 Recent Canadian Immigrant Destinations and Demographic Characteristics..............32 2.2.3 Reasons for High-level Immigration to Canada...........................................................34 2.3 Immigrant Integration Challenges ....................................................................... 35 2.3.1 Immigrant Settlement Challenges ...............................................................................35 iv 2.3.2 Immigrant Employment Challenges............................................................................36 2.3.3 Toronto CMA’s Specific Immigrant Employment Challenges ....................................37 2.4 Causes of Immigrant Employment Challenges..................................................... 39 2.4.1 Immigrant Individual Attributes .................................................................................39 2.4.1.1 Composition of Immigrant Classes Admitted to Canada....................................39 2.4.1.2 Fluency in English Language..............................................................................40 2.4.1.3 Essential, Soft and Literacy Skills........................................................................41 2.4.1.4 Lack of Social Networks.....................................................................................43 2.4.2 Societal Development .................................................................................................43 2.4.2.1 Changes and Fluctuations in the Canadian Economy.........................................43 2.4.2.2 Increased Level of Education of Canadian-born Workers ...................................44 2.4.3 Institutionalized Systemic Barriers...............................................................................45 2.4.3.1 The Foreign Credential Recognition Issue..........................................................45 2.4.3.2 Canadian Work Experience................................................................................47