The Recent Evolution of Canada's Metropolitan-Non-Metropolitan Ethnic Composition

Abstract

<p>The purpose of the research is to observe and describe recent evolutionary trends in Canada's metropolitan and nonmetropolitan ethnic composition by comparing census years 1971 and 1981. To identify salient spatial and temporal trends, three types of analyses were used: the index of ethnic diversity, the chi square test, and cluster analysis. These analyses employed ethnic origin data taken from the 1971 and 1981 censuses. Twenty-five CMAs were used and nine ethnic groupings. The non-metropolitan components were aggregated provincially. The research shows that variations in conditions over time and space affect ethnic composition to some extent. While the degree of diveisity may be similar, the internal ethnic composition may be very diffeirent. It will also invalidate the claim that the size of cities is correlated with their index of ethnic diversity. In addition, a metropolitan and nonmetropolitan regionalization are produced which identify four main ethnic regions in Canada based on similarities in ethnic distributions. Factors such as historical settlement, socio-economic opportunities, demographic characteristics, cultural atmosphere, internal migration and immigration policy are offered as determinants of ethnic composition and change.</p>