Date: Friday, February 7
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: The Research Innovation Space in Education (RISE), Education Centre North 2-111
Daniel Hiebert is a Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia who specializes in issues of public policy. Daniel's personal research interests focus on immigration policy, the integration of newcomers into the housing and labour markets of Canadian cities, and the consequences of the growing 'super-diversity' of Canadian society. This work routinely takes a collaborative approach, working with partners in government and non-government organizations.
This event is part of the University of Alberta International Week's Ethics, Rights, Culture and Humanization of Refugees Transdisciplinary Workshop and all are welcome.
Abstract: Two narratives circulate in Canada about the place of immigrants in urban housing markets. On the one hand, immigrants are accused of bidding up the price of housing to the point where it has become out of reach for young Canadians and those with modest incomes, especially in Toronto and Vancouver. But, on the other, immigrants are seen as failing in a labour market that ignores their potential contribution and are, therefore, unable to afford adequate housing. Of course, the composition of the immigrant population in Canada is highly varied, and these narratives are best seen as complementary rather than contradictory. In fact, immigrants are active in virtually all segments of Canadian urban housing markets, from subsidized rental units through to affluent inner-city condominiums and upscale, sprawling suburban detached homes. Dr. Hiebert uses data drawn from the 2016 Canadian census to explore these patterns, focusing on Canada's six largest cities. He argues that while a significant fraction of the immigrant population struggles to afford housing, for the most part, the housing market is a crucial entry point for immigrants to achieve economic integration in Canada.