CANADA: EXPERIENCE ENGAGING DIASPORA COMMUNITIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000720 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAN, S/GPI - M. WALKER, AND S/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG SCUL EAID TSPL BTIO BEXP EINV, OEXC, OIIP, CA SUBJECT: CANADA: EXPERIENCE ENGAGING DIASPORA COMMUNITIES REF: A. STATE 86401 ¶B. OTTAWA 639 ¶C. OTTAWA 596 ¶D. OTTAWA 501 ¶E. OTTAWA 260 ¶F. TORONTO 200 ¶G. TORONTO 149 ¶H. TORONTO 93 ¶I. TORONTO 86 ¶J. TORONTO 84 ¶K. TORONTO 52 ¶L. TORONTO 40 ¶M. TORONTO 6 ¶N. VANCOUVER 196 ¶1. (U) Like the United States, Canada is a nation of immigrants. Immigrants make up twenty percent of the overall population in Canada, according to the most recent census data (2006). The largest Diaspora in Canada is from the United Kingdom (579,620) followed by China (466,940),India (443,690),the Philippines (303,195),Italy (296,850),U.S. (250,535),and Hong Kong SAR (215,430). Sri Lankans, Jamaicans, Pakistanis, Iranians, and Vietnamese also make up large immigrant populations of around 100,000 people each. Since 2001, the largest amount of immigrants have come from China (155,105),India (129,140),the Philippines (77,880), Pakistan (57,630),and the U.S. (38,770),with other large communities from Iran (27,600),Colombia (25,305),Sri Lanka (22,305),Mexico (16,520),Afghanistan (16,240),Algeria (16,235),and Lebanon (11,355). Canada accepts about 250,000 immigrants each year, and the "wooing of new Canadians" is now an important part of Canadian politics (ref e). Toronto is the most diverse city in Canada, with 47% of residents foreign-born (ref l). ¶2. (U) The most publicly active Diaspora communities in Canada during 2008 and 2009 have been Iranians and Sri Lankans. Supporters of the Tamil Tigers have engaged in public protests throughout Canada to generate public awareness for their cause (refs i, j, and k). Iranians came out in force during the disputed elections in their homeland (ref d). ¶3. (U) Embassy Ottawa has compiled an extensive list of Diaspora organizations in Ontario, including the following: Canadian Friends of Burma Afghan Women's Organization Afghan Association of Ontario Armenian National Committee of Canada Belarusan Canadian Coordination Committee Canadian Jewish Congress B'Nai Brith Canada Ottawa Kurdish Community Association Canadian Arab Federation Council on American-Islamic Relations (Canada) Canadian Islamic Congress Canadian Tibetan Association Algerian Cultural Centre Committee for Democracy and Justice in Cambodia Chinese Canadian National Council Tamil Canadian Congress Cypriot Federation of Canada Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations Latvian National Federation of Canada Lebanese and Arab Social Services Agency of Ottawa--Carleton National Council of Barbaidan Associations in Canada National Council of Jamaicans in Canada Portuguese Canadian National Congress General Group of Canadian Senegalese Serbian National Shield Society of Canada Slovak Canadian National Council Vietnamese Canadian Federation World Sikh Organization Canadian Palestinian Foundation Canadian Friends of Somalia Canadian Friends of Sudan ¶4. (U) Following responses are keyed to ref a questions: A) Diasporans listed above form identifiable communities and networks, including on-line; B) Diasporan communities in Canada focus mainly on kinship but also serve as important sources for community, social services, educational, and remittances assistance; C) The Canadian government has engaged in extensive Diaspora outreach, in particular to support its involvement in both Haiti and Afghanistan; OTTAWA 00000720 002 OF 002 D) N/A E). N/A F). N/A G). N/A H) The Canadian Friends of Somalia, Sudan, and Burma are leading Diaspora organizations geared toward democracy-promotion in their homelands; I) The Canadian government provides extensive funding to Diaspora groups, including budgetary support and grants for conferences and seminars; J). The Embassy has extensive, on-going contact with all three organizations in response H and their executive directors. ¶5. (U) Embassy points of contact for Diaspora issues are: Kurt van der Walde, Deputy Political Counselor Emily Fertik, Human Rights Officer Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BREESE