By Kirthie Abeysekera
Sri Lankan immigrants in Toronto are among several other ethnic groups, ‘disadvantaged,’ due to their skin colour. This revelation is made by a York University professor commissioned by the City of Toronto to study the socioeconomic situation in Canada’s largest city which is the Ontario Provincial capital, and the country’s centre of commerce. Toronto is also the most populated.

Dr. Michael Omstein says these groups "suffer high levels of poverty, accompanied by high levels of unemployment, over representation in low-skill jobs, low education and high school drop-out rates." The differences, he says, are almost all tied to race, adding that "Toronto is rapidly becoming segregated along racial, ethnic, social and economic lines."

‘The Sunday Island’ has obtained a copy of the Ornstein report titled, ‘Ethno-Racial Inequality in the City of Toronto’- an analysis of the 1996 census. Dr. Ornskin, York University’s Director of the Institute for Social Research, cites extensive areas where visible minorities’ suffer greater disadvantages than their European counterparts who constitute the majority. Among the ‘vulnerable’ groups listed, along with Sri Lankans, who experience ‘significant’ disadvantages, are Vietnamese, Iranians, Africans, Blacks, Egyptians, Jamaicans and other Arab and West Asians

The study says there is a large gap between European ethno-racial groups and all other ethno-racial groups. The combined family poverty rate of all the non-European groups is 34.3 per cent, which is more than twice the figure for the Europeans and Canadians. Non-European families make up only 36.9 percent of all families in Toronto. Yet, they account for 58.9 percent of poor families.

The survey that includes 89 ethno-racial groups, reveals that "visible minorities are prominently represented among the most disadvantaged groups in the City of Toronto." The more visible they are, the more difficulties you have, he observes. Ornstein attributes this, partly to the fact that in more recent times, "immigration policies involving both the selection of applicants and the treatment of refugees, have had a strong impact on which individuals come to Canada." This tongue-in-cheek observation implies that Canada’s selection of who stays in the country, leaves much to be desired.

The unemployment rate among seven South Asian groups is 17.2 percent which is considerably higher than the Toronto average of 10.8 percent. The unemployment rate among Sri Lankans is even higher - over 20 percent. South Asian incomes range from $ 25,000 to $ 29,000, compared to general population figures of $ 30,000 to $ 35,000. The proportions of less-skilled Sri Lankans and other South Asians in manual and white-collar jobs is relatively higher, while they are in fewer professional and managerial positions. Over half the Sri Lankan population is below what is termed the ‘Low-income cut-off.’

The problem faced by Sri Lankan and other immigrants from Third World countries is that their professional qualifications are not recognized in Canada. Well qualified professionals from these countries deliver pizza for a living or work as night security officers - a dignified term for ‘watchers.’ Despite mounting pressure that foreign qualifications be accepted, the Canadian government is dilly-dallying - evidently due to greater pressure from more powerful lobby groups with vested interests. Also, looming large is the intent of the powers-that-be to maintain the status-quo.

‘No group is immune from poverty or entirely poor," the Report stake. "But there are groups in which more than half of all the families are below the poverty line and others in which the figure is below 10 percent - - a five-to-one ratio."

In terms of economic outcomes, there is a large gap between the European ethno-groups and all other ethno-racial groups. The incidence of poverty among East and South Asian families is twice that of European families. Ornstein says that there are groups that include South Asians, "whose socioeconomic position is significantly worse than the averages for the City who seem to have systematic and uniform disadvantages." About 23,000 South Asian children in Toronto live in poverty.

"Poverty is based on race to a disturbing level," Tim Reeves, Director of the City’s Access and Equity Office told ‘The Toronto Star.’ "We need to address it in a far more provocative fashion." He says the Report shows overwhelming evidence of widespread discrimination against members of many of Toronto’s ethno-racial communities." He adds that there are huge disparities in the life experience and life chances of different communities in Toronto.

"If we are to feel pride that Toronto is home to the world," observes Reeves, "we cannot at the same time tolerate the reality that many communities within our midst are living worlds apart."

Social activists say that "Toronto will never be a great city until it eliminates the poverty and racism severely dividing its residents." Tam Gloosen, Chair of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, says the statistics of disadvantaged visible minorities are frightening.

"Our mandate is to fight for equal treatment for all the people who have made Toronto their home," the Hong Kong-born Goosen told the ‘Sunday Island’ in an interview. She said the figures of child poverty are "shocking," and that she’s particularly concerned about the 60 percent youth unemployment rate.

Frances Henry, a York University anthropologist, says that Ornstein’s report confirms that nothing has changed since she made a similar report in 1984. ‘There is a persistent pattern of employment discrimination," she observes.

Ornstein urges a systematic examination of the relationship among the three broad areas of education, employment and income. On an average, ethno-racial groups with more education have better jobs and earn more, and their families are better off. Yet, there are potentially large differences in the ability of members of these groups to put their educational credentials to use in relevant jobs, and to turn individual incomes into standards of living for families and children. Goosen urges all ethnic minorities to join forces with the mainstream to forge a common front for equal rights.