Abstract
This paper examines both the statistical and substantive dimensions of ethnoracial electoral representation in Toronto. We compare politician profiles across the municipal, provincial and federal arenas of politics and conclude there is a dual “representation gap’ in Toronto’s electoral politics. First, minority communities—especially visible minorities—are numerically badly underrepresented in Toronto across all levels of government. Second, the record of minority-identity politicians on municipal council suggests they do not necessarily serve minority community interests well. The paper analyzes these patterns and problems, concluding that solutions likely lie beyond the parameters of liberal democratic norms of political representation.
Résumé
Dans cet article, on se penche tant sur les dimensions statistiques que formelles de la représentation électorale ethnoculturelle à Toronto. On y compare les profils de politiciens oeuvrant dans les arènes politiques municipales, provinciales et fédérales, pour arriver à la conclusion qu’il existe un écart représentationnel double au sein des politiques électorales à Toronto. D’abord, les communautés en milieu minoritaire, surtout les minorités visibles, sont fortement sous-représentées sur le plan numérique et ce, à tous les paliers du gouvernement. Deuxièmement, le dossier des politiciens issus d’une minorité laisse croire qu’ils ne défendent pas forcément très bien les intérêts de leur communauté minoritaire. En analysant ces écarts et ces problèmes, on arrive à la conclusion que les solutions se trouveraient au-delà des paramètres des normes libérales et démocratiques gérant la représentation politique.
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Siemiatycki, M., Saloojee, A. Ethnoracial political representation in Toronto: Patterns and problems. Int. Migration & Integration 3, 241–273 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-002-1013-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-002-1013-8