Montreal, a motor for jobs
Montreal keeps adding jobs while Quebec’s regions keep losing them. And yet Montreal is a pulsating mass of immigrants, anglophones and people who shamelessly say “bonjour, hi!” So we’ve got to keep those immigrants out, since they’re clearly causing a malaise in the regions.
Jack 11:48 on 2019-01-31 Permalink
A question that needs to be answered is what causes that “malaise” in areas that have no immigration.
I have my theories anyone else?
qatzelok 14:04 on 2019-01-31 Permalink
Generally, big cities are doing well, small towns are dying. This is the same in many regions of North America and Europe.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=cities+thriving+regions+dying&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9icXKzZjgAhVl4oMKHdQqC4sQBQgpKAA&biw=1320&bih=700&dpr=1.09
Ephraim 14:17 on 2019-01-31 Permalink
It’s not really surprising. The regions don’t offer kinship or community. Small regions need to have programs to absorb newcomers that offer them friendship, community, family (replacement family). Much easier to find in the big city. But there are numerous studies that showed how incomes increase based on the size of the city and that the larger the city, the higher the disposable incomes. If you were going to move your whole family looking for a better future… the city is the place.
The opposite is also true, when you don’t meet these people, you fear them. It seems strange to you, uncommon, threatening. Xenophobia, the fear of the unknown. Take Jews for example, less than .1% of the world population and yet antisemitism is incredibly high. And it’s not just people…. take a look at technology. Some people embrace it (early adopters) and others wait and then you have the stalwarts… the regions… full of stalwarts.
Douglas 15:00 on 2019-01-31 Permalink
One word: English.
Immigrants go where the money is. Money goes where it is easiest to do business.
qatzelok 19:37 on 2019-01-31 Permalink
Ephraim: “The regions don’t offer kinship or community”
Not only the regions, Quebec City offers no kinship or community. Every town in Quebec, except Montreal, has been turned into suburban crap – from Alma to Saint Jean sur Richelieu. And there’s no there there.
JoeNotCharles 18:49 on 2019-02-06 Permalink
Citylab had an article on this the other day: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/01/refugee-admissions-resettlement-trump-immigration/580318/