Social capital, familial obligations and family-class immigration reforms in Canada

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Date
2017
Authors
Turner, Paul
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Abstract
This research examines multi-generational households and patterns of co-residence among Chinese immigrant households in Winnipeg following the federal government’s reforms of the Parent Grandparent Program in 2014. These phenomena are examined within the conceptual frameworks of familial obligations and social capital. The study interviewed 29 mainland Chinese immigrants living in Winnipeg. The study found that while social capital is relevant to understanding the flow of favours across generations, the flow of favours between generations is not necessarily reciprocal, but instead flows downward to the youngest generation. The study found the enormous scale of social, political and economic transformation in mainland China over the past half century have produced different forms of familial obligations and largely eliminated the practice of co-residence. Reforms to the PGP had the most impact on young families that desired to sponsor their parents and in-laws over a relatively short period of time.
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Keywords
immigration, Chinese, social capital, family, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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