Abstract

Using survey data drawn from the 2014 Provincial Diversity Project, this thesis provides a more comprehensive look at visible minority (VM) Canadians’ federal partisan preferences compared to other Canadians. My findings show that even in 2014, VMs are more likely than other Canadians to identify with the Liberal party instead of other parties.

Additionally, this thesis explores the factors explaining VMs’ partisan attitudes by examining social, attitudinal, and ethnic factors’ influence on partisan preferences. In particular, I assess the idea of Liberal issue ownership over topics of diversity by testing the effects of opinions on multiculturalism and ethnic consciousness, or one’s attachment to their ethnic community, in influencing Liberal support. My findings show that while the symbolic effects of multiculturalism could not explain VMs’ preferences, ethnic consciousness is key to understanding VMs’ partisan attitudes. Moreover, I conclude that while VMs’ Liberal attitudes are shaped by distinct factors, those shaping VMs’ Conservative attitudes are characterised by considerable convergence with the existing dynamics found among other Canadians.

Lastly, this thesis goes beyond the monolithic limitations of the VM category and examines the heterogeneity found within that category by looking at the cases of Chinese-Canadians and VMs of Muslim faith.