Episode 37: Immigration, Power and the Vote

Written By Andrea McCoy

As Canada welcomes more immigrants each year, the politics of belonging are becoming increasingly complicated. In our latest episode of Canadian Salad, we dive into one of the most quietly controversial questions in Canadian politics: Why are so many immigrants supporting the Conservative Party?

We begin by tracing the origins of Canada’s two dominant political forces — the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party — and their evolving stances on immigration, race, and power. We also look ahead to the policies proposed by new Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose immigration reforms promise a shift in tone but may still uphold long-standing inequities.

This episode doesn’t shy away from nuance. We explore how immigrant voters, particularly from racialized and working-class communities, navigate systems that were never designed with them in mind. For many, voting Conservative isn’t about ideology — it’s about survival, access, and social capital in a country that continues to uphold systemic racism.

Key topics include:

  • The history of Canadian political parties and their impact on immigration

  • Mark Carney’s immigration platform and what it signals about the future

  • How BIPOC and immigrant communities make strategic political choices

  • The role of white supremacy and colonial structures in shaping policy

Whether you're a political junkie, a newcomer to Canada, or just curious about what drives voter behavior, this episode is for you.

Andrea McCoy https://www.janklin.ca
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Episode 38: I’m Back, But Not Belonging
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Episode 36: Time Isn’t Universal