Upping the T-Dot
Perhaps this is the first indication that American conservatives are coming around to the benefits of immigration (and the example of Canada). Will Wilkinson, a fellow at the Cato Institute, wrote a column last week praising both:
Nearly half the denizens of Canada’s most populous metropolis were born outside the nation’s borders – 47 per cent, according to the 2006 census, and the number is rising. This makes Toronto the fifth-biggest city in North America, also the most diverse city in North America. Neither Miami, nor Los Angeles, nor New York City can compete with Toronto’s cosmopolitan credentials.
Here is what Toronto is: the fifth-most-livable city in the world. So said the Economist Intelligence Unit in a report last year drawing on indicators of stability, health care, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure. …The United States, [a] fabled land of immigrants, has fallen dismally far behind countries like Australia and Canada in openness to immigration …
Toronto shows that a community and its core institutions can not only survive a massive and growing immigrant population but thrive with one. … Maybe some day an American city will place in the top 10 on the list of the world’s most livable places. Maybe – if it becomes more like Toronto.
Hi Geoff,
Wilkinson (and Cato) are libertarian, not conservative and so are long-time supporters of rather liberal immigration policies. Immigration policy is certainly one of the biggest divides between American conservatives and libertarians.
Best,
David
Thanks for your helpful clarification, David. I have to say, however, that I think the “libertarian, not conservative” distinction is increasingly overstated. It seems to be part of a broader re-alignment of the conservative movement in the US, as it would be hard to deny that libertarians (and Cato) have been part of the conservative coalition for many decades.
“Neither Miami, nor Los Angeles, nor New York City can compete with Toronto’s cosmopolitan credentials.”
Isn’t he ignoring the flood of immigration from Central America, all of whom are lumped under one ethnicity.
By my recall, Los Angeles was drowning in immigration.
Phil
No, he’s not. Surprised?
I’d suggest reading the full column by Wilkinson, as it puts in perspective the ‘flood’ metaphor you use. Nobody is “drowning in immigration” — migration is correlated with better livelihoods and economic performance. There may be local social strains associated with rapid and high rates of immigration, but they don’t seem overwhelming in Toronto and Vancouver.
Hi Geoff,
It’s really a rather minor issue and not to belabor it, but while in the past libertarians have aligned with conservatives that’ s been changing for a while. Libertarians have been drifting towards the Democratic party the past few election cycles and in this past presidential election the majority actually went for Obama. Wilkinson, along with many other folks from Cato, endorsed and voted for Obama. Wilkerson, who I like a lot, is a leading voice in a movement among some libertarians to try and align themselves more with social progressives (he often uses the term ‘liberalterian’ to describe his own views).
One of the big fissures with conservatives and libertarians is immigration (along with the war and cultural values), and the Bush comprehensive immigration reform that was shredded by his own party for being too liberal was based on a Cato penned plan. The libertarian take on immigration is, and always has been, far more aligned with the Democratic party’s take than the Republicans’. For those reasons I’d just caution about inferring conservative trends from someone who so vocally disagrees with their immigration policies and publicly battles them over it.
Hope all the transitioning is going well,
David
Thanks for your insightful follow-up, David. Much appreciated.