18-03-2010, Source: Metropolis Canada

The deterioration of economic conditions—high unemployment rates and low income among the latest cohorts of immigrants—coupled with the recent global economic crisis, has made economic development an issue that cannot be ignored. But economic development cannot be separated from labour force needs and the delicate balance between those needs and immigration policy.

Equally important are issues of inclusion and cultural diversity. Montréal has long been a crossroads of European and North American cultures, but co-existence, social interactions, pluralism in education, religious diversity and intercultural challenges are now more complex, involve new regions, and call for new perspectives.

These issues will be explored during the plenary sessions, roundtables and workshops in the six priority areas that make up the Metropolis program:

Researchers and partners are invited to submit research and training workshops, roundtables or poster presentation  proposals on one of the six priority areas above.

Proposals will be accepted on all themes concerning immigration (including refugees and refugee claimants) and the inclusion of minorities in Canadian society, arising from the six priority areas of the Metropolis Project.

A central goal of the Metropolis conference is to facilitate dialogue and exchange among researchers and their partners (governments, community organizations, private sector organizations etc.). Accordingly, the coordination of workshops by members of multiple sectors is strongly encouraged. Ideally, workshop participants will also be selected from different sectors (research, public, private, NGO) from different regions of the country. Coordinators are also strongly encouraged to support the next generation of researchers by including student researchers wherever possible.

There will be 

The Sheraton Centre, Montreal, Canada.