Berlin: Immigration, Integration, Diversity

Germany has, for over fifty years, been one of the countries in Europe with a very high rate of immigration. However, the country still does not have an immigration policy. In fact, until recently, succeeding governments were denying the reality that Germany is de facto an immigration society. <br> Canada, on the other hand, became the first country in the world to adopt a national multiculturalism policy. The country celebrates its cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity as an integral part of its national identity.<br><br> This conference will discuss the commonalities and differences between the two countries as they approach immigration and integration issues. Which instruments do they apply to deal with immigration, integration and diversity? Is there anything they can learn from each other? The conference has been organised in partnership between the Canadian Embassy in Berlin and the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation. It is also a continuation of an exchange of ideas between Canadian, American and European researchers and policy makers on immigration and integration policies which began last year in Toronto in co-operation with the Joint Initiative for German and European Studies at the University of Toronto.<br><br> <b>Programme</b><br><br> 4.00 pm<br>Welcome<br><b>Ralf Fücks</b><br> Executive Board, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin <br><br>4.15 pm<br>Keynote address<br> <b>Marie Bernard-Meunier</b><br>Canada's Ambassador to Germany<br><br> 4.45 pm<br> German Immigration and Integration Policy<br><b>Marieluise Beck</b><br> Commissioner of the German Federal Government for Refugees, Migration and Integration<br><br> 5.15 pm - 5.45 pm Break<br><br> 5.45 – 7.40 pm Short presentations and panel disussion<br><br> - <b>Bruno Ramirez</b>, Professor at Université de Montréal, Canada<br> - <b>Gerald Friesen</b>, Professor at University of Manitoba, Canada<br> - <b>Ayanna Black</b>, Poet/Writer/Editor, Toronto<br> - <b>Birgit Rommelspacher</b>, Professor at Alice Salomon University, Berlin<br> - <b>Phil Triadafilopoulos</b>, Visiting Research Fellow HU Berlin, Berlin<br><br> 7.40 – 8.00 pm Commentary<br> <b>Y. Michal Bodemann</b>, Professor at University of Toronto, Canada