Reflections on ‘Welcoming’ Second- and Third-Tier Cities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States

Abstract

AbstractSecond- and third-tier cities in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, have increasingly looked to international migration to offset the negative consequences of out-migration and labour market shortages. To make themselves more amenable to migrants, many communities have made deliberate efforts to become more welcoming. These efforts may take the form of narratives, policies, and practices that support diversity and inclusion. Welcoming initiatives have often had limited success, however, with many migrants still preferring to live in larger centres. This chapter provides cross-national comparative and analytical insights on the limitations of welcoming efforts in Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand. It argues that when welcoming is used as a means of attracting and retaining migrants in second- and third-tier cities, success may be limited due to the way welcoming initiatives are framed, systemic issues and inequalities increasingly faced by smaller cities, and inadequate attention to what is required for successful integration. The chapter calls for new ways of thinking about ‘welcoming’ cities and puts forward ideas for future research.