How Did 9/11 Affect Canada

In Adelman’s Canadian Borders and Immigration Post 9/11 and Hugo’s Australia Immigration Policy: The Significance of the Events of September 11, both authors explore the effects of 9/11 on the Canadian immigration and refugee policy and on the Australian asylum seeker policy respectively. To arrive at their findings, both authors use media coverage, public opinion, and examination of post 9/11 impacts on the policies of both states. Additionally, Adelman uses new legislations that Canada adopted after the attacks while Hugo uses the justification of the Australian government for their change in policy. Attempting to reason states’ actual purpose for introducing controversial immigration policies is problematic. Adelman and Hugo’s method of analysis and hurried conclusions show that the dilemma that arises in explaining immigration trends, including policies.

It was the event that strengthened both constituents and politicians’ perception of outsiders as threats. Additionally, the media played into the exagerration. Both articles showed that public opinion changed to reflect this fear of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in both countries. For example, two-thirds of Canadians and three-quarters of Australians supported the idea of stronger control of borders to deter terrorists from entering (Adelman 15; Hugo 37). Thomas Faist argues that this inclination to tighten up borders due to the perception of threat of migrants is “inconclusive” (Faist 10). This excuse is used to circumvent the “stereotypes about cultural fears and clashes” (Faist 8) citizens have of outsiders. Although the policies of both states were critizied by people, including lawyers and organizations, it is key to note that enough people supported and even elected representatives that introduced and ratified such