How racialized voters reshape Canadian policy through digital networks

With Canada Federal elections approachingPolitical parties are focused on the mobilization of voters. However, they can ignore how ethnic communities are already shaping the country’s political life.

Immigrants and diaspora communities are an increasing segment of Canada’s population. In 2021, a record 23% of the Canadian populationMore than 8.3 million people were current or old immigrants, the highest share since 1921. Asian people represent 51.4% of this immigrant population.

I am a postdoctoral scholarship holder at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Education. My doctoral research focused on the integration practices of South Asian immigrants from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh living or working in the northeast of Calgary.

Using the Canadian index to measure integrationI explored how they engaged in Canadian society through economic, social, health and political dimensions. A large part of this commitment is motivated by multilingualism and ethnic networks, increasingly publicized by platforms like WhatsApp, X and Facebook.

Political integration search in a multilingual digital world

Since the federal elections were called in late March, I made a digital ethnography Social media pages managed by influencers from the South Asian community. Digital ethnography involves observing how people use Internet technologies to communicate, engage and give meaning in online spaces.

Influencers of my study are people who manage digital platforms, such as Facebook groups, WhatsApp cats and other community networks, and play a key role in the formation of how community members access, discuss and act on political information. The pages I have examined – mainly on WhatsApp, Facebook and X – continue to show how multilingualism and ethnic networks shape political consciousness and influence the behavior of voters.

Too often, political commitment is narrowly defined by Participation in voters. But my research with the South Asian diaspora in Calgary show that political integration extends far beyond the polls. This happens on social networks, in mosques, temples and Gurdwaras, through multilingual volunteers and in community spaces where language, culture and civic life cross.

Above all, it also extends to transnational problems. Many members of the community discuss global events-such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, the United States Russian War-as well as Canadian issues such as immigration.

For my research, I interviewed 19 South Asians of first generation in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, living in Calgary. Participants in my study described the wide range of civic and democratic activities in which they participate: volunteer, join online discussions and attend cultural or religious events where political problems were discussed – mainly in English and heritage languages.

Participation extends both on formal volunteering, often in predominantly English spaces and informal volunteering in religious institutions, festivals or on social networks. Many preferred to volunteer where they could talk about Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla or Ourdou or sometimes a mixture of several languages, called translating.

A participant, a banker and an influencer of the social media who runs a Pakistani Facebook group, said:

“I often volunteer on Facebook. I also join politicians in their campaigns. My work entirely on social networks is based on the Ourdou. This allows me to connect with people. ”

During digital ethnography, this participant was observed by combining artificial intelligence (AI) generated images with multilingual publications to campaign for a political party.

Beyond the participation rate

South Asians are Canada Minority group visible the largest And their civic participation offers a vital objective on the functioning of democracy in a multicultural and multilingual society. There is a general belief That if people do not engage with politics in the dominant language, they should not engage at all.

However, my research shows the opposite. Societal multilingualism – the ability to use English and heritage languages ​​- is protected under Canada Multiculturalism Act And supports more inclusive participation. A participant who works for a settlement agency explained that multilingual political activities help “to communicate, to explain policies, to answer people’s questions, to understand their concerns and to resolve them”.

There is also a False common idea that the appointment of a candidate from a specific ethnic background guarantees community support. Although this can influence local elections, federal voting decisions are often more complex. Participants in my research focused on party platforms, past performance and national and international problems alongside identity. Ethnic concentration alone Do not determine the electoral success.

Ethnic networks – composed of extended families, denominational groups, digital communities and neighborhood ties – act as civic incubators. These are not isolated enclaves but dynamic platforms where newcomers develop political literacy and confidence.

Rethink political participation

Official languages ​​of Canada Are English and French, but multilingualism plays a central role in immigrant communities. In my research, The language is dynamic – a social and cultural resource that promotes identity and commitment.

Participants translated political equipment, explained policies to others and used multilingual platforms to discuss subjects such as housing, health care and immigration. These practices are also visible in this electoral cycle, as members of the South Asian community use the language, digital tools, artificial intelligence and hot button problems to engage voters. Language in these contexts is cultural capital. It allows participation by familiarity, emotional connection and social belonging.

Confessional spaces such as the Gurdwaras, mosques and mandures are civic forums. Applicants visit during campaigns and community leaders help shape political dialogue and participation. These institutions offer cultural mastery and access to languages ​​that often lack consumer systems.

While immigration reshapes Canada’s demography, political integration is more than a trend – it is essential to functional democracy. While some parties provide translations or host cultural events, they often lack how civic engagement already exists within these communities.

Immigrants are no longer passive beneficiaries. They are active participants, shaping conversations in their own languages ​​and networks. Before the elections in 2025, it is time to go beyond Ethnic voting myth And recognize the complete civic ecosystem – WhatsApp groups at mosque lessons.

Political parties must go beyond hiring translators or rely on community leaders. Multilingual civic participation is not a reflection afterwards – it is fundamental. It is time to engage people in the languages ​​they speak, in the spaces in which they trust.

If we want a truly inclusive democracy, we must meet people where they are linguistic, culturally and locally. Ethnic networks are not detours of political life. These are ramps. And multilingualism is not an obstacle to participation. It is the language of democracy.