he homelands for these ethnic groups are in Asia, they are not typically per ceived by either themselves or other Canadians as being eth nically Asian. Most of the East Indians in the Vancouver area trace their origins to India; however, they are divided by religion Hindus and Sikhs.
The term Anglo is accurate only to distinguish this popu lation group from Asians, Blacks, and Aboriginal population groups. Within the Anglo population group, the English and Scottish ethnic groups are the largest in Vancouver; however, ethnic groups from all of Continental Europe, as well as the 3Irish are present in Vancouver in significant numbers. South American ethnic groups are present in Vancouver in only small numbers.
The Black population in Vancouver is also quite small. Lastly, although British Columbia has a sizeable Aboriginal population, their numbers in Vancounver are not great.
In 1989, both British Columbia and the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area have strong economies. The negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Canada and the United States in the late 1980s will likely draw Vancouver more closely to the American economy.
Over the long term, proponents of the FTA claim that it will lead to an increase in the Canadian gross national product of five percent annually. They expect employment levels to increase over the long term; however, it must be noted that,historically, employment levels have increased in Canada with out a free trade agreement. In the relatively short period of time in which the FTA has been in effect, the Lower Mainland has experienced a net loss of jobs, primarily as a consequence of Canadian firms shifting jobs to the lower cost Whatcom County area in Washington State.
Vancouver area retail sales are also hurt by relaxed trade restrictions involving American goods. Approximately 55 per cent of the sales volume at the major shopping mall in Whatcom County (the area immedia...