Multiculturalism in Canada is the creating of a sense whereby people from diverse races, religions and cultural background appreciate and celebrate their diversities. This concept of multiculturalism came into being in 1960 to counter Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism’s biculturalism policy. Multiculturalism aims at creating a feeling of equality amongst the different ethnic, cultural and racial groups in Canada. Apart from being officially implemented as a policy by the Canadian federal government in the year 1971, multiculturalism was enhanced by subsequent policy adoptions by various provinces in Canada.
Since 19th century, Canada has seen several immigration regimes and by the 1940s, Canada was predominantly of non-British and non-French immigrants. These two groups (the French and the British) were the largest and oldest in Canada, hence, their relationship was protected and held as of much importance in the Canadian history. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, immigrants from outside French and British origins had moved to Canada with a high number of people also identifying themselves as the visible minorities. To enforce the practice of multiculturalism, the Canadian federal government enacted the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1934 and this is complemented by Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom section 27. The latter is under the ambit of Canadian Department of Heritage. Other legislations that are aligned to promote multiculturalism include the Broadcasting Act which came into force in 1991. This legislation requires broadcasters in Canada to reflect, through their media broadcast, the diverse cultural practices in the country.
Despite the multiculturalism policy by the federal government, some provinces are opposed to it and have formulated their own ways of appreciating the diverse cultures in Canada. For example, Quebec has it focus on interculturalism. Interculturalism was favored by Quebec after multiculturalism was seen to have failed. Interculturalism transcend just accepting Canadians cultural differences or similarities thereof, but also emphasizes cultural interactions and dialogue to create co-existence, acceptance, understanding and harmony between diverse cultures.
Other provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan also have legislations enforcing multiculturalism. However, multiculturalism hasn’t been met with a welcoming heart by all groups in Canada. The French for example have been hostile to the policies promoting multiculturalism arguing that it compromises their position as one of the largest and dominant group in Canada. Some ethnic groups have viewed multiculturalism legislations as unacceptable if they are to be the substitutes for aid. Others also view such policies as to be used for bribes in exchange for votes from various ethnic groups. However, apart from these resistance, multiculturalism is Canada is to a larger extent considered to be a success.
As compared to Europe, the feeling of “otherness” amongst minorities is not experienced in Canada. This is despite the bare fact that more than a fifth of Canadians are from other countries. In some cities like Vancouver and Toronto, almost 50% of the population is composed of those considered as the visible minorities, however, conspicuously missing in these cities is the segregation along social line that is experienced in Europeans countries. The tendency of migrants to settle in a neighborhood dominated by their ethnic or cultural groups is still evident in Canada, this probably informed the decision by Quebec to reconsider multiculturalism and move into advanced aspects of it called interculturalism. It is however of much importance to appreciate that multiculturalism has achieved much, the settlement of migrants in neighborhoods where they can identify with a common culture or ethnic group hasn’t prevented the Canadian migrants to participate in the activities of the Canadian society.
Immigrants in Canada have been in a position to pursue high levels of education, economic prosperity and also integrate socially to high levels that are not experienced in European countries. Multiculturalism has been a key element to consider when talking about what makes Canadians proud. A survey conducted in 2006 showed that multiculturalism only ranks second to Canadian’s Charter of Rights and Freedom which in essence also complements multiculturalism. A typical example of immigrants that have proved the benefits of multiculturalism are the Canadian Muslims, as opposed to the stereotypes that such immigrants experience in western countries, the Canadian Muslim community have a different story to tell. In Michael Adam’s book, Unlikely Utopia: The Surprising Triumph of Canadian Pluralism, the author found out, after some broad studies, that the Canadian Muslim society identified with the country’s government and it’s institutions. To further justify these findings, a News poll conducted by CBC in the year 2000 indicated that Muslim communities in Canada were the contented, well, moderate, Canadians in the whole developed world.
Multiculturalism being a culture
The success of multiculturalism in Canada arises from the fact that it has created a culture, an artificial culture, which has strongly countered the diverse individual cultures, ethnic groups and religious practices. Unlike in countries like Australia where any migrants are required to act like an Australian, Canada is much aware of the amorphous culture that exists within Canada itself. The country, hence, has been able to accommodate a diverse range of ethnic, cultural and religious groups and hence does not promote homogeneity in cultures. Immigrants therefore only need to obey the country’s laws and respect the various institutions created under such laws or otherwise.
The successful adoption, legislation and implementation of multiculturalism as a culture in Canada has enabled Canada, a country of 200 languages, exist peacefully but under diverse religious, cultural and ethnic groups. Although the dominant groups in Canada like those of British and French heritage have shown some resistance to multiculturalism, such groups seem oblivious of the fact that multiculturalism has held the country together despite some flaws that those opposing it might cite. The Canadian society, unlike many other countries has moved from solving the cultural, religious and ethnic confrontations as experienced in countries with rigid cultures like the western world. To say the most, Canada has been a country that has enabled immigrants to resettle and successfully continue with their lives.
Multiculturalism therefore has been Canada’s solution to the problem of cultural, religious and ethnic diversity, but not Canada’s problem. The concerns of those opposing multiculturalism may only be considered as critics and may be used to make multiculturalism better but not to abolish the policy. With the Canadian society showing great co-existence despite their diversities, the policies that are aimed at promoting multiculturalism should be reinforced further. However, improvement to multiculturalism such as the adoption of interculturalism in Quebec province should be highly welcome. Even though others view interculturalism as different from multiculturalism, interculturalism simply complements multiculturalism and helps to further the basic principles of multiculturalism such as the acceptance of diverse cultural practices and celebrating them. However, by advancing to interculturalism, Canada will achieve a much more unified but vastly diverse society in terms of culture, religion and ethnic backgrounds.
References
Berry, John W. "Mutual attitudes among immigrants and ethnocultural groups in Canada." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 30.6 (2006): 719-734.
Reitz, Jeffrey G. "The distinctiveness of Canadian immigration experience." Patterns of prejudice 46.5 (2012): 518-538.
Winter, Elke. "Bridging unequal relations, ethnic diversity, and the dream of unified nationhood: Multiculturalism in Canada." Zeitschrift für Kanada-Studien 27.1 (2007): 1-20.
