Multiculturalism in Canada

Meanings of multiculturalism:1: multiculturalism as an ideology (within the philosophy of cultural pluralism)2: multiculturalism as a descriptive term (referring to the current state a society marked by cultural diversity)3: multiculturalism as a social policy (implemented through state legislature)

Multiculturalism as ideologyIn Canada expressed in notions and slogans such as:cultural mosaic celebrating diversity

multiculturalism as ideology:assumes the existence of ethnically diverse factors that wish to maintain their differenceendorses legitimacy of different cultural expressionsendorses the ideal of unity-within-diversityrecognizes diversity as a key resource for the construction of national identity and unity

demands pluralistic restructuring of:national institutions public attitudesorganizational servicesassumes primary affiliation of citizens with the state, but secondary identification with a cultural tradition of choice is encouraged implies principles of cultural relativism:

All cultural systems are understood as equal as products of their specific contexts. But: this does not mean that all cultural practices are automatically tolerated as such: justification for a cultural practice is dependent on the context in which it originated.

Historical ideologies for managing diversity1: assimilation (anglo/franco-conformity)

2: integration (the melting pot ideal)

3: segregation (the colour bar ideology)

4: multiculturalism

assimilationbased on the superiority of Western valuesexclusion on the grounds of racediscouragement of minority cultural practicesimposition of dominant culture as superiorhowever: total assimilation is not perceived as possible; instead: mere external conformity is expectedrecently: institutional assimilation preferred over cultural

integrationbasis of Canadian government policy since the 1960s necessitated removal of racist segregational rules (segregates schools for blacks in Ontario until 1964) two-way process in which dominant and subordinate sectors interact to create a new identityformal equality of cultural groups

segregationcultural groups are divided by imposition, interaction is discouraged Canadian example: institutionalization of the reservation system for the Native people But affected other groups as well: blacks, Chinese, East Indian, Jews

All of these ideologies considered diversity as contradictory to successful nation-building.

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multiculturalism: promotes diversity as beneficial.

mosaic versus melting pot

Multiculturalism in Canadafostered by a weak definition of national identity

two founding nations dual character of national identity

The English versus the French in CanadaThe Anglophones Economic, political, and demographic dominance 19th century: the Anglophones = the British20th century: the Anglophones = English-Canadians (?) The FrancophonesStronger and more distinct collective identity19th century: the Francophones = Canadiens 20th century: the Francophones = the Quebecois nation

The only uniting feature: citizenship (since 1947)Who are the Canadians?

Quiet Revolution in Quebec 1960s:emergence of modern Quebec re-examined the relationship of Canadas founding nations

Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1963-69)promoted: the contribution made by the other ethnic groups to the cultural enrichment of Canada and the measures that should be taken to safeguard that contribution first seed of multicultural policy

1971: Federal Policy on Multiculturalism (Pierre Elliot Trudeau)Cultural pluralism is the very essence of Canadian identity

Canada has no official culture all ethnic groups are equal

multiculturalism within a bilingual framework

1972: Multiculturalism DirectorateSupport for ethnic groups and immigrant organizations, monitoring multicultural activities1978: expansion of the Directorate programs: cultural integration, support for ethnic studies and intergroup communication

1977: Citizenship Act

1982: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

1985: Canadian Human Rights Act

1988: Multiculturalism Actdownplayed the bilingual framework, stressed equal status of all ethnic groups and right to preserve ones cultural heritage shift from support for ethnic folklore towards promoting positive attitudes to immigrantsDiscouragement of ethnic stereotyping and discrimination

Opposition against multiculturalism policyQuebeckersolder ethnic communitiesnon-ethnic Canadians, older generations

Quebeckersmulticulturalism threatens their unique statusinsulted by being qualified as equal to ethnic minoritiesinterculturalism: stresses interactive capacity of the official culture French-enforcing laws in the province

Older ethnic communitiesdistrust in multiculturalism caused by changes in immigration policy in 1970s and 1980s:before 1970s: preference to suitable immigrants: 95% of immigrants from Europe and the US today: non-whites form 70% of annual immigration take (more in cities: Toronto = half-white city)

vague definition of Canadian identity cultural symbols achieve disproportionate importance:

Charles Taylor: the politics of recognition

need to establish balance between needs of individuals and groups and the community as a whole

Arguments against multiculturalism: ghettoization of ethnic minorities

marginalization of ethnic minorities

catering to professional ethnics

creation of divided loyalties

fragmentation of the society

Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in Canada (1994):Multiculturalism ends where notions of human rights and dignity begin.

Canadian multiculturalism todayrecent decline in the institutional status of multiculturalism: 1993: Department of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Department of Canadian Heritage

growth of immigration2001: 43% of Toronto population foreign born 75% of Canadians feel untroubled by their countrys ethnic composition

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