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Canadian Daniel Stoffman's book "Who Gets In" questions the policy of Canadian multiculturalism. Stoffman points out that many cultural practices, such as allowing dog meat to be served in restaurants and street cockfighting, are simply incompatible with Canadian and Western culture.<ref name="Ryan2010"/> He also raises concern about the number of recent immigrants who are not being linguistically integrated into Canada (i.e., not learning either English or French).<ref name="Ryan2010"/> He stresses that multiculturalism works better in theory than in practice and Canadians need to be far more assertive about valuing [[Canadian cultural protectionism]].<ref name="Ryan2010">{{cite book|author=Phil Ryan|title=Multicultiphobia|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=r7Ii8abkancC&pg=PA104|date=30 March 2010|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-1068-2|page=103-106}}</ref>
Canadian Daniel Stoffman's book "Who Gets In" questions the policy of Canadian multiculturalism. Stoffman points out that many cultural practices, such as allowing dog meat to be served in restaurants and street cockfighting, are simply incompatible with Canadian and Western culture.<ref name="Ryan2010"/> He also raises concern about the number of recent immigrants who are not being linguistically integrated into Canada (i.e., not learning either English or French).<ref name="Ryan2010"/> He stresses that multiculturalism works better in theory than in practice and Canadians need to be far more assertive about valuing [[Canadian cultural protectionism]].<ref name="Ryan2010">{{cite book|author=Phil Ryan|title=Multicultiphobia|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=r7Ii8abkancC&pg=PA104|date=30 March 2010|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-1068-2|page=103-106}}</ref>

Garcia explores the validity attacks on multiculturalism because it supposedly segregates the peoples of Canada; multiculturalism hurts the Canadian, Quebecois, and Aboriginal culture, identity, and nationalism projects; it perpetuates conflicts between and within groups; and it hinders equity and equality in society and the economy.<ref>Joseph Garcea, "Postulations on the Fragmentary Effects of Multiculturalism in Canada," ''Canadian Ethnic Studies,'' 2008, Vol. 40 Issue 1, pp 141-160 [http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=336d0e40-7f73-44c5-86a6-7743e134bcf9%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=43218590
online]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 08:14, 1 February 2012

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Multiculturalism in Canada in the sense of equal acceptance of races, religions and cultures was adopted as the official policy of the Canadian government during the prime ministership of Pierre Elliot Trudeau in the 1970s and 1980s.[1] Canadian society is often depicted as being "very progressive, diverse, and multicultural".[2] The Canadian government has been described as the instigator of multiculturalism as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration.[3] The Canadian Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism is often refereed to as the origins of modern political awareness of multiculturalism.[4]

Multiculturalism is reflected in the law through the Canadian Multiculturalism Act and section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Broadcasting Act of 1991 asserts the Canadian broadcasting system should reflect the diversity of cultures in the country. Despite the official policies, segments of the Canadian population are critical of the concept(s) of a cultural mosaic and implantation(s) of multiculturalism.[5]

History

Canada until the 1940s saw itself in terms of British and French cultural and linguistic identities, and to some extent First Nations. Speakers of other languages, such as German and Ukrainian, were suspect, especially during the First World War. Jews were suspect, especially in Quebec where anti-semitism was a factor. While some black ex-slave refugees from the United States were tolerated, racial minorities of African or Asian origin were generally beyond the pale. The mood changed dramatically during the Second World War.[6]

Immigration

Main article: Immigration to Canada

Immigration has played an integral part in the development of multiculturalism within Canada, however Asians faced legal obstacles limiting immigration during the 1800s and early 1900s.[7] Additional, specific ethnic groups that did immigrate during this time faced barriers within Canada preventing full participation in political and social matters, including equal pay and the right to vote.[8] Legislative restrictions on immigration (such as the Continuous journey regulation and Chinese Immigration Act) that had favoured British, American and European immigrants were amended during the 1960s, resulting in an influx of diverse people from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.[9] As of 2006, Canada has grown to have thirty four ethnic groups with at least one hundred thousand members each, of which eleven have over 1,000,000 people and numerous others are represented in smaller amounts.[10] 16.2% of the population self indentify as a visible minority.[10]

Canada currently has one of the highest per capita immigration rate in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification.[11] Canada also resettles over one in ten of the world’s refugees.[12] In 2008, there were 65,567 immigrants in the family class, 21,860 refugees, and 149,072 economic immigrants amongst the 247,243 total immigrants to the country.[13] Approximately 41% of Canadians are first or second generation immigrants,[13] meaning one out of every five Canadians currently living in Canada was not born in the country.[14] Newcomers have tended to settle mostly in the major urban areas.[15] Political parties are cautious about criticizing the high level of immigration, because, as noted by the Globe and Mail, "in the early 1990s, the Reform Party was branded 'racist' for suggesting that immigration levels be lowered from 250,000 to 150,000."[16]

Evolution of legislation

The compromises made between the English and French speaking Fathers of Confederation during the 1860s set Canada on a path to bilingualism, and this in turn contributed to biculturalism and multiculturalism.[17] Lord Tweedsmuir the 15th Governor General of Canada was an early champion of multiculturalism;[18] from his installation speech in 1935 onwards, he maintained and in speeches and over the radio recited his ideas that ethnic groups "should retain their individuality and each make its contribution to the national character," and "the strongest nations are those that are made up of different racial elements."[19]

Political cartoon on Canada's bicultural identity showing a flag combining symbols of Britain, France and Canada, from 1911

The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism established on July 19, 1963 by the Conservative Party government of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was in response to the grievances of Canada's French-speaking minority (concentrated in the Province of Quebec).[20] The report of the Commission advocated that the Canadian government should recognize Canada as a bilingual and bicultural society and adopt policies to preserve this character.[2]

Biculturalism was attacked from many directions. Conservative Party leader John Diefenbaker (first Prime Minister of German decent.[21]) saw it as an attack on his vision of unhyphenated Canadianism.[22] It also did not satisfy the growing number of young Francophones who gravitated towards Quebec nationalism.[23] While in general many Canadians disliked the new policies of biculturalism and official bilingualism,[24] the strongest opposition came from Canadians of neither English nor French descent, the so-called "Third Force" Canadians who advocated multiculturalism.[25] Biculturalism did not accord with local realities in the western provinces, where the French population was tiny compared to other cultural minorities.[23] To accommodate everyone, the formula was changed from "bilingualism and biculturalism" to "bilingualism and multiculturalism."[24]

Canadian multiculturalism was re-articulated in the 1964 maiden speech by Paul Yuzyk, a Conservative Party member and Senator who referred to Canada as "a multicultural nation".[26] Yuzyk became knows as one of the "father of multiculturalism" along with Pierre Trudeau after authoring the policy implemented by the Liberal Party government of Pierre Trudeau.[27] The "Announcement of Implementation of Policy of Multiculturalism within Bilingual Framework" took place in the House of Commons on October 8, 1971.[28] In 1982, section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was established and affirmed multiculturalism as part of Canada's heritage.[29] The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was later introduced during Brian Mulroney's Conservative government and received Royal Assent on July, 21 1988.[30] On a practical level, a result of the multiculturalism Act was federal funds began to be distributed to ethnic groups to help them preserve their cultures.[31] Projects typically funded included the construction of ethnic-oriented community centres. This led to criticisms that the policy was actually motivated by electoral considerations rather than Trudeau's vision of a Just Society.[32]

Charter and Multiculturalism Act

Main articles: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian Multiculturalism Act
Monument to Multiculturalism by Francesco Pirelli in Toronto, Canada. Four identical sculptures are located in Buffalo City, South Africa; Changchun, China; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Sydney, Australia.

It is asserted that Section Twenty-seven of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms "officially recognized" a Canadian value in 1982, namely multiculturalism.[33] The section provides the overall framework for management of ethnocultural and racial diversity.[33] Section 27 stats:[33]

This Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.

The 1988 Canadian Multiculturalism Act affirms the policy of the government to ensure that every Canadian receives equal treatment by the government which respects and celebrates diversity.[33] The "Act" in-general recognizes:[34]

  • Canada's multicultural heritage and that that heritage must be protected.
  • The rights of Aboriginal peoples.
  • English and French remain the only official languages but that other languages may be used.
  • Social equality within society and under the law regardless of origins, race or creed.
  • Minorities' rights to enjoy their cultures.

Broadcasting Act

Main article: Multicultural media in Canada

In the Multiculturalism Act, the federal government proclaimed the recognition of the diversity of Canadian culture.[35] Similarly the Broadcasting Act of 1991 asserts the Canadian broadcasting system should reflect the diversity of cultures in the country.[36] The CRTC is the governmental body which enforces the Broadcasting Act.[36] The CRTC revised their Ethnic Broadcasting Policy in 1999 to go into the details on the conditions of the distribution of ethnic and multilingual programming.[35] One of the conditions that this revision specified was the amount of ethnic programming needed in order to be awarded the ethnic broadcasting license. According to the act, 60% of programming on a channel, whether on the radio or television, has to be considered ethnic in order to be approved for the license under this policy.[35]

Global influence

The Global Centre for Pluralism on Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada.

Canadian multiculturalism is looked upon with admiration by leaders outside the country, such as the Aga Khan. In a 2002 interview with the Globe and Mail, the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims described Canada as "the most successful pluralist society on the face of our globe",[37] citing it as "a model for the world."[37] He explained that the experience of Canadian governance - its commitment to pluralism and its support for the rich multicultural diversity of its peoples - is something that must be shared and would be of benefit societies in other parts of the world.[38][39] With this in mind, he went on in 2006 to establish the Global Centre for Pluralism in partnership with the Government of Canada. The Centre seeks to export the Canadian experience by promoting pluralist values and practices in culturally diverse societies worldwide.[39]

Criticisms

Further information: Criticism of multiculturalism
Toronto's Chinatown is a ethnic enclave located in the city center

Critics of multiculturalism often debate whether the multicultural ideal of benignly co-existing cultures that interrelate and influence one another, and yet remain distinct, is sustainable, paradoxical or even desirable.[40][41][42] To many Quebecers, despite an official national bilingualism policy, multiculturalism threatened to reduce them to just another ethnic group.[43] Quebec's policy seek to promote interculturalism, welcoming people of all origins while insisting that they integrate into Quebec's majority French-speaking society.[44] In 2008, a Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences, headed by sociologist Gerard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor, recognized that Quebec is a de facto pluralist society, but that the Canadian multiculturalism model "does not appear well suited to conditions in Quebec".[45]

Foreign born Canadian, Neil Bissoondath in his book Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in Canada, argues that official multiculturalism limits the freedom of minority members, by confining them to cultural and geographic ethnic enclave.[46] He also argues that cultures are very complex, and must be transmitted through close family and kin relations.[47] To him, the government view of cultures as being about festivals and cuisine is a crude oversimplification that leads to easy stereotyping.[47]

Canadian Daniel Stoffman's book "Who Gets In" questions the policy of Canadian multiculturalism. Stoffman points out that many cultural practices, such as allowing dog meat to be served in restaurants and street cockfighting, are simply incompatible with Canadian and Western culture.[48] He also raises concern about the number of recent immigrants who are not being linguistically integrated into Canada (i.e., not learning either English or French).[48] He stresses that multiculturalism works better in theory than in practice and Canadians need to be far more assertive about valuing Canadian cultural protectionism.[48]

Garcia explores the validity attacks on multiculturalism because it supposedly segregates the peoples of Canada; multiculturalism hurts the Canadian, Quebecois, and Aboriginal culture, identity, and nationalism projects; it perpetuates conflicts between and within groups; and it hinders equity and equality in society and the economy.[49]

See also

Template:Wikipedia books

References

  1. ^ Kobayashi, Audrey (1983), "Multiculturalism: Representing a Canadian Institution", in Duncan, James S; Duncan, Ley (eds.), Place/culture/representation, Routledge, pp. 205–206, ISBN 0415094518
  2. ^ a b Anne-Marie Mooney Cotter (February 28 2011). Culture clash: an international legal perspective on ethnic discrimination. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-4094-1936-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Wayland, Shara (1997), Immigration, Multiculturalism and National Identity in Canada (PDF), University of Toronto (Department of Political Science), retrieved September 12 2010 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Ronald L. Jackson, II (June 29 2010). Encyclopedia of Identity. SAGE. p. 480. ISBN 978-1-4129-5153-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Charmaine Nelson; Camille Antoinette Nelson (2004). Racism, Eh?: a critical inter-disciplinary anthology of race and racism in Canada. Captus Press. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-55322-061-9.
  6. ^ Richard J. F. Day, Multiculturalism and the history of Canadian diversity (2000) ch 6
  7. ^ Matthew J. Gibney; Randall Hansen (2005). Immigration and asylum: from 1900 to the present. ABC-CLIO. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-57607-796-2.
  8. ^ Yasmeen Abu-Laban; Christina Gabriel (2002). Selling diversity: immigration, multiculturalism, employment equity, and globalization. University of Toronto Press. pp. 37–39. ISBN 978-1-55111-398-2.
  9. ^ Edward Ksenych; David Liu (June 1 2001). Conflict, order and action: readings in sociology. Canadian Scholars' Press. p. 407. ISBN 978-1-55130-192-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "2006 Census release topics". Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  11. ^ Dolin, Benjamin; Young, Margaret (31 October 2004), Canada's Immigration Program, Library of Parliament (Law and Government Division), retrieved November 29 2006 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Canada's Generous Program for Refugee Resettlement Is Undermined by Human Smugglers Who Abuse Canada's Immigration System". Public Safety Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Canada – Permanent residents by gender and category, 1984 to 2008". Facts and figures 2008 – Immigration overview: Permanent and temporary residents. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
  14. ^ Bybee, Rodger W; McCrae, Barry (2009). PISA science 2006: implications for science teachers and teaching. National Science Teachers Association. p. 92. ISBN 9781933531311. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  15. ^ Grace-Edward Galabuzi (January 30 2006). Canada's economic apartheid: the social exclusion of racialized groups in the new century. Canadian Scholars' Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-55130-265-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Is the current model of immigration the best one for Canada?, Globe and Mail, 12 December 2005, retrieved August 16 2006 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ Colin H. Williams (1991). Linguistic minorities, society, and territory. North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Dept. of Geography and Recreation Studies. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-85359-131-0.
  18. ^ Norman Hillmer; Adam Chapnick (September 1 2007). Canadas of the mind: the making and unmaking of Canadian nationalisms in the twentieth century. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7735-3273-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Saunders, Doug (27 June 2009), Canada's mistaken identity, Globe and Mail, retrieved June 28 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ Anne-Marie Mooney Cotter (February 28 2011). Culture clash: an international legal perspective on ethnic discrimination. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-4094-1936-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Daniel Francis (1994). Imagining ourselves: classics of Canadian non-fiction. arsenal pulp press. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-55152-000-1.
  22. ^ Desmond Morton (June 20 2006). A short history of Canada. Random House Digital, Inc. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-7710-6480-7. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ a b Nelson Wiseman (2007). In search of Canadian political culture. UBC Press. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-0-7748-1388-4.
  24. ^ a b Rainer Knopff; Thomas Flanagan (1989). Human rights & social technology: the new war on discrimination. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-88629-097-9.
  25. ^ Martin N. Marger (April 25 2008). Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives. Cengage Learning. pp. 458–. ISBN 978-0-495-50436-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Miriam Verena Richter (2011). Creating the National Mosaic: Multiculturalism in Canadian Children¿s Literature from 1950 To 1994. Rodopi. p. 36. ISBN 978-90-420-3351-1.
  27. ^ Rhonda L. Hinther; Jim Mochoruk (December 31 2010). Re-Imagining Ukrainian-Canadians: History, Politics, and Identity. University of Toronto Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4426-1062-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Miriam Verena Richter (July 2011). Creating the National Mosaic: Multiculturalism in Canadian Children¿s Literature from 1950 To 1994. Rodopi. p. 37. ISBN 978-90-420-3351-1.
  29. ^ M. O. Dickerson; Thomas Flanagan; Brenda O'Neill (March 11 2009). An Introduction to Government and Politics: A Conceptual Approach. Cengage Learning. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-17-650042-9. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ David Bennett (November 10 1998). Multicultural states: rethinking difference and identity. Psychology Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-415-12159-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Stephen M. Caliendo; Charlton D. McIlwain (February 20 2011). The Routledge companion to race and ethnicity. Taylor & Francis. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-415-77706-3. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Will Kymlicka; Keith G. Banting (2006). Multiculturalism and the welfare state: recognition and redistribution in contemporary democracies. Oxford University Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-19-928918-9.
  33. ^ a b c d Jonathan L. Black-Branch; Canadian Education Association (1995). Making Sense of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Canadian Education Association. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-920315-78-1.
  34. ^ "Canadian Multiculturalism Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 24 (4th Supp.)". Department of Justice. 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  35. ^ a b c Robin Mansell; Marc Raboy (April 12 2011). The Handbook of Global Media and Communication Policy. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 149–151. ISBN 978-1-4443-9541-9. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ a b Marc Raboy; William J. McIver; Jeremy Shtern (April 15 2010). Media divides: communication rights and the right to communicate in Canada. UBC Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7748-1774-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ a b Stackhouse, John; Martin, Patrick (02 February 2002), Canada: 'A model for the world', Globe and Mail, p. F3, retrieved June 29 2009, Canada is today the most successful pluralist society on the face of our globe, without any doubt in my mind. . . . That is something unique to Canada. It is an amazing global human asset {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  38. ^ Prince Karim Aga Khan IV (19 May 2004), Address at the Leadership and Diversity Conference, Gatineau, Canada, retrieved March 21 2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  39. ^ a b Aga Khan Welcomes Government of Canada's Partnership in New Global Centre for Pluralism, Aga Khan Development Network, April 18, 2005, retrieved April 21, 2007
  40. ^ John Nagle (September 23 2009). Multiculturalism's double bind: creating inclusivity, cosmopolitanism and difference. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7546-7607-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Farhang Rajaee (May 2000). Globalization on trial: the human condition and the information civilization. IDRC. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-88936-909-2.
  42. ^ Leonie Sandercock; Giovanni Attili; Val Cavers (May 1 2009). Where strangers become neighbours: integrating immigrants in Vancouver, Canada. Springer. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4020-9034-9. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ Christian Lammert; Katja Sarkowsky (November 17 2009). Negotiating Diversity in Canada and Europe. VS Verlag. p. 177. ISBN 978-3-531-16892-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Assaad E. Azzi; Xenia Chryssochoou; Bert Klandermans (July 15 2011). Identity and Participation in Culturally Diverse Societies: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. John Wiley & Sons. p. 236. ISBN 978-1-4443-5181-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ Taylor, Charles (2008), Building the Future: A Time for Reconciliation (PDF), Québec, Canada: Commission de consultation sur les pratiques d'accommodement reliées aux différences culturelles, retrieved October 20, 2011
  46. ^ Giuliana B. Prato (August 6, 2009). Beyond multiculturalism: views from anthropology. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7546-7173-2.
  47. ^ a b Lalaie Ameeriar; Stanford University. Dept. of Anthropology (2008). Downwardly global: multicultural bodies and gendered labor migrations from Karachi to Toronto. Stanford University. pp. 21–22.
  48. ^ a b c Phil Ryan (March 30, 2010). Multicultiphobia. University of Toronto Press. p. 103-106. ISBN 978-1-4426-1068-2.
  49. ^ Joseph Garcea, "Postulations on the Fragmentary Effects of Multiculturalism in Canada," Canadian Ethnic Studies, 2008, Vol. 40 Issue 1, pp 141-160 [http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=336d0e40-7f73-44c5-86a6-7743e134bcf9%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=43218590 online]

Further reading

External links

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