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Candadas Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity
At the beginning of the century Canada consisted of 95% of people from French or English decent, by the mid 1980 that figure
had dropped to just below 70%. Canada overall is a very diverse nation we boast people with heritage around the world and
that is a fact we are very willing to share. Canadians are generally proud of the fact that the around 70% of immigrants coming
to Canada come from non-European countries including, china, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Philippines, south Korea, Iran, Vietnam
and many others. Canada is a truly culturally diverse in that the only true Canadians are the Native people and the rest of
us have come her at one time or another in the history of our families. We have learnt to live with people of other background
and accept their values and beliefs into our society.
Cultural Mosaic
The idea of assimilation where on culture sheds its past identity and adopts the language values attitudes and traditions
of the dominant culture or a melting pot culture was replaced in Canada by the idea of integration when one culture group
or groups preserve some distinctive aspects of its own culture while adopting many values, attitudes and traditions of the
dominant culture or cultural mosaic. In Canada ones pride in their ethnic heritage could go hand in hand with their pride
in Canada. Ethnicity would not undermine Canadian Identity, it would make up Canadian. Identity.
Canadas Multicultural Policy
Canadian Multiculturalism Act
1. This Act may be cited as the Canadian Multiculturalism Act.
INTERPRETATION
2. In this Act,
"federal institution" means any of the following institutions of the Government of Canada:
(a) a department, board, commission or council, or other body or office, established to perform a governmental function
by or pursuant to an Act of Parliament or by or under the authority of the Governor in Council, and
(b) a departmental corporation or Crown corporation as defined in section 2 of the Financial Administration Act,
but does not include
(c) any institution of the Council or government of the Northwest Territories or the Yukon Territory, or
(d) any Indian band, band council or other body established to perform a governmental function in relation to an
Indian band or other group of aboriginal people;
"Minister" means such member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada as is designated by the Governor in Council
as the Minister for the purposes of this Act.
MULTICULTURALISM POLICY OF CANADA
3. (1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of Canada to
(a) recognize and promote the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial diversity of
Canadian society and acknowledges the freedom of all members of Canadian society to preserve, enhance and share their cultural
heritage;
(b) recognize and promote the understanding that multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian
heritage and identity and that it provides an invaluable resource in the shaping of Canada's future;
(c) promote the full and equitable participation of individuals and communities of all origins in the continuing
evolution and shaping of all aspects of Canadian society and assist them in the elimination of any barrier to that participation;
(d) recognize the existence of communities whose members share a common origin and their historic contribution to
Canadian society, and enhance their development;
(e) ensure that all individuals receive equal treatment and equal protection under the law, while respecting and
valuing their diversity;
(f) encourage and assist the social, cultural, economic and political institutions of Canada to be both respectful
and inclusive of Canada's multicultural character;
(g) promote the understanding and creativity that arise from the interaction between individuals and communities
of different origins;
(h) foster the recognition and appreciation of the diverse cultures of Canadian society and promote the reflection
and the evolving expressions of those cultures;
(i) preserve and enhance the use of languages other than English and French, while strengthening the status and
use of the official languages of Canada; and
(j) advance multiculturalism throughout Canada in harmony with the national commitment to the official languages
of Canada.
(2) It is further declared to be the policy of the Government of Canada that all federal institutions shall
(a) ensure that Canadians of all origins have an equal opportunity to obtain employment and advancement in those
institutions;
(b) promote policies, programs and practices that enhance the ability of individuals and communities of all origins
to contribute to the continuing evolution of Canada;
(c) promote policies, programs and practices that enhance the understanding of and respect for the diversity of
the members of Canadian society;
(d) collect statistical data in order to enable the development of policies, programs and practices that are sensitive
and responsive to the multicultural reality of Canada;
(e) make use, as appropriate, of the language skills and cultural understanding of individuals of all origins; and
(f) generally, carry on their activities in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality
of Canada.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTICULTURALISM POLICY OF CANADA
4. The Minister, in consultation with other ministers of the Crown, shall encourage and promote a coordinated approach
to the implementation of the multiculturalism policy of Canada and may provide advice and assistance in the development and
implementation of programs and practices in support of the policy.
5. (1) The Minister shall take such measures as the Minister considers appropriate to implement the multiculturalism policy
of Canada and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may
(a) encourage and assist individuals, organizations and institutions to project the multicultural reality of Canada
in their activities in Canada and abroad;
(b) undertake and assist research relating to Canadian multiculturalism and foster scholarship in the field;
(c) encourage and promote exchanges and cooperation among the diverse communities of Canada;
(d) encourage and assist the business community, labour organizations, voluntary and other private organizations,
as well as public institutions, in ensuring full participation in Canadian society, including the social and economic aspects,
of individuals of all origins and their communities, and in promoting respect and appreciation for the multicultural reality
of Canada;
(e) encourage the preservation, enhancement, sharing and evolving expression of the multicultural heritage of Canada;
(f) facilitate the acquisition, retention and use of all languages that contribute to the multicultural heritage
of Canada;
(g) assist ethno-cultural minority communities to conduct activities with a view to overcoming any discriminatory
barrier and, in particular, discrimination based on race or national or ethnic origin;
(h) provide support to individuals, groups or organizations for the purpose of preserving, enhancing and promoting
multiculturalism in Canada; and
(i) undertake such other projects or programs in respect of multiculturalism, not by law assigned to any other federal
institution, as are designed to promote the multiculturalism policy of Canada.
(2) The Minister may enter into an agreement or arrangement with any province respecting the implementation of the multiculturalism
policy of Canada.
(3) The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement or arrangement with the government
of any foreign state in order to foster the multicultural character of Canada.
6. (1) The ministers of the Crown, other than the Minister, shall, in the execution of their respective mandates, take
such measures as they consider appropriate to implement the multiculturalism policy of Canada.
(2) A minister of the Crown, other than the Minister, may enter into an agreement or arrangement with any province respecting
the implementation of the multiculturalism policy of Canada.
7. (1) The Minister may establish an advisory committee to advise and assist the Minister on the implementation of this
Act and any other matter relating to multiculturalism and, in consultation with such organizations representing multicultural
interests as the Minister deems appropriate, may appoint the members and designate the chairman and other officers of the
committee.
(2) Each member of the advisory committee shall be paid such remuneration for the member's services as may be fixed by
the Minister and is entitled to be paid the reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by the member while absent from
the member's ordinary place of residence in connection with the work of the committee.
(3) The chairman of the advisory committee shall, within four months after the end of each fiscal year, submit to the
Minister a report on the activities of the committee for that year and on any other matter relating to the implementation
of the multiculturalism policy of Canada that the chairman considers appropriate.
GENERAL
8. The Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of Parliament, not later than the fifth sitting day of that House
after January 31 next following the end of each fiscal year, a report on the operation of this Act for that fiscal year.
9. The operation of this Act and any report made pursuant to section 8 shall be reviewed on a permanent basis by such
committee of the House, of the Senate or of both Houses of Parliament as may be designated or established for the purpose.
Amendment Not in Force
- 1993, c. 28, s. 78 (Sch. III, s. 16):
16. Paragraph (c) of the definition "federal institution" in section 2 is repealed and the
following substituted therefor:
(c) any institution of the Council or government of the Northwest Territories or the Yukon Territory or of the Legislative
Assembly for, or the government of, Nunavut, or
As a term multiculturalism came into use in the 1960 to counter the term biculturalism that couldn’t adequately
describe Canadian culture. Although the term cultural pluralism is still favoured in Quebec multiculturalism is considered
to have replaced it. Multiculturalism refers to three main ideas, a society that is characterized by ethnic or cultural heterogeneity,
an ideal of equality and mutual respect among a population’s ethnic or cultural groups and finally a government
policy proclaimed by the federal government in 1971 and also by a number of provinces. A multicultural nation means that the
heritage of all Canada’s ethnic groups would be respected and valued, it is accepting all the goodness and values
the people have brought here.
Because of the advent of the British in the 18th Century, the gold rushes of the 19th century and the settlement of the
west in the late 19th and early 20th century, Canada has become the attraction of many new immigrants and has become one of
he world main immigrant receiving societies. Only after the rocky 60s did the provincial and federal governments adopt multicultural
policies. Federally, since 1972 there has been a minister responsible for multiculturalism and since 1973 there has been Canadian
Multiculturalism Council and a Multiculturalism Directorate within the Department of the Secretary of State.
The purposes of the Official Multicultural act overall are to help cultural groups to preserve their culture, to help
overcome barriers of discrimination and prejudice, to promote cultural exchanges and to assist immigrants to acquire at least
on of Canada’s official languages.
 Pros/Cons of Cultural Diversity
Canada’s cultural mosaic and multi cultural policies have resulted in Canada being a very culturally diverse nation.
This is both positive and negative in many ways.
Canada has people from all around the world living inside her borders. The result has been an exciting, original culture
with many different parts, ideas, beliefs, values, traditions, languages, and religions and in general many different people.
Our diversity has somewhat taught Canadians to respect people of different origins.
A problem associated with a Culturally divers nation is the possibility of discrimination and prejudice. With more varieties
of people these are more likely. With diversity may come racism.
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