This essay will focus on the implicit nature of Multiculturalism and associated sociological and cultural constructs in regards to defining Canadian culture and identity.
Various empirical researches will evaluate and contrast both issues and prospective of Canada’s Multicultural policy, with dominant focus to both the limitations of language and religious costumes and the potential prosperity through the adoption and understanding of Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy.
The Canadian Policy of Multiculturalism has been altered twice since its inception in 1971. The revision of the Policy of Multiculturalism was due to include the freedom of pursuing a religion of choice. Generally, this policy describes the fundamental promotion of adopting an accepting attitude towards foreign culture in exchange for the contribution toward a harmonious atmosphere, sentimental and fundamental security; pride, confidence and acceptance of cultural diversity in Canada specifically. Furthermore, the promotion of multiculturalism ensures all Canadian citizens the possibilities and potential of economic, political, social and cultural integration.
As promoted by the Official policy, “Canadian multiculturalism is fundamental to our belief that all citizens are equal. Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities” (Canadian Multiculturalism: An Inclusive Citizenship. (2012, December 19)). However, it proves strenuous to identify the various social needs when addressing such a broad demographic.
One outstanding challenge that the Canadian policy presents is the subjective concern towards language as both a marginal and intrinsic loss to the minority populace. The challenge is not the coexistence and complexity of multiple lang...
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...lturism Policy serves as an ideal basis for acculturation, the acceptance and tolerance towards other cultures while maintaining your own, instead of its adverse counterpart defined as assimilation; the loss of your own culture by adopting one that is not your own. Within this context, objectives of cultural cooperation through defining the importance of unity, equality and the freedom of choice
In conclusion, Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy characterizes several beneficial attributes in regards to the promotion of coexistence as part of the national acculturation development, and likewise, several complications and complexities such as the limitations of language as a defining element of a subset of culture. Nevertheless, the policy presents potential prospective for cultural unity and equality leading to an elemental definition of Canada’s national atmosphere.
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Show More...to identity with at least one of the countries predominate languages, English or French, dictated the degree in which they could participate in Canadian life. According to the Commission, this participation was real under two conditions: “that both societies, the French-speaking as well as the English-speaking, accept[ed] newcomers much more rapidly than they have done in the past; and that the two societies willingly allow other groups to preserve and enrich, if they so desire, the cultural values they prize[d]” (RCBB Book 1 xxv). It creates an interesting take on the acceptance of those “othered” groups, as change was necessary not only on the part of the minorities but also from Canada’s French and English-speakers. The Commissions work remains focused on language and culture, more so than ethnicity amongst a bilingual, bicultural and “othered” Canadian society.
Over the last century, Canada’s stance on immigration has changed drastically, from the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, to the changes made to Canada’s immigration policy after the Second World War , to the chain of events that have lead to Canada becoming the multicultural country that it is today.
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act: A Guide for Canadians. Ottawa, Ont: Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada, 1990. Print.
Do you know that despite Canada being called multicultural and accepting, Canada’s history reveals many secrets that contradicts this statement? Such an example are Canadian aboriginals, who have faced many struggles by Canadian society; losing their rights, freedoms and almost, their culture. However, Native people still made many contributions to Canadian society. Despite the efforts being made to recognize aboriginals in the present day; the attitudes of European Canadians, acts of discrimination from the government, and the effects caused by the past still seen today have proven that Canadians should not be proud of Canada’s history with respect to human rights since 1914.
In this thriving time period, Canada admitted countless immigrants and refugees from other nations. This second wave of immigrants contributed to Canada’s exponential population increase, alongside baby boomers. Canada was also introduced to many cultures and religions conveyed overseas by newcomers from Asia and Europe. This symbolized the start of Canada’s worldwide recognition of a multi-cultural country. As the coveted land for foreign citizens, Canada did not completely welcome every person who applied for citizenship. Under that desirable façade, the Canadian government somewhat welcomed and admitted immigrants with a comparatively hospitable attitude, however, once the immigrants arrived in Canada, they were left alone by the government to fend for themselves. Similar to the treatment of the government, immigrants were not completely welcomed by the Canadian mainstream society after settling in Canada.
Canada is the second largest country in the world. In Canada, there have been many immigrants from all over the world. People mostly come for a better future for themselves and their children, while others come here due to the country's respect of human rights. Canada always allowed immigrants to be able to celebrate religious or national holidays. This gives a chance for everyone not to forget his or her background. In Canada, there is not as much racism as in many other countries. This will someday become the key to world peace and harmony. Through Canada's multiculturalism, people appreciate each other's differences and this reduces racial confusions. In United States, on the other hand, there it has been always difficult for people to promote their religion and culture openly. For example in US, people have been always considering black people as ruiners and even thieves. They have been always looking at them differently and scared of them. This simple comparison concentrates on the very first two questions and represents Canada as a more humanistic society than United States.
According to citizen and immigration Canada statistics, (Immigrating to Canada, 2009), each year, Canada welcomes more than 200,000 new immigrants. It creates a diverse of multiple nationalities. Most immigrants from Europe or their descendants have religious backgrounds which respect universal fraternity. Also the multiculturalism makes Canada a "melting pot" for every member in the "pot". People respect each other and live together peacefully. People with different backgrounds live together peacefully without discrimination.
A person’s culture usually defines their identity, norms and values. I belong to the Canadian culture and will be examining the main elements of this culture such as its symbols, language, norms and values. Canada is considered to be a multiculturalist country, which can reveal why some aspects of my Polish heritage are incorporated into my culture and identity. Therefore, I believe that there is cultural diversity in Canada and that individuals can relate to different cultural identities in this culture, which is not the case for others around the world.
Canada today is referred to as a cultural mosaic because it ensures the ethnic backgrounds of all its people are secure and welcome. Canada’s culture itself is one that celebrates and embraces other cultures without condemning or discriminating against other peoples’ ethnicity because in Canada multiculturalism and equality of everybody is very important. But has it always been like this from the start? Unfortunately it was not. In times of Canada’s past, diversity was not something that was celebrated and those who were not white had great injustices done to them|. Canada does have a history of mistreating minorities this can be seen through assimilation policies used on the Natives, racism of African Canadians and discriminatory practices against Asian Canadians.
With attention to the diverse population of Canada, we can identify the different types of religions and cultures. Since 2001, the immigrants that have migrated here annually range from 221,352 to 262,236 (Government of Canada). Correspondingly Canada currently has one of the highest per capita immigration rates in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification (Dingari). Having said that, most of these immigrants are learning or speaking English as their second language. Through diversity, different languages bring in different perspectives and contribute to society as an addition to Canada’s globalization efforts. Different languages builds different communities within our society which brings similar people closer together to build closeness with one another but at the same time they are also open to other kinds of ethnic diversity.
This study will define the importance of the cultural institution of Canadian federalism and the political leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau during the late 1960s. Under PM Trudeau’s leadership, the Quiet Revolution failed to break apart Canadian federalism due to the unifying cultural aspects of language that he promoted through the Official Languages Act of 1969. Trudeau was a loyal Quebecker in terms of political power, yet he chose to unite Quebec and Ottawa in unity through a mutual respect for Anglophile and Francophile interests. Language was the primary barrier to national identity in Canada, which provide a political platform for PM Trudeau to implement a multicultural political solution to declare English and French
Multiculturalism was the forefront for the creation of the Charter and the advancement of equality. Pierre Trudeau's policy was about ensuring the cultural freedom of Canadians. Cultural freedom as an expression is meant "to break down discriminatory attitudes and cultural jealousies. Attitudes and jealousies are rooted in cultural insecurity and this can be reduced by ensuring that individuals are free to be whoever they choose culturally" (Forbes, 2007). While understanding what the Charter was created to achieve, there are also challenges it faces such as backlash from cit...
The mention of the abolition of multiculturalism for a “new” post-multiculturalist approach becomes difficult to understand. It claims, “to avoid the ‘excesses’ of multiculturalism” (47), however where does this notable governmental and social switch take place? How is the term coined, and how is it understood in theory versus in practice? How is it different from its predecessor? Even the classification of history struggles to define what is considered to be modern, let alone post-modern, and yet the term suggests a positive approach to alleviating difficult assimilation projects similar to those faced elsewhere (47). This notion may developed on the grounds of “someone else’s problems” ¬– in regards to its Canadian context – as a means to label, or justify, miscellaneous aspects of multiculturalism. However, with the government-wide commitment to policies and programs, in conjunction with social understanding, it naturally becomes subject to a wide array of differing opinions. As both immigration and citizenship policies change, its public reception often shifts as well. Especially since the channels referred to within the ‘multiculturalism...
“ Canada 's national obsession seems to be its own identity.” For many years Canada has feared the increasing influence of its North American neighbors on its culture - the United States . It has become a matter of growing concern for the people of power and influence in Canada to maintain their separate cultural identity and to promote their own cultural norms. Gaetan Tremblay presents his views on this topic and does this from the perspective of a person living and working in Quebec.
In 2011, more than 200 ethnic origins were reported in the National Household Survey, and 13 of those different ethnic origins had surpasses the one million mark in Canada, thus showing much diversity, and with diversity comes benefits. A variety of ethnic restaurants, grocery stores and clothing stores add more “life” and brightness to communities and areas, which attracts more residents and tourists. Thus, benefiting society by attracting new residents and tourists, which also adds to the stability and strength of the community. Moreover, as Canadian schools develop a cross cultural learning, citizens learn about diversity and the world, which benefits overall understanding and their education. Another benefit of multiculturalism, is that as more immigrants settle, communities benefit from cultural celebrations and more diverse cultural music, arts and food, thus benefiting society socially. Continuing onward, as diverse people migrate to Canada, they bring along a desire for goods from their homes and original location markets and such, thus benefiting society by contributing to a 0.2 per-cent rise in the value imports, along with a more interesting and varied market overall. Accordingly, a diverse population makes a community more and colourful and full of “life”, evidently benefiting