Multiculturalism in Canada Chapter 10 What is Official

Multiculturalism in Canada Chapter 10

What is Official Multiculturalism? Ø The transformation of multicultural principles into official policy began with an all political party agreement in 1971 followed by the entrenchment of multiculturalism in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, and its subsequent enshrinement with the passage of the Multiculturalism Act in 1988.

The Paradox Ø Balancing the act of unity and diversity. Ø How to make Canada safe “for” diversity, yet safe “from” diversity, while, at the same time, making diversity safe from Canada yet safe for Canada. Ø Drawing the multicultural line

Theorizing Multiculturalism Ø Conservative Multiculturalism Ø Liberal Multiculturalism Ø Critical Multiculturalism Ø Radical Multiculturalism

The Social Contract under an official multiculturalism is based on 3 assumptions: 1. Our similarities and individuals outweigh our differences because of race and ethnicity. 2. Nobody should be denied or excluded because of racial and ethnic differences. 3. Within reasonable limits and rule of law, differences are helpful in crafting an inclusive society. Ø

Multiculturalism as… Ø Fact Ø Ideology Ø Policy Ø Process Ø Critical discourse

As Fact Ø What empirically is Ø Most countries are ethnically diverse, composed of people from a variety of different backgrounds who think, speak, worship and act differently.

As Ideology Ø What ought to be

As Policy Ø What is about to be Ø 1970’s Ethnicity Multiculturalism Ø 1980’s Equity Multiculturalism l l 1985 Charter of Rights and Freedoms 1988 Multiculturalism Act Ø 1990 s-2000 Civic Multiculturalism

Canada’s Integrative Multiculturalism: Policy Shifts Table 10. 1 (pg. 285) Ethnicity Multiculturalism (1970 s) Equity Multiculturalism Civic Multiculturalism (1980 s) (1990 s-2000 s) Focus Celebrating differences Fostering equality Living together Reference Point Culture Structure Society Building Mandate Ethnicity Race Relations Citizenship Magnitude Individual adjustment Institutional inclusion Community participation Problem Source Prejudice Systemic discrimination Exclusion Problem Solution Cultural sensitivity Employment equity Inclusiveness Key Metaphor "Mosaic" "Level playing field" "Belonging"

As Practice Ø What really happens Ø Multiculturalism as practice refers to its applications for advancing goals, agendas, and ambitions. Ø Multiculturalism hoped to formulate a new myth of Canada as “the land of opportunity and equality. ”

As Critical Discourse Ø What must be

Public Perception Ø Support and rejection varies among Canadians when it comes to multiculturalism

Critiquing Multiculturalism Ø Rejection: Aboriginals and Quebecois prefer the language of nationalism over multiculturalism to justify their claims of political voice and selfdetermining autonomy. Ø Left: Colossal Hoax (minority co-optation) Creates a ghetto nation (second class citizens) Ø Right: Costly drain of resources/erodes national unity/ terrorism Ø Moderates: unsure of where to stand

Canada ØContinued Acceptance vs. Europe Ø Retreat ØFounded on immigration Ø Assumes no Ø Assets not burdens (economically) ØCrucial to Canada building ØPotential citizens ØTool for integration to improve chances for prosperity Ø Geography responsibility for integration Ø Thought immigration was temporary ØSegregated communities resulted ØNo vision for living together ØResistance

Debate Does multiculturalism encourage voluntary apartheid? Should immigrants try harder to integrate into Canadian society? Aishah Azmi Gurbaj Singh Multani Is Canada too tolerant? Where should Canada draw the line? What are the implications of resisting a multicultural society? Are there any alternatives?

Fin Ø Diane Tomassi Ø Jessica Bonnici Ø Maria Bava