DCHP-2

multiculturalism DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — Ethnicities, Politics, Administration

  the appreciation of diverse immigrant cultures; policies to support cultural diversity and its appreciation.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Multiculturalism appears to have been coined in early 1960s Canada as an addition to the then-established term biculturalism, referring to English and French cultural identities, which was seen by some as an exclusion of non-Francophone minority groups from the Canadian mainstream. In 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau declared a formal commitment to the principle of multiculturalism and to the promotion of cultural diversity, while retaining English and French as the only official languages (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference).
  Multiculturalism has been a difficult issue in relation to public policy, especially among some Quebecers who see it as a threat to Quebec culture and identity (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference and the 1971 and 1976 quotations). However, multiculturalism has become an important part of the Canadian identity (see, e.g. the 2007 quotation) since at least the 1970s and 1980s (if not earlier). The concept became an unassailable part of public policy in 1985 with the passing of the Canadian Multicultualism Act (assented to in 1988), which states 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” (see Justice Laws Canada reference.)
  The term is used in Canada before American (or Australian) news media take it up and when they do (The New York Times in 1971), they report on the Canadian context. It is therefore also a Canadianism by virtue of Origin, Type 1, in addition to its cultural salience, which we deem as overriding the Origin type.
  COD-2 lists "multicultural" and "multiculturalism" but does not mark it as Canadian.

  See also: bicultural  separate school  multicult  

  • 1963  Biculturalism is not a flower that grows in the natural state on the slopes of the Rockies. some people would prefer to acclimatize multiculturalism there... I have a great deal of respect for the language, customs and characteristics of New Canadians of various origins. And for my own part, I insist that the future Constitution of our country shall contain a charter of the basic rights that will give each of them full citizenship in Quebec as well as in the rest of Canada. 
  • 1965  Multiculturalism Sought In B.C. Recognition in Canada of more than two languages and cultures is advocated in most briefs being submitted today at the second day of hearings by the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. 
  • 1971  The federal government's newly-announced policy of multiculturalism is getting a chilly, if not downright hostile, reception in Quebec. [...] Contrary to the federal reasoning, the Quebec critics believe it is impossible to separate language from culture and that efforts to promote multiculturalism within a framework of two official languages will be harmful to Quebecers and the French fact. 
  • 1976  Guy Rocher, a sociology professor at the University of Montreal, told the delegates that multiculturalism threatens bilingualism. "Montreal is already familiar with the sort of bilingualism that multicultural policy threatens to produce," he said. "Among New Canadians bilingualism means English and Greek, English and Italian or English and German, while English-French bilingualism is practically non-existent." 
  • 1985  These are critical concerns in a country that encourages multiculturalism and depends on immigration for a significant part of its population growth. The more diverse the population, the more compelling the case for integrated schools and, perhaps, the more pressure to abandon them. 
  • 1991  However, Chengiah Ragaven, a professor of sociology at Concordia University, said that the idea of multiculturalism is just a sham, and he's marking the international day to eliminate racism by campaigning against the concept. To Ragaven, multicult, for short, is a government substitute for a real public effort to end racism in this country. 
  • 2007  Multiculturalism, in contemporary Canada, is a loaded word. It is not only a policy enacted in the 1970s by the federal government, but it has since become, especially in English Canada, as essential a part of Canadiana as snow and hockey. Multiculturalism is used as a marker of civilization in Canada. 
  • 2016  Priding itself on diversity and multiculturalism, Canada has to do better. Being the nation's capital, racism, and anti-black sentiments, have no room in our strides to progress.