Canadian Multiculturalism Act

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, passed on July 21, 1988, creates a legal framework for the principle of multiculturalism in Canada. Although the region now known as Canada was originally settled by Indigenous peoples of First Nations and Inuit ancestry, British and French settlers later constituted the majority of the population. Upon the formation of Canada, the main cultural groups were British, French, and Indigenous. Since that time, people from many other parts of the world have immigrated to Canada, making its society more diverse. By embracing multiculturalism, Canadians assert their desire to give all people equal rights and protections, reduce discrimination based on cultural differences, and celebrate cultural education and preservation.

Background

Canada is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. People from many lands have moved to Canada, bringing their languages, beliefs, and ways of life. They have contributed to Canadian society in various ways. In many countries, the broad diversity of ethnic, racial, and religious groups has led to ongoing strife and misunderstanding. However, Canada has sought to embrace its diversity through the practice of multiculturalism or accepting and appreciating people of many backgrounds.

The first people to inhabit Canada were Indigenous cultures, whose many groups included the First Nations and Inuit. Starting in the sixteenth century, British and French settlers arrived and eventually asserted dominance over the region. Although Britain ultimately defeated France to win control of Canada and won prominence in Canadian society, significant populations of Indigenous and French residents remained. These populations largely retained their original languages and cultural practices.

When the country of Canada was formally confederated in 1867, the population was approximately 60 percent British and 30 percent French. However, by the start of the twentieth century, new waves of immigrants were reaching the country. In 1912 and 1913, the numbers of new immigrants exceeded 5 percent of the entire existing national population. Early waves mainly came from Europe, while immigrants from Asia and India came in large numbers starting in the second half of the twentieth century.

Slowly, these new people eroded the traditional majority groups and added a great variety of new cultures to the national lexicon. By the twenty-first century, Canadians reported more than 250 distinct ethnic backgrounds. Aside from British, French, and Indigenous peoples, these groups included Scottish, Irish, German, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Ukrainian, Dutch, and Polish.

Canada’s cultural diversity has manifested itself in many ways, but nowhere is it clearer than in the languages of the country. English and French remained the most common languages—the first languages of about 58 percent and 21 percent of citizens, respectively. Indigenous languages, while more rare, are also considered part of the original language groups; some of the most common include Cree languages, Inuktitut, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Dene, and Montagnais or Innu.

In the twenty-first century, 22 percent of Canadians speak a language besides the three mentioned above. Some of the most common include Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Arabic.

Overview

In its early years, Canadian society did not embrace multiculturalism. During this time, people of British ancestry who spoke English generally met with the most societal advantages. Other cultural and linguistic groups often garnered fewer advantages or even faced discrimination. In 1963, Canadian leaders devised a method known as bilingualism to promote fairness in their country. Under the bilingual system, both English and French would be recognized as official languages in Canada, which was considered a step towards reducing inequalities between British and French Canadians.

The bilingual system helped establish a spirit of cooperation and respect between the diverse cultures of Canada, but much more was left to do. On October 8, 1971, the Canadian government officially embraced multiculturalism when that principle was included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Multiculturalist policies assured that all people had the same legal rights and protections, and discrimination based on cultural differences would be barred.

The 1971 policy anchored multiculturalism in Canadian society, yet a clear framework for applying this principle was still lacking. In 1987, parliamentary reports indicated that more work was needed in making multiculturalism a legally effective practice. On July 21, 1988, Canadian leaders passed the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. This act officially set out the legislative basis for the protection of Canadians’ varied heritages, the targeting of culture-based discrimination, and the establishment of programs that celebrate diversity.

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act begins by referencing the Constitution of Canada, which declares that every person is legally equal. All Canadians should have the same protections and benefits of the law. They should also have freedoms of conscience, religion, expression, and belief, and the freedom to assemble and associate with others in a peaceful manner. The act sought to make these protections and freedoms more applicable to everyday dealings.

Drafters of the act hoped that it would reduce the fear of some minority groups that keeping their cultural identities might open them to discrimination or persecution. That, in turn, could help to ease feelings of distrust between groups and foster respect, understanding, and cooperation. Drafters expected these principles would be reflected across the country, applied equally to all genders, and encourage all varieties of people to participate in society and politics.

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988 was the first national multiculturalism law in the world. In the coming years, it would play both symbolic and practical purposes in Canadian government and society. The act required leaders to craft and support policies that encouraged multiculturalism and to promote government participation by people of all cultures. It set out basic goals that would be carried out more specifically by the Department of Multiculturalism and Citizenship, which formed in 1989 for that purpose. The act also established a reporting system by which leaders could monitor and analyze multicultural practices and participation.

An interesting commentary regarding the success of Canada and its multiculturism efforts is that, in many ways, Canada has become a “post-national state. This sentiment was voiced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2015. Trudeau asserted that Canada no longer had a core identity or a national mainstream.

In its 2022-2023 Annual Report on the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the government of Canada reiterated its commitment to multiculturalism and labeled this as a fundamental characteristic of its national society. It did, however, articulate persistent challenges such as racism and discrimination directed against groups such as its indigenous populations. It also noted an increase in hate crimes by 27% from 2020 to 2021. Nonetheless, Canada remains committed to its principles of fostering multiculturism.

Bibliography

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Szemberg, Wodek “Canada’s Commitment to Multiculturalism Is Reaching a Breaking Point.” The Hub, 7 Feb. 2024, thehub.ca/2024-02-07/wodek-szemberg-canadas-commitment-to-multiculturalism-is-reaching-a-breaking-point. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.