CDN267H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Canadian Multiculturalism Act, Culture Of The United Kingdom, Canadian Identity
Document Summary
Multiculturalism has become associated with canadian identity since 1970s: represents distinctly canadian" vision. Rejects overt nationalism of the past and redefines canada along global, rather than national, lines to reflect country"s diversity. Some see it as flawed or failed social experiment, others as ineffective for fostering national unity. Scrutiny on institutional forces: using ideas of difference to govern people: multiculturalism and its supporters. Canada had assimilationist approach to immigration up to the mid-1960s. Immigrants expected to assimilate to mainstream british culture. Immigration policies explicitly discriminated on basis of race. 1967: canada adopted new race-neutral admissions criteria and introduced points system. Increased number of immigrants from non-european societies. Major shift in top countries of origin: from europe to east asia, south asia, and middle. More multicultural conception of immigration followed immigration reforms. 1971: multiculturalism adopted as official government policy. Pm trudeau felt multiculturalism would dampen quebec nationalism and fuel national unity. Multiculturalism policy envisions canada as a mosaic.
