In 1971, Canada was
the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as
an official policy. By so doing, Canada affirmed
the value and dignity of all Canadian citizens
regardless of their racial or ethnic origins, their language, or their
religious affiliation
However, it was not until
July 1988 under the leadership of Prime Minister Brian Mulruney that
the Canadian Multicultural Act was assented to become law of Canada.
See
Canadian Multicultural Act (An act for the preservation of
multiculturism in Canada)
This act protects the citizens of Canada in the
following manner:
Provides
that every individual is equal before and under the law and has the
right to the equal protection and benefit of the law without
discrimination and that everyone has the freedom of conscience,
religion, thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and
association and guarantees those rights and freedoms equally to male
and female persons;
Recognized the importance of preserving and enhancing the
multicultural heritage of Canadians;
Recognizes the rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada;
Provides that all Canadians, whether by birth or by choice, enjoy
equal status, are entitled to the same rights, powers and privileges
and are subject to the same obligations, duties and liabilities;
Provides that every individual should have an equal opportunity with
other individuals to make the life that the individual is able and
wishes to have, consistent with the duties and obligations of that
individual as a member of society, and, in order to secure that
opportunity, establishes the Canadian Human Rights Commission to
redress any proscribed discrimination, including discrimination on the
basis of race, national or ethnic origin or colour;
Recognizes
that all human beings are equal before the law and are entitled to
equal protection of the law against any discrimination and against any
incitement to discrimination, and to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
which Covenant provides that persons belonging to ethnic, religious or
linguistic minorities shall not be denied the right to enjoy their own
culture, to profess and practise their own religion or to use their
own language;
Recognizes the diversity of
Canadians as regards race, national or ethnic origin, colour and
religion as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society and is
committed to a policy of multiculturalism designed to preserve and
enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians while working to
achieve the equality of all Canadians in the economic, social,
cultural and political life of Canada.
Despite the fact that the term multiculturism
is often related to the term "melting pot" - the term is unique
because it recognizes the fact that in the society like Canada there are
a number of cultures that want to peacefully coexist. This is different than what
is promoted in the US
which is a melting pot society where there are a number of cultures which over time
have the intention to assimilate together as
if these cultures were simmering in a giant pot of stew. Other terms
that are similar to multiculturism used are cultural salad, cultural
diversity and
a cultural mosiac.
Global Multicultural Location
