The Canadian Multiculturalism: Cultural Integration in the Society - Research Paper Example

Introduction Before going into the discussion regarding multiculturalism in Canada, let us get a better understanding of what multiculturalism actually is. Multiculturalism refers to the concept of presence of numerous ethnic cultures in a single society. When people having different ethnic cultures live in any specific society for different reasons, it gives rise to multiculturalism in that society. Multiculturalism promotes social equality, freedom, and justice in a society and this is the reason why most of the people believe it to be the most practical and fair system. Multiculturalism allows people to follow their cultural norms and values freely because it integrates a sense of tolerance in the people living in the society. Canada is one of those countries which exhibits multiculturalism as people belonging to different parts of the world live there for different purposes. Canadian government encourages minorities to participate fully in different social acts by enhancing their level of social, economic, and cultural integration (CIC). Canadian government not only promotes its own culture and religion but also gives respect and consideration to the religions and cultures of ethnic minorities. In this paper, we will discuss whether multiculturalism really exists in Canada or it is just a myth. Multiculturalism in Canada: A Myth or Reality Dewing and Leman state, “Canada can be described as a multicultural society whose racial and ethnic diversity is expressed in different ways”. I personally believe that multiculturalism in Canada is a reality because in Canada, there is very little income inequality and people from different cultural backgrounds are living in Canada for so many years. Although 70 percent of the Canadian population is Roman Catholic, but all other people living in Canada are free to follow their respective religions. The government of Canada promotes social equality and that is the reason why Canadian people have no difficulty or pressure in obeying their religions openly. Canadian people believe that a culture is never based on a single race or religion; rather it is a combination of various factors that continuously change with the ongoing changes in the world. Canadian government has adopted various multiculturalism policies, which also prove the existence of multiculturalism in Canada. “Canadian multiculturalism policy is about valuing diversity” (Rao). Multiculturalism policies of the Canadian government have really made a strong and positive impact on the minds of the foreigners. A large number of foreigners give preference to immigrate and live in Canada because they consider Canada as the true multicultural society where every individual has power to live according to the culture of his or her own country. In 1970s, Canadian government approved multiculturalism as an official policy in order to strengthen the concept of diverse culture and to protect the rights of minorities living in Canada. “The Government of Canada is committed to reaching out to Canadians and newcomers and is developing lasting relationships with ethnic and religious communities in Canada” (CIC). Canadian government is very friendly and supportive for the immigrants and provides protection to their religious and cultural places. This is the reason why a large number of people want to immigrate to Canada. In Canada, every person is free to follow the culture, which he or she likes. There is no compulsion on any person to follow the cultural norms and values of the Catholic society, rather every religion and culture is given due respect in Canada which make it a real multicultural society. Cultural identity, productive diversity, and social justice and freedom are some of the widely recognized concepts of Canadian society, which endorse the element of multiculturalism in the society of Canada. Some other policies include acceptance of multi citizenship, celebration of festivals of minority, and recognition of cultural activities. Canada is truly a multicultural society where a large number of people belong to other countries. Nearly fifty-nine percent people living in Canada have adopted French or British cultures whereas all others are neither British nor French. They have come from different parts of the world in order to work there and earn a good income. Those people have their own cultures and they have no pressure to adopt the culture of Canada. They are free to do whatever they want in accordance with their own cultural values and traditions. A large number of non-British and non-French people live in all provinces of Canada making it a real multicultural society. Nearly nineteen percent of all Canadian citizens are those who do not belong to Canada by birth. There is very less amount of foreign people living in Atlantic Canada and Quebec as compared to foreign people living in other parts of the country. Vancouver is a perfect example of multiculturalism where nearly 29 percent foreign people live. Similarly, in Toronto, nearly 40 percent of the total population belongs to countries other than Canada. Multiculturalism in Canada provides various benefits to the people living in Canada. Dewing and Leman state, “Multiculturalism serves as a positive instrument of change aimed at the removal of barriers that preclude the involvement, equity, access, and representation of all citizens in Canada’s institutions”. Immigrants do not feel any kind of foreign society’s pressure while living and following their religions and cultures in Canada. Multiculturalism in Canada also removes the barriers to participation in social activities, which makes immigrants feel more welcoming and friendly in the society (Kymlicka). In Canada, the number of foreign citizens is increasing day by day. A large number of foreign people consider Canada as the safest and most beneficial place to live. Immigrants earn a very good income, which is nearly equal to the income earned by local citizens of Canada. Canada not only welcomes foreign skilled people, such as, doctors and engineers to come and work in Canada but also provide various social and economic benefits to the immigrants. Economic, political, and social integration of immigrants make Canadian immigration a better and future-oriented decision for the foreign people. Dewing and Leman found that the courts of Canada consider Canada’s multicultural reality at the highest levels of decision-making. The decision makers do not discriminate among the people based on their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In Canadian law, it is mentioned that every individual living in Canada is equal under the law and maintains the right of equal social and judicial protection without any form of discrimination. Canadian Multiculturalism Act The Canadian Multiculturalism Act not only provides support to the ethnic minorities present in Canada but also provides statuary framework for existing multiculturalism policies. Dewing and Leman state, “The Act recognizes the need to increase minority participation in society by ensuring that federal institutions are responsive to the multicultural reality of Canada. Under this act, the government of Canada holds the responsibility to ensure compliance with the multiculturalism policies of Canada. Canada: A Real Multicultural Society Multiculturalism in Canada is a reality as we see a large number of people from different cultural background present in different provinces of Canada. Canada encourages skilled people from all over the world to come there and live their lives in accordance with their own cultural values. Canadian people also agree that multiculturalism is beneficial for the economic progress of Canada. Multiculturalism has proved to be beneficial not only for the economic progress of Canada but also for all other fields of life including educational development, research development, and sports. Canadian cricket team is one of the perfect examples of multiculturalism in Canada. In the team, seven to eight cricketers out of eleven belong to countries other than Canada, which include Pakistan, India, Uganda, and England. This example shows that people from all over the world live in Canada and perform their social and cultural activities without any social pressure. Canadian government promotes multiculturalism by encouraging people to practice their original cultures and religions. There are a large number of mosques and temples present in different provinces of Canada, which are proofs of multiculturalism in the country. There is no threat to these religious places in Canada and the government is responsible for the ensuring security of these places. There is no cultural or social conflict in the country and every individual has the freedom to practice his or her own religion and culture. With every passing day, social gap between British and French Canadians and immigrants is decreasing which is giving rise to a real diverse culture in Canada. Therefore, we can say that Canada has a diverse culture and all Canadian governments have played a great role in promoting multiculturalism in Canada. Conclusion Summing it up, we can say that Canada is a truly a multicultural country, which promotes social equality, freedom, and justice in the society. Canada allows people to follow their cultural norms and values freely as it integrates a sense of tolerance and acceptability in the people living in the Canadian society. Canadian government promotes multiculturalism and encourages minorities to participate in different social acts by ensuring their social, economic, and cultural integration in the society. Canadian government has adopted various multiculturalism policies, such as, acceptance of multi citizenship, celebration of festivals of minority, and recognition of cultural activities, which are considerable proofs of multiculturalism in the Canadian society. Works Cited Citizenship and Immigration Canada. “Multiculturalism.” Cic.gc.ca, 31 Jan. 2011 Web. 19 Mar. 2011. Dewing, Michael, and Marc Leman. “Canadian Multiculturalism.” Parl.gc.ca, 16 Mar. 2006 Web. 19 Mar. 2011. Kymlicka, Will. “The Current State of Multiculturalism in Canada.” Icc-icc.ca, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. Rao, Govind. “Multiculturalism in Canada and Austria: Paradoxes of Assimilation and Integration.” Austria-Canada.com, 17 Apr. 2007 Web. 19 Mar. 2011. Read More