In the recent past, the federal government of Canada had started the policy of multiculturalism.
This policy was adopted in 1971 by the prime minister called Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The policy act was then enacted in 1982 under section 27 of the Canadian Freedom and Rights Charter. This led to diversification and development as a result of social immigration. In 1960, political awareness on multiculturalism was done by the Canadian Commission of Bilingualism and Biculturalism (Wright, 2016). The Canadian nation consists of people from different racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds, and this immigration has been since the nineteenth century up to date. Canada recognizes and respects the social diversity of her people in terms of language, religion, and culture. The frontline move of the government of Canada in recognizing and backing up the idea of diversity and inclusiveness has become the people of the Canadian culture. The people have also learned to appreciate one another in various ways.
Successes and Challenges of the Multicultural Policy:
Social Impact
It has promoted the understanding and creativity arising from individuals of different communities and origins interacting together.
The policy has also ensured that individuals of different origins are treated equally according to the law and protected by it. This has been possible as a result of valuing and respecting the cultural diversities of these people (Clarke, 2015). For example, Ryan Gosling in his quote stated, "I loved growing up in Canada. It's a great place to grow up. It's very multicultural. There's also good health care and a good education system."
It has led to the development of education in those students of different cultural and religious backgrounds are unified and learn the diverse cultures of their colleagues.
This has also led to the eradication of racism. However, it takes a lot of time for individuals of different ethnicities to get accustomed to the new environment. Another challenge facing this policy is that some individuals are judged with respect to their race, color, and origin (Mann, 2012).
Cultural Impact
There has been enhancement and promotion of different languages in Canada other than French and English. The multicultural policy has therefore led to the reinforcement of the Canadian official languages. However, with time there has been a fall in the use of the native Canadian languages as people of diverse languages accumulate in Canada (Ballantyne, 2017). There has been a great risk of social conflict as a result of differences in cultural practices, ethnic rituals, and religious beliefs. This has led to the development of a wide gap between two or more communities.
Economic Growth
The Canadian multicultural policy has also promoted equal participation of different individuals and communities in evolving, shaping and developing the Canadian society together (Kymlicka, 2011). Professionals from different countries have been brought together, therefore, improving the technical skills in production and management the Canadian state resources. This has led to the improvement and development of the economy at large.
However, managing taskforce of cultural diversities is a great challenge. It is also difficult sometimes for coworkers of different cultural backgrounds to work together as a team.
Similarly, in the early 1970s, discrimination against individuals of particular origins was rampant, for example, the Africans and Asians who treated as slaves. Multiculturalism that brings about the division of people is detrimental to the nation's social, economic and political growth and stability (Kymlicka, 2011). If immigration is not properly regulated, multiculturalism could result in overpopulation to a nation resulting in overexploitation of resources and maybe an increase in the crime rate.
Conclusion
It is beneficial to recognize and promote the understanding that the policy of multiculturalism is key to the development and shaping the future of Canada in terms of social, cultural, economic, and political aspects. Canada has, therefore, been a good example for other nations to emulate. Canada is referred to as a beacon by the rest of the world because of her commitment to pluralism and for her support for the multicultural richness and diversity of her people. The exemplary life of the Canadian people has made the world go back to the drawing board in a bid to borrow from their coexistence and the unmatched level of tolerance. The diversity has become a strength to the Canadian economy since they managed to secure manpower and ideas from a pool of minds from across the globe. The mutual understanding and sharing have led to the steady growth of the economy and hence becoming the best example of how people should live in society.
Annotated
Bibliography
Ballantyne, D. (2017). Blackening Canada: Diaspora, Race, Multiculturalism by Paul BarrettBarrett, Paul. Blackening Canada: Diaspora, Race, Multiculturalism. The University of Toronto Press. x, 246. $29.95. University Of Toronto Quarterly, 86(3), 107-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/utq.86.3.107
This journal focuses on the work of black writers in Canada, especially Austin Clarke, Tessa McWatt, and Dionne Brand, Blackening Canada underscores the way in which literature can shift conceptions of country and diaspora. Through earnest consideration of literary aspects , public discourse, and the language used in political protests, Paul Barrett quips that multiculturalism in Canada uniquely enables black writers in diaspora to impact change in national literature and identity. The writers take advantage of the tensions and ambiguities within Canadian discourses of the country to rewrite the nation from a black perspective of those in diaspora, converting exclusion from the national discourse into the impetus for their creative endeavors.
Clarke, G. (2015). Multiculturalism. ESC: English Studies In Canada, 41(4), 6-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/esc.2015.0071
The article attempts to elaborate the English language dynamics within Canada and the social integration and interaction that exists between individuals hailing from varied parts of the world. The content covers the way different individuals try to identify themselves as far as their culture and language is concerned. The communities of people in the various geographical locations in Canada are presented in such a manner that the level of association and integration is marked by the extent up to which the individuals exchange ideas. Sufficient knowledge on that aspect enables anthropologists and other stakeholders in their quest to fathom the cultural dynamics in the world as a whole.
Kymlicka, W. (2011). CANADIAN MULTICULTURALISM IN HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: IS CANADA UNIQUE? Constitutional Forum / Forum Constitutionnel, 13(1 " 2), 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.21991/c9w37q
The title of this journal gives an implication that there is something extraordinary or distinctive with reference to the way Canada tackles issues of diversity as far as the Canadian culture is concerned. In his introduction, Professor Abu-Laban quipped that what is standing out to Canada is not the mere fact of diversity — one can devise high levels of religious, linguistic and ethnic diversity in the US, Nigeria or Brazil — but rather the institutional and legal response to diversity.1 Canada is unique in that the laws and institutions accommodate and promote diversity, most obviously through the Multiculturalism policy.
Mann, J. (2012). The introduction of multiculturalism in Canada and Australia, 1960s-1970s. Nations And Nationalism, 18(3), 483-503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8129.2012.00553.x
The above journal attempts to explain the constitution of the Canadian people in the name of cultures and people. The various immigrants who happened to migrate to Canada are well documented and their contributions enumerated. That helps to assess the degree of change that the Canadian culture. The different parties involved in the entire process are acknowledged and the deductions are drawn as to what should be done to ensure that positive results are realized. The detailed account presented by the writer helps to shed more light on the misunderstanding and misconceptions of the Canadian people. The article comes in handy whenever one needs the genesis of multiculturalism in Canada.
Wright, H. (2016). Once More, Whence and Whither Canadian Multiculturalism?: A Review Essay of Revisiting Multiculturalism in Canada. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 48(2), 167-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ces.2016.0019
The book strives to underpin issues that pertain the origin of the various cultures in Canada and the process of interaction between the cultures themselves. The Canadian people happen to come from all corners of the world. Each and every individual come with their cultures and then mingle with the natives. The perfect blend that arises thereafter is well articulated in this article in a more elaborate manner. The degree of association among the people and the extent of growth in the Canadian culture and language is elaborated and then recommendations made on what should be done to ensure that the progress continues.
References
Ballantyne, D. (2017). Blackening Canada: Diaspora, Race, Multiculturalism by Paul BarrettBarrett, Paul. Blackening Canada: Diaspora, Race, Multiculturalism. The University of Toronto Press. x, 246. $29.95. University Of Toronto Quarterly, 86(3), 107-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/utq.86.3.107
Clarke, G. (2015). Multiculturalism. ESC: English Studies In Canada, 41(4), 6-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/esc.2015.0071
Kymlicka, W. (2011). CANADIAN MULTICULTURALISM IN HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: IS CANADA UNIQUE? Constitutional Forum / Forum Constitutionnel, 13(1 " 2), 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.21991/c9w37q
Mann, J. (2012). The introduction of multiculturalism in Canada and Australia, 1960s-1970s. Nations And Nationalism, 18(3), 483-503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8129.2012.00553.x
Wright, H. (2016). Once More, Whence and Whither Canadian Multiculturalism?: A Review Essay of Revisiting Multiculturalism in Canada. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 48(2), 167-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ces.2016.0019
