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4 - Official multiculturalism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2010

By
John Berry
Edited by
John Edwards
John Edwards
Affiliation:
St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia
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Summary

INTRODUCTION

In this chapter I briefly outline the history and current status of multicultural policy in Canada, then turn to a description of public attitudes towards the policy, and end with a consideration of how multicultural and language issues relate to each other.

While numerous attempts were made historically to assimilate Canada's diverse population to British cultural norms (Palmer, 1975), by 1956 the federal government's view was that assimilation had not worked anywhere in the contemporary world, and that it was impracticable as a general policy. In 1971, the Prime Minister announced a policy of multiculturalism. The key sections were:

A policy of multiculturalism within a bilingual framework [emphasis added] commends itself to the Government as the most suitable means of assuring the cultural freedom of Canadians. Such a policy should help to break down discriminatory attitudes and cultural jealousies. National unity, if it is to mean anything in the deeply personal sense, must be founded on confidence in one's own individual identity; out of this can grow respect for that of others and a willingness to share ideas, attitudes and assumptions. A vigorous policy of multiculturalism will help create this initial confidence. It can form the base of a society which is based on fair play for all. […]

Type
Chapter
Information
Language in Canada , pp. 84 - 101
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1998

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