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Canada's Multicultural Dynamic

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Canada’s multicultural dynamic presents the country with a unique perspective unlike no other. The nation is made up of citizens with different heritages, traditions and practices that have positively integrated into Canadian society ever since the government began to acknowledge diversity within the country. This paper will argue that multiculturalism represents a qualitatively better approach to ethnic diversity than did the Canadian immigration and cultural policies that preceded it. Restricted immigration and aboriginal assimilation negatively affect the larger picture of Canadian culture in comparison to public policy supporting multiculturalism.
The idea of Canada being a “multicultural” society has arguably been around since the …show more content…

They had no choice in the matter and children were going to be taught how to assimilate into Canadian society. This was done through the implementation of a residential school system and therefore be forced to lose ties to a culture they knew their whole lives. They continued to be “segregated socially, silenced politically, and marginalized economically” (76). The Canadian government in this period was vested in decreasing diversity while promoting assimilation and limiting the multicultural character of Canada (Davis 70). A political shift in ideals favoring multiculturalism was necessary before the government continued to make decisions that would compromise their integrity as well as continue a developing racist and prejudiced society into the future.
It was not until the 1960s when previous assimilation and limited diversity began to change. The federal decision to move away from ethnic intolerance and assimilation saw the beginnings of diversity tolerance for Canada. The government was left with no choice but to tailor their mandates around the shifting opinions of Canadians. Increasingly, “Canadians found the old policy incompatible with the liberal and democratic values of Canada” (71) along with “increased disaffection with the policies of assimilation on the part of minatory ethnic groups themselves” (71). Social standards were changing amongst the general public.

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