Explain Why Canada Is Not A Perfect Country

Canada and the issue of racism in society has been an issue for many years. Recently, our country has created new laws or altered old ones to prevent discrimination that exists in society today. In this paper, I will argue that only through recent years Canada has tried to battle discrimination through the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedom, the modification of the Immigration Act and the creation of the Human Rights Act in Canada. First I will provide background information about discrimination, racism and prejudice. Secondly, I will discuss the creation of the Charter and Rights and Freedom and the creation help deplete discrimination towards minorities. Also, the alteration of the Immigration Act in Canada gave minorities the opportunity to be equal. Then, I will discuss the Human Rights Act and how those modifications are leading Canada in the right direction for a lesser

Now that you are up to date with currents events I will briefly touch on some strong point of the Canadian democratic system. Citizens in Canada indirectly hold power in a free electoral system and are given better representation and more freedoms for their citizens than other systems of government. The freedom of speech, freedom of political expression, and the freedom of the media allow citizens to vote in favour of their own interest. Democracy in Canada is rooted on the grounds of equal rights; this gives people equality before the law, human rights, free and fair elections and so on. In comparison to the Third World, power is in the hands of the “Big Men”, the police and army are the ones who hold control not the people and where corruption is a norm, Canada may look like a utopia. Another strong point in the Canadian political system is everyone no matter race or sex has the right to vote as long as you are a Canadian citizen over the age of eighteen. Until the 60s/70s parties would make up electoral boundaries this was done to increase the number of votes in that location this is called gerrymander, this was unfair because certain parties had an advantage over others. However, now under the Electoral Boundaries Commissions this problem does not occur and no party has the upper hand over another. Interestingly the

Canada before working towards becoming a just society was a very discriminative place. During the events of World War One,WWI black and Chinese Canadians were prevented from joining the war along with aboriginals. Women were treated the same at the time, it was common for most women to stay at home wives and take care of the children. This was the stereotypical family at the time and was believed to be the ideal family too. Canadians thought poorly of minorities and even claimed it was to keep them safe, the aboriginals were an example, Canadians claimed the enemies might believe that they are savages which was a reflection of how they truly felt. Minorities were clearly being treated worse than the majority, they were seen as inferior and only good for

Have you ever heard that Canadians are the nicest people? It turns out, this wasn’t always true. In the late 1800’s a lot of European immigrants came to Canada seeking land, freedom, and pardon from their military service. In 1914, the first camp was opened. Canadians believed that central Europeans were a threat to their security. “After the outbreak of war, many civilians with links to Germany, Turkey and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (including Ukraine and other parts of central Europe) were arrested and vetted as possible threats to Canadian security” (1). The Canadians are similar to the Americans because the Americans treated the Japanese-Americans like they were dangerous no matter who they were just because they looked like the

Canada adopted multiculturalism as an official policy, which allows the value and dignity of all Canadians, regardless of their racial origins, language or religious affiliations. Plus the status of two official languages, French and English. Canada promotes multiculturalism by encouraging Canadians to participate in all aspects of life. Regardless of their background, anyone can participate in social, cultural, economic, and political affairs. Everyone is equal to one another. Everyone has the right to be heard. These rights are provided to us through our Canadian constitution and our charter of rights and freedoms. Some people come to Canada and have a history of hate towards an ethnic group. Promoting hatred is not permitted in Canada. You have the right to have your own ethnicity in Canada but you must also respect others right to do the same. Canada has experienced racial and ethnic tensions. But the majority of Canadians are fair minded. We will accept and respect them that will accept and respect us. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the freedom of religious expression. For those who are new comers to Canada, you may contribute to this country’s diversity. But you need to be prepared to live in a

Canada is often referred to as a nation of immigrants, however, for a long period of time these immigrants came from a limited side of the world. Most people who migrated to the Dominion before the turn of the twentieth century left European nations, predominately the British Isles and Western Europe. The pattern of immigration began to shift particularly in the 1890s, as it became more likely for southern and eastern Europeans to make the trip. Additionally, another notable change in the pattern of immigration was the increase in Asian workers beginning to arrive in the first couple of decades after Confederation. As a result of the influx of immigrants entering Canada, racism flourished in a variety of ways from individual acts of

Canada as nation failed to assimilate the immigrants, minorities and Aboriginal individuals into society. Legislations like the Indian Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Immigration Act, and Multicultural Act were introduced to help reduce the more recognizable forms of racial discrimination. Canada may believe that they are a nation that is justice and diverse however it failed to fix the core issues that made Canada to what it is today. The laws and regulations are a temporary fix to the problem, and Canada national building was originated in a corrupt and immoral way. Each historical events in Canada are linked together that made up Canada`s identity. Though they seem to be unconnected it indicates the hidden agenda Canada

The Canadian government portrays the country as a land of new beginnings, where people go to start a better life for themselves and their families. With much to offer to newcomers, including the promises of safety, security and healthcare, the vast selection of jobs and education, and an overall high quality of living, many immigrants have chosen and will continue to choose Canada as their new home country. Canadian officials take pride in accepting and embracing multiculturalism - as Canada is often referred to as a country of cultural mosaic in contrast to the idea of the American ‘melting pot’. This image of Canada overlooks the ill-advised past actions that have taken place, much the same way as it disregards the subtle discrimination that

The period of 1914 to 1939, Canada’s immigration policy got very unfair. Changes were made to the Immigration Act in 1914 that allowed the rejection of anyone from any race that was deemed

The pressure placed upon multicultural often leads to questioning of its value and usefulness in building the Canadian nation. there have been far too many questionable call of ethics on behalf of the government in regardless to who has taken, or not been able to take up for role in the country. Historically we see this negative connotation follow distinct groups of people. Notably: Aboriginal with residential schools (thought interesting because they are now seen as founding peoples, yet the last residential school was only closed in the early 90s), the Chinese head tax, Japanese intermittent camps, the turning away of Jewish individuals during WWII. It becomes difficult to see how some of those “marginalized or minority” groups in Canada are able to find themselves, even today, in an inclusive, equal and democratic society when multiculturalism in public discourse often hold onto old or stereotypical understandings. It continues to act as an ongoing point of contention because of the lack of historical knowledge Canadians have, as well as the increasing lack of engagement day-to-day contemporary politics and national happenings. It acts as an ignorance, that ultimately has consequences on the nations moral as well as its multicultural policies. In order to progress as a society and nation, it becomes increasingly difficult to build the foundation on old understandings and not re-contextualize group and national identities in a 21st century context (Leung 1-2). Leung notes

Canada: A Nation Unfolding, Ontario Edition. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2001, 34.] Sifton’s comment, however, was not an accurate reflection of government policy. From 1896 to the 1930s, Canadians, their politicians and immigration officials were not receptive to “peasants in sheepskin coats”. The immigration policy did not accept an aggressive peopling of the Prairies.[ Harold Troper. "History of Immigration." Historical Canada. Canadian Encyclopedia, 07 Apr. 15. Accessed 13 Jan. 2016, 2.] The ideal immigrants were still British or American independent farmers who would settle in the West. Sifton and the government may only have reflected their times, but Canadian immigration policy and public opinion were nevertheless racist. Moreover, Frank Oliver, a strong critic of Sifton’s policy, established Immigration Act 1910, which was purposed "to enable the Department of Immigration to deal with undesirable immigrants" by providing a means of control.[ Garfield Newman. Canada: A Nation Unfolding, Ontario Edition. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2001, 38.] The Act enshrined and

Canada is a very interesting country, mainly due to its diversity. The weather in Canada can be both freezing and very hot. Some land is rocky and mountainous, while other places are composed of flat, rolling hills. And in Canada, you can find many different races, from Asian to Latin, African to Indian. Canada is the most multicultural country in the world, and a lot of Canada's development and success can be attributed to immigrants coming into Canada (Samuda, 1984). Yet not all people agree that multiculturalism has had only positive effects on Canada. There are some drawbacks that are due to Canada's policies on immigration and multiculturalism. However, by

Canada is a country that has shown kindness, compassion, and valor in the face of hardship. From the get go, Canada is known to be a welcoming nation where thousands of immigrants and cultures are happily accepted. Even Canada’s long line of prime ministers have demonstrated their capability of preserving the peace that Canada has tried so hard to protect. Additionally, Kim Campbell has stated, “Canada is the homeland of equality, justice, and tolerance”. This quotation reveals truth of Canada’s democracy. In Global News, Canada was ranked the second-best country in the world, due to the fact that Canada welcomes those of all different cultures and races, individuals are not judged, citizens have the right to vote, and more. Therefore, democracy has opened doors for this nation and has managed to demonstrate that Canada’s government is best suitable for humans by giving them something essential:

Canada is a nation that prides itself on being open and tolerant to racial and ethnic diversity. According to the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988, the government recognizes that “multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity”. In a country where 20% of the population is foreign born, these words are a powerful emblem of national unity; the official position of the Canadian government is that different races and cultures are an asset to Canadian society, not a liability. However, the history of Canadian immigration policy and racial ideology remains preserved in sharp contrast to this modern ideal of acceptance. Differences in race and culture were perceived as a threat to society, most notably in British Columbia, which was especially vulnerable to Asian immigration. Anti-Asian sentiment expanded throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, eventually erupting into a series of violent incidents that would be known as the Vancouver Race Riots of 1907. These riots are difficult to reconcile with contemporary Canadian values, and are often understood as a terribly unjust but brief incident that was caused by an isolated group of racist British Columbians. In reality, the riots were the physical manifestation of decades of racial prejudice that permeated Canadian society and the federal government. This brief moment would have powerful and lasting effects on Canadian history as it spurred the government into pursuing

Immigration plays an important role in Canada’s economy and social status on the world stage. Immigration is the action of people moving from one country to another. However, it wasn’t always easy, to live in or enter a foreign land/country from early 1867, and even nowadays. Approximately 150 years ago, only limited people were allowed to enter the country because of the leaders’ (dictators), who ruled over the land and used their power to gain control over people’s life and country. Immigration was not fair for everyone as it was based on race, religion, gender, ethnic background. The government of Canada also rejected specific occupations, preferred certain language skills. For example, minority groups such as Jewish, Black, Japanese, Indian, African, Muslim, and many more, were excluded from the immigrant list. However, throughout years, countries began to accept immigrants to fulfill country’s need such as, labor work which white population refused to do. Some people had to migrate from their country due to war. As immigrants started to enter, there was decreased in the amount of joblessness, it also increased the population of the nation. Even if minority groups are allowed in Canada, they were required to live in specific areas and they were also banned from specific jobs and areas. Because of the ban on the black immigrants, Chinese immigration law, and Japanese immigration limits, Canada is an unjust society.