Secularism In Canada

The Canadian identity is an ever changing idea that has drastically changed generation to generation to finally develop as what is known today as the “ethnic mosaic”. Canada has evolved from being a predominantly Caucasian country to one containing this “ethnic mosaic”; a mix of ethnic groups, and cultures that coexist within society. Here, Canadians, especially immigrants are free to express themselves and their culture without the fear of discrimination and have many opportunities to widen their horizons since this country has developed in this positive manner over the years. Contrary to Shastri’s beliefs, I believe that the ethnic mosaic is true and that Canada is a land of opportunities.

Canadians have a very peaceful reputation internationally, yet not many countries know much about the Canada. Save for the most prominent stereotypes of Canada, such as maple syrup, beavers or the cold, Canada’s reputation shows its citizens to be very polite, accepting and down-to-earth people. Canada as a country is seen as a place of opportunity, whether it be for jobs, education or a new start. It is seen as very progressive in its human rights laws and reputable in general. One of Canada’s biggest identifiers internationally is its multiculturalism. Approximately 250,000 people immigrate to Canada each year from all around the globe, making it a mosaic of different cultures, religions and races. Some people and countries

Canada is a country that sets an international standard for the acceptance of people of all cultures and ethnicities, that is why is not surprising that Canada adopted the official policy of multiculturalism in 1971. Canada became the first country in the world to officially adopt multiculturalism therefore linking all citizens and celebrating the multitudes of race, religion, and cultural ethnicities that exist throughout the country (Government of Canada 2012). The policy has been a topic of controversy amongst citizens and scholars due to the belief that it almost has a certain “un-nationalistic” quality that doesn’t put Canadian culture first when in fact, the policy is designed to incorporate all the varying cultures into one unified Canadian

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

Multiculturalism has played a significant role in Canada, since its establishment 40 years ago. Much of Canadian society is reflective of different cultures from around the world making multiculturalism a very relevant topic to Canadians. While it can be argued that the majority of Canadians are in favor of multiculturalism, there are some who hold a different opinion. Though some critics claim that multiculturalism promotes a form of ‘hyphenated Canadianism’ that exacerbates divisions in Canadian society based on such characteristics like ethnic, minority, or immigrant status, the social advantages such as how multiculturalism is a source of

Canadian Multiculturalism Canada is a country with an unique cultural diversity. Unlike many other societies, Canada thrives on diversity, acceptance and respect values. Multiculturalism encourages new comers and people from different backgrounds to identify themselves as a part of the Canadian society. Therefore, giving everyone a voice and means to express their opinions.

With a population of over 30 million people Canada is one of the world’s largest and strongest economies, it is a very diverse and multicultural country. Canada is one of the world’s most pluralistic and active immigrant welcoming nations. Compared to every other Western democracy, Canadians are more likely to say that immigration is beneficial, and more likely to support multiculturalism and to view it as a source of pride. (The Current State of Multiculturalism in Canada and Research Themes on Canadian Multiculturalism, 2008-2010. Ottawa: Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010.

Until the 1960’s, Canada’s image was one of complete devotion to the church. It had been an integral part of Canada’s culture, and the Catholic church had a massive hold on the citizens in Quebec especially. However, the baby boomers which followed WWII broke this trend. Since Canada is personified as a mosaic due to its multiculturalism, which is in itself a part of Canada’s culture today, it would be easy to make the assumption that religion does not play as vital a role as it did before the end of the war. Present day Canadians are very loosely interested in religion and spirituality and are not as influenced by the strict rules and traditions that their

With the multiculturalism policy in Canada, Pierre Trudeau declared its commitment to the principal of multiculturalism in 1971. In 1971, Canada was the first country in the world to adapt multiculturalism as an official policy. By doing so, Canada accepted the value of dignity of all Canadians regardless of their racial or ethnic origins, their language, or their religious affiliations. Multiculturalism has led to higher rates of naturalization than ever before. Immigrants can freely choose their new citizenship because they want to be Canadians.

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.

Canada has become a mess; it is filled with countless dangerous criminals from various countries, and to make matter worst authorities have lost track of them. David B. Harris, the former Senior Manager for Canadian Security Intelligence Service, calls our immigration program a "death wish". As every year, a quarter of million immigrants and about 30,000 refugee claimants come to Canada. Therefore, Canada has a “parallel legal system based on Sharia (Muslim) law", so now one cannot deny that Muslim immigrants have played a vital role in transforming Canadian law according to their religious belief.

Canada’s annual rate of immigration has been the highest in the world since 1990 averaging 0.75 percent of the population and has had an important impact on the population size of Canada adding 3.9 million people between 1990 and 2006. Such increase in the immigration has huge effects on economic, demographic, social and political conditions in Canada that affect the quality of life of all Canadians including the past immigrants. Immigration to Canada can mainly be distinguished by three words: economics, ethnicity and race. Trade and command for Canadian goods and services handles the need for immigrants and the politics of race ascertain where those newcomers arrive from (Bearton, 2016).

Multiculturalism in Canada is recognizing that while Canadians share equal rights, they come with diverse cultural backgrounds where each can take pride in their heritage. Canada was and still is being transformed by mass immigration. Between the two years of 1992 and 1993, there were almost 500,000 immigrant arrivals. That is a huge amount of people entering into Canada. These new immigrants brought with them new skills, cultural traditions, and religious beliefs. Multiculturalism is very evident in Canada, and it is clear how we came to be such a diverse country. Multiculturalism promotes differences between social groups and identities, and it takes those differences to create one single culture. It expresses the essence of a modern and

Throughout time Canada has evolved significantly, which has led the country to becoming a nation of toleration. Well-known political theorist John Locke, who was a strong advocate of religious toleration, would be satisfied with Canada’s ability to tolerate others of different religions. His philosophical view on politics has become a reflection to Canada’s government, although his theories may have been seen as outrageous in his time, it is more than perfect for Canadians.

Canada has welcomed many people from all over the world to become a part of its’ nation. It is no surprise that Canada is considered to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world. To continue to foster its strong multicultural identity, Canada tries to accommodate people from various religions, cultures, and ethnicities. Many implementations have been made to make the nation an inclusive society for its inhabitants. One of the many adaptations that the country has made concerning the growth of multiculturalism is the agreement of the Islamic (Sharia) law practice in Ontario - with the consent of both parties it can be used in