Trudeau's Role In Canadian Identity

One of the first major acts towards immigration was the Canadian Citizenships Act of 1947, which was passed by WL Mackenzie King on January 1, 1947 (Towards the Citizenship Act. Government of Canada). This act enabled non- Canadian immigrants to live in Canada regardless of their origin and were also able to apply for citizenship after 5 years of living in Canada (Ibid). Other changes included that women would not lose their citizenship if they married a non- Canadian (Erica, Gagnon. Canadian Citizenship Act, 1947). However, Canadians could lose citizenship if they adopted other citizenships (Ibid). This act was significant as Canada was the first Commonwealth country create separate citizenship, which aided in defining their independent nationhood (Towards the Citizenship Act. Government of Canada). Another pivotal movement was the introduction of the Point System in 1967, which instituted three classes of immigrants: independent class, family class and humanitarian class (A.E, Challoner. Canada's Immigration Policy). These classes categorized immigrants’ potential to be active and beneficial to productivity in Canadian society. This act also empowered for provinces to manage their own immigration laws (Ibid). Furthermore, Canadian independence was critical in

Jocelyn Letourneau’s is a history professor that wrote the essay “Reconstructing the Canadian Identity”. The author argues that if one compares the Harper government's idea of conservatism against Trudeau’s idea of multiculturalism, the reader can infer that multiculturalism is failing and Canada should go back to its monarch roots. By bringing back symbols of monarchy, a new Canadian perspective would form. Letourneau’s essay is structured in a very well and composed matter. His arguments and connections are structured in proper format where his whole essay can be linked and understood easily by the average individual. Although Letourneau’s essay is structured in a proper format, it is without its faults. The essay contains many fallacies that give his arguments a weak perspective on the topic. Also throughout his essay, the author appears to be taking a side within his argument. His bias viewpoint makes himself, and his work uncredible to the reader.

A defining moment in Canadian history is an event in the past that has made a difference or has changed Canada. Attitudes towards women in Canada changed dramatically in the post-war period. In the pre-war period, women had gained the rights to vote and serve in Parliament. Now, women finally made the most progress shown, as they were accepted into traditionally male jobs and laws were created for equal rights between the genders in society. This began the chapter of feminism and women’s rights in Canada. Attitudes towards women in the workforce and in society reflected in society and the economy which would later affect the direction of feminism in Canada. As the post war years progressed, more women found themselves as outlaws to society

The changing roles of women in Canada between 1900 and 1946 greatly impacted women’s lives today. Women during this time period led movements to gain rights for themselves. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Flappers, and the Famous Five showed women’s strength in society. Women displayed their contributions to Canada as they worked in different industries. Due to the changing roles of women during these years, women’s power resulted in the gaining of rights and personhood.

The more we learn about the history of women’s rights and how their status was viewed within Canadian society, the better our knowledge becomes that women have been prevented from engaging in an equal role in the country’s economy. Social equality is the idea in which all persons have the same opportunities, respect, values, social benefits and fundamental liberties. The status of Canadian women has changed dramatically over several decades. Women’s human rights in Canada, which defined their social status, were differentiated by three different periods of time, including women’s rights before the war, during the war, and after the war. Many women were treated horribly before World War One however war in general, particularly World War One,

From the years of 1945-2000, Canada changed and developed as a country. These changes had both negative and positive effects, and were quite controversial. With a global crisis at hand, Canada found itself involved in international conflicts like they’ve never experienced before. Meanwhile, Canada was also dogged with internal issues, which were both political and economic, as it changed society. Canada was faced with problems of immigration, multiculturalism, Quebec separatism, as well as regionalism. This made Canada’s society change drastically. With Canada’s changes came the development of Canada’s national identity. Canadians began to view their country differently, and Canada’s identity took ahold of a new meaning.

Being a Canadian is a blessing. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that garners protection against low wages, provides a platform propelling diversified learning environments and functions under a democratic government system operating for the common good. Adopting a pretentious framework, being able to acknowledge Canadian identity within the following context is the actual blessing. Canadian identity itself is submerged within an array of events, individuals and time periods that have significantly contributed to her development and fundamentally, idealization as a unified nation. Nevertheless, the idea of unity was not a matter of immediate occurrence; the journey to cultivating a unified nation was plagued by measures accentuating plurality.

In 1962, many new regulations were created that removed most limits on who can and cannot come to Canada. Though Canada’s government preferred British and European immigrants because they could adapt easier, in 1967, Canada’s legislation became “colour-blind”- and did’t use the colour, ethnicity, or cultural background as factors to determine the immigrant’s status on becoming Canadian or not. Instead they used a point-system that was based on one’s education and employment prospects. For that reason, only certain amount of training for specific skills and tasks would have to take place for them. On the other hand, refugees were constantly coming to Canada- such as the 11,000 refugees that came in 1968 after the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia.

Imagine how different life would be if Canada did have its own dependence or its own identity. Between the time periods 1914 to 1945, 1950 to 1970, and 1980s to 1990s; many changes took place. The changes that took place from 1914 to 1990s truly changed the Canadian identity and what it meant to be Canadian.

Over the years, many things have changed in Canadian history when discussing women's rights and freedom. Canada has made many efforts to increase its reputation. Ways that Canada has shown its many efforts to allow our country to grow a greater reputation includes discharging restrictions on married women who were working government jobs in 1952, creating the Employment Equity Act in 1982 to help end barriers that limit employment for women and allowing Kim Campbell to become the first female prime minister of Canada in 1993.

Ever since its origins in the late-1800s, the women’s movement in Canada has successfully fought for the formal equality of Canadian women, establishing justice through legal and social means. Although supported by thousands, if not millions of women in Canada, the women’s movement of Canada has been spearheaded by a select few, who individually, were able to /c

In conclusion, Canadians are all being Canadian in their own customized way, making Canada the diverse jewel it

For the last century Canada has evolved into a sovereign nation, through politics, democracy, government, peacekeeping, bilingual and multinationalism. Canada’s unique history and geography has contributed to Canada’s national identity, however many people still question, what does it means to be Canadian? Thus a national identity crisis occurs, and although ethnicity and diversity is apart of Canadian identity, it also challenges it by having many differences with one another. Many believe that Canada lacks a strong national identity because it is too diverse to form a cohesive community; a sense of connection to other people who share similar interests, a common history, culture and language. The past can help with this crisis by looking

in their family and have a feeling of having a place. Acknowledgment gives Canadians a sentiment security and self-assurance, making them more open to, and tolerating of, assorted societies. The Canadian experience has demonstrated that multiculturalism energizes racial and ethnic amicability and culturally diverse comprehension. It promotes the citizens of a country to not only be a good citizen, but it allows them to understand better the contributions they can make by being a global citizen as well. A society can take the best parts of every culture and use it to its’ advantage. It is visible in Canada that people of many different cultures use each other's foods, music, medicine, games, sports, and products. Our differences are a national resource. Late advances in innovation have made worldwide correspondences more essential than any time in recent memory. Canadians who talk numerous dialects and comprehend many societies make it simpler for Canada to take an interest comprehensively in territories of training, exchange, and discretion. People can learn from the mistakes other countries made and not repeat them. More than four decades, inconceivably fast statistic change has changed Canada, particularly its biggest urban communities. In Europe, comparative change has brought about uproars and social pressures that have discolored the idea of multiculturalism there. In any case, in Canada, these progressions, regardless of many difficulties, happened calmly, beneficially

Internationally, nationalities garner much of their life-force from sources outside of the original country. There is no Cinco de Mayo in Mexico and the largest St. Patrick’s Parade by far is in New York! For Canada, it seemed to be its relationship with the world. From this, the transition turned into identity as I realized that Canadians each have their own conflicting self-judgement of how they feel as a potential Canadian. Specifically, because of my experience I felt that the Canadian identity was like glass; invisible. Canadians are often extremely accepting but are invisible to the open world. We have no distinctive traits or form in a way that someone else could plainly recognize one. Hence, Clive James explains perfectly not only of my personal experience with Canada but possibly for many others – “I came, I saw, I copied.” Now, with Canada and its open-arms for new ethnicities and vast multiculturalism to the extent that it’s grown, Canadians would become increasingly difficult to notice. Consequently, in a bizarre and pitiful situation, the Canadian identity becomes muddled because of having no distinctive traits or form and increasing population. Canadians as a result, both new and old become at the mercy of the stereotypes that develop, as the opinion of the world establishes the nationality of a