In recent decades, modern liberal societies have become increasingly more diverse. As a result, governments have begun introducing multicultural policies which protect and accommodate the practices and beliefs of various minority groups. Granted that multiculturalism has enriched modern societies with creativity, innovation, and economic prosperity, problems have arisen. One of the significant challenges faces these societies is what should or should not be tolerated under multiculturalism. This question has resulted in conflicts between groups seeking to expand human rights and those trying to prevent such expansion because of their adherence to a set of cultural or religious beliefs. In this paper, I will seek to identify when religious …show more content…
Implying that government policy should not have the effect of favoring one idea of the good life over another. Therefore, scholars recommend that to maintain an impartial framework of neutrality, liberal democracies must uphold constitutions or laws that respect individual rights and freedoms to ensure that no harmful or exploitative philosophies are protected (Pierik 2014). Canada has had a long history of multiculturalism, having been the first country to formally declare it a policy in 1971 (Reidel 2009). Like what Pierik (2014) and other scholars have recommended Canada maintains neutrality by remaining committed to individual freedoms and human rights as interpreted by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Reidel 2009). The opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage provides a fascinating example of how Canada’s government manages both neutrality and multiculturalism. Those opposing same-sex marriage made arguments based on cultural and religious beliefs and asked that Canada’s government favor their interpretation (Reidel 2009). They argued that extending the right to marry same same-sex couples would violate their beliefs and lead to a deterioration of society (Reidel 2009). However, in this case, the demands for accommodation made by various religious and cultural groups were
Multiculturalism" is the existence of a culturally diversified society where people from different backgrounds and races come and live together. However an insight of this integrated society reveals that everyone seems to have a different opinion on the issue of how this diverse community should operate. One of the countries of North America called "the mosaic" is Canada. It has earned this distinct name because of the mix of races, cultures and ethnicities residing in it. Canada's geographical features and its harsh climate became a disadvantage to its population growth many years ago. Compared to its size, the population of Canada was not sufficient a few decades ago. However, when immigrants wandered about searching for a better
Canada’s identity comes in many shapes and forms. Multiculturalism has been adopted and is at the forefront of Canadian identity. Following the Second World War, Canada’s multiculturalism policies became more acceptable and even successful in, not only accepting, but inviting multiple ethnic cultures in. In contrast to other countries, multiculturalism adaptation works for the Canadian culture. Canadian policies on multiculturalism have shifted over the past few decades; policies are now implemented for integration, not discrimination.
Canada. Trudeau first established this policy in 1971. In more news, also the immigration act
“Multiculturalism exists when people accept and encourage many cultures to thrive in a society. Multiculturalism can lead to many great outcomes, including racial and ethnic harmony, which simply means that people from different backgrounds get along well together. Living with and accepting different cultures helps us understand each other and discourage hatred and violence.” () Furthermore, various ethnic groups introduce their individual beliefs, traditions, as well as, religions to the Canadian society. Generally speaking, be part of an expanding multicultural society has impacted Canada economically, demographically and socially. Thus, the presence of the variety of different cultures, languages and heritages, results in the need for the county to adapt and change, based on the new reality of Canada.
In the eyes of many Canadians our country is viewed as a historically racially-inclusive society. This idea is false, and there is very limited evidence to support the contrary. Many events in Canada’s history have shows that it is guilty of promoting racial hierarchies and cultural insensitivities. Throughout Canada’s development there has always remained an emphasis on promoting the supremacy of the white race, and Anglo-Canadian culture.
This week and posts from other classmates brought the realization to myself that as a country we must have limits to multiculturalism and the allowing of cultural practices. Family equality and safety are the utmost priority within this sphere; although religion is a personal right one must remember our laws and legislation and abide by such. “To allow Sharia law to be practiced in Canada, especially in the legal system, would be a regression in human rights” (Ottenbreit, August 13, 2014, Sociology
In recent decades of Canadian history, Canada’s social and political change has rapidly formed visible minority and majority groups- Canada has had formally entrenched a constitution, withstood two attempts by the Quebec’s provincial government to secede from the federation, and undertaken a radical shift in immigration policy that tripled the visible minority population. These changes were accompanied by a policy agenda that defined Canadian society as a bilingual and multicultural and by legal frameworks that ensure all individuals are treated equally before the law. A fundamental issue infringing Canadian society has been the protecting the rights of minorities of a democracy. I believe that a nation have equal treatment and opportunity under the law and that minority rights must be protected to ensure that all citizens are able to fully participate in the country 's democratic institutions. However, this is true to a certain extent, in some cases it is inappropriate to have excessive rights as “a visible minority” as such. This will be investigated through three examples of minority groups: religious/cultural individuals, aboriginals and French language speakers by answering the question “How far can the rights of minorities be protected in Canada before they infringe on the rights of the majority?”
Diversity has played an important role in Canada’s formative history. Today, Canada boasts the highest percentage of foreign-born citizens than any other G8 country. In Canada’s multicultural society it is important that any acts of discrimination are avoided since it can have grave consequences. Canadians are protected against discrimination by the Human Rights Act, which was formed in 1977 by the Parliament of Canada. The act ensures equal opportunity to individuals who may be victims of discriminatory actions based on a set of prohibited grounds such as sex, disability, or religion. This paper will discuss the legal issues in human resources in relation to the Human Rights Act and will focus in particular on the discrimination section in
In 1967 homosexuality was legalized in Canada by Pierre Trudeau. This was the first step towards creating a better environment for the LGBTQ community. By making homosexuality legal, taking pills and using other methods believed to change a gay person straight is no longer ‘required’. Equally important, In, “1999, Supreme Court of Canada expanded gay spousal rights; also ruled that while Quebec cannot secede unilaterally, Canada must recognize a clear ‘Yes’ vote.” Although this idea was not popular all over Canada, the rights of gay couples were changed to behave like the spousal rights of a hetrosexual couple. As a matter of fact, In 1976, the New Democratic Party(NDP) “became the first political party to support the gay movement”. This is important because it lets those in the LGBTQ community know that there is someone in the government who is on their side and that they are not alone. Over all, there has been small steps bringing our community together in acceptance, including those who were outcasted in the past. Homosexuality is no longer illegal, and more rights are given to the LGBTQ
Canada is routinely defined as the exemplar multicultural society with the most diverse cities in the world such as Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec. The concepts of integrity and complexity are being shaped in Canadian society because of its co-existence of different cultures. Indeed, multiculturalism has been a keystone of Canadian policy for over 40 years with the aim of pursuing Canadian unity (Flegel 2002). Accordingly, Canada is generally estimated a country where people are all equal and where they can share fundamental values based upon freedom. Diversity is sustained and promoted by governmental policy, however, there are still racist interactions, which are destructive to minorities integration, especially recent ethnic groups’ arrival (Banting & Kymlicka 2010). This paper will examine challenges that multiculturalism has brought society and residents of Canada.
What is Canada? What is a Canadian? Canada, to employ Voltaire's analogy, is nothing but “a few acres of snow.”. Of course, the philosopher spoke of New France, when he made that analogy. More recently, a former Prime Minister, Joe Clark, said that the country was nothing but a “community of communities”. Both these images have helped us, in one way or another, try to interpret what could define this country. On the other hand, a Canadian could be a beer, a hockey-playing beaver or even a canoe floating in a summer day's sunset. A Canadian could also be a “sovereigntyphobe”, refusing to see the liquefaction, albeit political, of the second largest country in the world.
Canada is often seen as a leader in the gay rights movement and it has a long history of providing rights to those that identify as homosexual (BC Teachers’ Federation, 2016; Cotler, 2015). As far back as 1969, Prime Minister Trudeau passed Bill C-150 which amended the Criminal Code to decriminalize “gross indecency” and “buggery”; if committed between two consenting adults if they are over 21 (BC Teachers’ Federation, 2016). The Code was further amended to drop the age of consent for anal sex from 18 and 14 for other sexual activity and it was recognized that a higher age for consent of anal sex was unconstitutional (BC Teachers’ Federation, 2016). Since then there have been many changes to the political and social system in Canada to be able to improve the rights not only individuals whom are part of the LGBTQ community, but also for those whom are in same sex relationships (BC Teachers’ Federation, 2016). As of 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada; however, there is still debate of whether or not same-sex legalization has legitimized same-sex partnerships within society (Colter, 2015). Many cases that have come before the court regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriages have argued that the actions of society are a direct violation of people’s s.15 rights in the Constitution; which allows for every person to be treated equally and bear the freedom of religion (Supreme Court Judgements, 2004). It will be argued that Canada has created equal rights for
A country built on immigration, Canada has long had a reputation of being culturally and ethnically diverse. While multiculturalism is meant to be built on equality and appreciation of different cultures, its concept has gained both support and opposition. On one hand, it allows for more assortment and the voices of minorities have a higher chance to be heard. On the other hand, loss of unity and conflicts may occur due to contrasting worldviews of the citizens. All in all, multiculturalism is a controversial policy that has both advantages and disadvantages, but has proven to be a successful strategy in Canada.
Multiculturalism is the act of giving equivalent consideration regarding various foundations in a specific setting, and it can happen when a purview is made or extended by amalgamating zones with two or more diverse societies or through migration from various locales around the globe. Multiculturalism that seeks in keeping up the peculiarity of numerous societies is regularly differentiated to other settlement arrangements, for example, social mix, social osmosis, and racial isolation. Multiculturalism has been depicted as a "salad bowl" and "cultural mosaic" (Burgess, et al. 2005). In spite of the way that multiculturalism has predominantly been utilized as a term to characterize distraught gatherings, numerous scholars tend to center their contentions on outsiders who are ethnic and religious minorities, minority countries, and indigenous people groups. The term multiculturalism is frequently utilized as a part of a reference to Western country states, which
respect to religion: the right to be free from government-imposed religion and a right to practice