Canada's Flawed Multiculturalism

The following is an excerpt from the website for Canada’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration: “Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, can take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging.”  To use the “how’s that working for you” line by Phil McGraw of the television show “Dr. Phil”, some people could readily provide fault-finding feedback on the merits of that statement.

From my perspective, multiculturalism has been less than a complete success story in Canada. While perhaps a well-intended approach to immigration, there are various ethnic communities across Canada that have not fully integrated with the values and culture of their new home. When you meet people that have been in Canada for many decades and who are unable to communicate in either English or French, it suggests that the multicultural definition may have been interpreted as live here as though you were still in your former country. These ethnic communities, some viewed as cloistered from the mainstream of life in Canada, have people who are inward thinking in their approach to culture. There are other communities, whether it is through a lack of employment opportunities or the propensity of some to engage in illegal activities, have become problematic entities for those living in nearby neighbourhoods.

The federal government however continues to champion a program that appears to have problems that are being ignored. Maybe it is time to adjust the application of the program to ensure that new Canadians understand that “a sense of belonging” means to Canada.