ECON 318 Lecture 92: Econ 318_F2016_Chapter_092_Canadian Immigration_The Cultural Factor_New
12 Nov 2016
School
Department
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Professor
ECON 318: Canadian Economic Policy & Institutions 2016-2017
Notes for Lecture -- 092
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION: THE CULTURAL FACTOR
Annual report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act – 2013-2014
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/multi-report2014/index.asp
The Francization Issue in Quebec
The subject of the survival of the French language is a complex issue in Quebec. The rapidly
diminishing birth rate of francophones and the accelerating rate of integration of allophones to the
anglophone group has created great anxieties about the future of the French language.
Three attempts have been made to settle the issue of survival and promotion of the French language
among the newcomers with a corresponding number of laws that each one would be more restrictive
than the previous one:
o Bill 63 that was issued in the fall of 1969 “to promote” the French language
o Bill 22 that was passed in 1974 after the study of the status of the French language by the
“Gendron Commission” that was appointed following the francophones’ discontent with the
previous law, and
o Bill 101 that was passed in the summer of 1977 by the first PQ government.
Bill 101, titled “Charte de la langue française” proclaimed French as the official language in Quebec
for just about every facet of life in the province: government, judicial system, education, advertising,
business, contracts, etc.). English education was to be restricted mostly to those already in the system,
their siblings, those temporarily posted in Quebec or whose parents had themselves received an
English elementary education in the province.
Over the decades, a number of challenges about the law’s constitutionality have been faced.
Eventually, changes have been effected to Bill 101 and some of its restrictions have been eased up.
Today the pre-eminence of French is unchallenged in the province. The objective of preserving and
developing the French culture is one universally shared among the people of Quebec. The French
language has become the public language of communication of virtually the entire population of the
province. The rate of bilingualism, among anglophones and allophones, indeed among francophones
as well, has soared since the 1970's and made it possible for all to participate fully in the public affairs
of the province.
It has to be stressed, however, that so far, the Quebec government has not shown any interest in
playing the role of the protector of French language in Canada as a whole but only in Quebec. It has
recently (February 2015) sided with the Yukon government in denying the right of the local
francophone minority to French schooling. This action is understood within Quebec’s reluctance to
extend similar rights to its anglophone minorities.
After having settled the language issue, today, attention is put on cultural and religious matters.
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Canadian Multiculturalism
The beginnings of the development of Canada's contemporary policy of multiculturalism can be traced
to the “Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism” which was established on July 19,
1963 by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in response to the grievances of
Canada's French-speaking minority. The report of the Commission advocated that the Canadian
government should recognize Canada as a bilingual and bicultural society and adopt policies to
preserve this character
The recommendations of this report elicited a variety of responses, as it was viewed as an attack on the
"One Canada Policy" on the basis of which no accommodation was extended to minority groups.
o The proposals also failed to satisfy the Francophones of Quebec who gravitated toward a
Québécois nationalism.
o Additionally, Canadians of neither English nor French descent ("Third Force" Canadians)
advocated that a policy of "multiculturalism" would better reflect the diverse heritage of
Canada's peoples
On October 8, 1971, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau announced in the
House of Commons that, after much deliberation, the policies of bilingualism and multiculturalism
would be implemented in Canada.
o The idea was that multiculturalism would enhance participatory democracy which would
lead Canada to be a "Just Society”
When the Canadian constitution was patriated by Prime Minister Trudeau in 1982, one of its
constituent documents was the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and section 27 of the Charter stipulates
that the rights laid out in the document are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the
spirit of multiculturalism
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was introduced during the Progressive Conservative
government of Brian Mulroney, and received Royal Assent on July 21, 1988. It affirms the policy of
ensuring that every Canadian receives equal treatment by the government which respects and
celebrates diversity.
Section 3 (1) of the Act states “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of Canada to
recognize and promote the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial
diversity of Canadian society and acknowledges the freedom of all members of Canadian society to
preserve, enhance and share their cultural heritage to recognize and promote the understanding
that multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity and that
it provides an invaluable resource in the shaping of Canada's future”
Similar to the Multiculturalism Act, the Broadcasting Act of 1991 asserts the Canadian
broadcasting system should reflect the diversity of cultures in the country.
o The CRTC enforces the Broadcasting Act. In its revised Ethnic Broadcasting Policy in 1999
goes into the details on the conditions of the distribution of ethnic and multilingual
programming. According to the act, 60% of programming on a channel, whether on the radio
or television, has to be considered ethnic in order to be approved for the license under this
policy
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In accordance with the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Multiculturalism Program seeks to
o build an integrated, socially cohesive society;
o improve the responsiveness of institutions to the needs of a diverse population; and
o engage in discussions on multiculturalism, integration and diversity at the international level.
To advance these objectives, the Multiculturalism Program
o provides grants and contributions to not-for-profit organizations, the private sector, non-federal public
institutions, and individuals (several million annually);
o conducts direct public outreach and promotional activities;
o helps federal institutions to meet their obligations under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act;
o supports the annual tabling in Parliament of a report on the operation of the Act; and
o engages non-federal public institutions seeking to respond to diversity
o also supports Canada’s participation in international agreements and institutions.
In June 2000 Prime Minister Jean Chrétien stated that Canada has become a post-national,
multicultural society. It contains the globe within its borders, and Canadians have learned that their
two international languages and their diversity are a comparative advantage and a source of
continuing creativity and innovation. Canadians are, by virtue of history and necessity, open to the
world.
o June 27 of each year was proclaimed as Canadian Multiculturalism Day in Nov 2002
Today’s realities
From the outset in 1971, Canada's multiculturalism policy raised concerns that nurturing a
mosaic-like patchwork of cultures within a single country could undermine the creation of a
coherent, unified national culture. But Trudeau's Liberals were determined to reject the
American melting-pot model for immigrants, recognizing that this same approach had sowed
division between French and English Canada earlier in the country's history.
o Yet, even Trudeau recognized later that multiculturalism, taken too far, could pose challenges
for governments trying to maintain social cohesion.
The multiculturalism idea is met today with ambivalence. A recent, nationwide survey of 2,345
Canadians conducted online by Léger Marketing between Sept. 20 – Oct. 3, 2011 for the Montreal
based Association for Canadian Studies, showed with a margin of error of 2%, 19 times out of 20 that
o 86% "enjoy interacting with people from different cultures,"
o 45% agreed and 49% disagreed with the idea that "immigrants should give up their customs
and traditions"
o Likewise, just 51% agreed with the idea that "the majority should try harder" to accept the
customs and traditions of immigrant communities.
o 80% across all regions of the country affirmed that young people should make efforts to
preserve the cultural traditions of their families
The findings, according to the ACS, highlight the enduring tensions and contradictions surrounding
the subject of multiculturalism four decades since its official implementation. Thus,
o While Canadians like interacting with different cultures, do not, however, fully agree with the
pursuit of multiculturalism through government programs and policies.
o While individual Canadians recognize the value of preserving their own cultural heritage, we
are not sure about extending that support for preserving cultural traditions to others.
Document Summary
Econ 318: canadian economic policy & institutions 2016-2017. Annual report on the operation of the canadian multiculturalism act 2013-2014 http://www. cic. gc. ca/english/resources/publications/multi-report2014/index. asp. The subject of the survival of the french language is a complex issue in quebec. The rapidly diminishing birth rate of francophones and the accelerating rate of integration of allophones to the anglophone group has created great anxieties about the future of the french language. Gendron commission that was appointed following the francophones" discontent with the previous law, and: bill 101 that was passed in the summer of 1977 by the first pq government. Bill 101, titled charte de la langue fran aise proclaimed french as the official language in quebec for just about every facet of life in the province: government, judicial system, education, advertising, business, contracts, etc. ). English education was to be restricted mostly to those already in the system, their siblings, those temporarily posted in quebec or whose parents had themselves received an.
