What are the basic principles of multiculturalism policies in Canada?
While the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1971, Revised 1985, Amended 1993) contains several sections, it can be summarized as a policy that (1) ensures equality of status, (2) defines the essence of the Canadian identity as pluralistic, (3) offers citizens a choice of lifestyles, and (4) protects civil and human rights. (McLeod) Ensuring equality of status involves breaking down the English Protestant assimilative tendencies of the nation and agreeing that no one culture should dominate in any arena. This is a particularly important policy for education, for example, in that it requires textbooks and other teaching materials be free of the WASP bias. It also seeks to eradicate discrimination in the workforce, although it has not been entirely successful on that front. (Swidinsky) The emphasis on defining Canada as a pluralistic society is extremely important. Canada, as a young nation, is often described by its own citizens as a “nation without a culture”. One major Canadian journalist
