Multiculturalism in Canada: Policies, Comparisons, and Future Trends

This essay delves into the concept of multiculturalism in Canada, examining its policies, impacts, and comparisons with the United States. The essay begins by defining multiculturalism and highlighting its significance in the Canadian context. It then explores the specific policies and legislation, such as the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, that promote and support cultural diversity within Canada. The essay also draws a comparison between the Canadian approach to multiculturalism and the approach taken by the United States, focusing on the 'melting pot' theory and its relevance in the context of both nations. Furthermore, the essay discusses the measures that the Canadian government can take to further promote multiculturalism and foster a more inclusive society, emphasizing the importance of appreciating cultural diversity and encouraging participation from all cultural groups. Finally, it examines the potential for ethnic nationalism and the role of multiculturalism in mitigating such issues. Overall, the essay provides a comprehensive overview of multiculturalism in Canada, offering insights into its policies, impacts, and future trends.

Running head: CANADIAN STUDIES
Canadian Studies
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Multiculturalism refers to situation where the various cultural and the racial groups
within the society have the equal rights along with the privileges (Spring, 2017). This essay
throws light on the steps that can be taken for encouraging multiculturalism in Canada. This
essay makes a comparison in between the multiculturalism in Canada and that of US. This
essay discusses whether the melting pot theory of US can be said to be appropriate.
There are specific measures that can be undertaken that can help in making the people
of Canada believe in the aspect of the multiculturalism. The government of Canada should
take measures for appreciating the cultural diversity that can help in fostering
multiculturalism in Canada (Guo & Wong, 2015). The people from the various cultures can
be involved in the process of the decision-making that can help in encouraging
multiculturalism in the Canadian societies. The Canadians can be made to believe that the
understanding of various kinds of cultures can help in preventing the racial division that can
encourage the co-existence of various cultural groups in Canada (Fleras, 2015)
The multiculturalism policies present in Canada helps in combatting the aspect of the
ethnic nationalism. Canadian Multiculturalism Act helps in promoting equitable participation
of the individuals along with the communities by shaping various aspects of the Canadian
society. The legislation has been established in Canada that helps in offering protection to the
ethnic, racial along with the linguistic diversity in the Canadian society. Multiculturalism in
the United States can be said to be not a prominent policy. It has however been seen that
multiculturalism within United States has long history. The traditional American culture
pertaining to individualism was eroding in the society in the wake of the emergence of the
diverse ideas in the society (Spring, 2017). Melting pot can be stated to be a mono cultural
metaphor in relation to the heterogeneous society. It is mainly used for describing
assimilation of the migrants within the United States. The term was used in United States for
describing fusion of the nationalities, ethnicities along with the cultures. Multiculturalism on

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the other hand refers to ethnic pluralism that helps in the collaboration of the various kinds of
ethnic groups. It can be said that the melting pot theory of US works that helps in the
establishment of a just society (Kymlicka, 2016). The United States has made the fight
against discrimination that has helped in giving birth to a just society.
Government of Canada can take suitable measures that can help in appreciation of
cultural diversity within Canada. Multiculturalism policies of Canada helps in confronting the
element of ethnic nationalism. Canadian Multiculturalism Act promotes equitable
participation of individuals that helps in shaping Canadian society.

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References
Fleras, A. (2015). Beyond Multiculturalism: Managing Complex Diversities in a
Postmulticultural Canada. In Revisiting Multiculturalism in Canada (pp. 309-334).
Brill Sense.
Guo, S., & Wong, L. (Eds.). (2015). Revisiting multiculturalism in Canada: Theories,
policies and debates. Springer.
Kymlicka, W. (2016). The global diffusion of multiculturalism: Trends, causes,
consequences. In Accommodating cultural diversity (pp. 27-44). Routledge.
Spring, J. (2017). The intersection of cultures: Multicultural education in the United States
and the global economy. Routledge.