- Keywords: Multiculturalism, policy.
- Timeline: 1974-2004.
- Summary: Reflecting on the solidification of human rights in Canada, Garcea notes: “Minority rights movements entailed an assertion of these rights as the international, national, and sub-national levels. In the Canadian context, this particular movement produced the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1960, the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in the 1960s, the Canadian Multiculturalism Policy in 1971, the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1977, and ultimately, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982” (p. 2). Near the end of the paper, Garcea states: "The goal of interculturalism will be articulated primarily to acknowledge the importance of promoting anti-racism, social cohesion, and social harmony within the provinces. The goal of cultural promotion and preservation will likely be profiled primarily to acknowledge the value and importance of Aboriginal cultures. The goal of interculturalism will likely receive greater prominence because it seems to have greater resonance and support among the public than the promotion and preservation of various cultures … Positive views on the ethos of interculturalism and cross-culturalism tend to be greater than they are for multiculturalism” (p. 16).
Gerber, L.M. (2006). The visible minority, immigrant, bilingual composition of ridings and party support in the Canadian federal election of 2004. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 38, 1, 65-82.
- Keywords: Election, pluralism.
- Timeline: 2004.
- Summary: Suggesting a possible area of study, Gerber states: “The link between immigrant or visible minority status and support for the Liberal Party is frequently reported, but is seldom the specific focus of research” (p. 66). On the interplay between ethno-cultural identity, ethno-racial identity and social barriers, Gerber notes: “The link between ethnicity or race and social class, either as a vertical mosaic (Porter, 1965) or as a rainbow class structure (Frideres, 2005), has been well established in the literature. Using the rainbow analogy, Frideres points out that class differentiation once based on ethnicity is being reconstituted on the basis of race or colour as recent immigrants (largely visible minorities) face discrimination, blocked aspirations, and a downward spiral” (p. 66). On the matter of electoral support in ridings that are more/less diverse, Gerger states: “Multicultural ridings support the Liberals and wealthy ones the Conservatives, while both reject the Bloc … It turns out that levels of diversity, social class composition, and region are powerful predictors of voting patterns among the electoral districts in Canada” (p. 79).
Germain, A.; Dansereau, F.; & Gagnon, J.E. (2004). “Ethnic” dilemmas?: Religion, diversity and multicultural planning in Montreal. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 36, 2, 51-75.
- Keywords: Pluralism, policy, Montreal, Jewish.
- Timeline: 1990s-2000s.
- Summary: When summarizing their paper, Germain, Dansereau and Gagnon state: “In sum, when it comes to land use and urban planning, culturally specific needs such as those associated with religious practices are taken into account on a case-by-case basis” (p. 68). Germain, Danserau and Gagnon later add: “Furthermore, land use conflicts are not always simply about racism or intolerance; they are often complex situations involving a number of players (citizens, interest groups, political representatives, municipal administrators, the media), issues (economic, cultural, social, demographic, political), and dynamics (interpersonal, inter-group, leadership). This does not imply that bigotry is not an element in land use disputes, only that other factors must also be considered in order to address all the salient issues” (p. 68).
Gidney, R.D. (1999). The completion of the separate school system, 1960-1987. In R.D. Gidney, From Hope to Harris: The Reshaping of Ontario Schools. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (pp. 124-141)
- Keywords: Catholic, education, separate schools, funding.
- Timeline: 1960-1987.
- Summary: In this chapter Gidney explores the events leading up to (and immediately following) Ontario’s Bill 30. The Supreme Court’s June 1987 decision ultimately involved “side-stepping the larger question of the rights of other religious groups to funding as well” (p. 140).
Granatstein, J.L.; & Johnson, G.A. (1988). The evacuation of the Japanese Canadians, 1942: A realist critique of the received version. In N. Hillmer (et al), On Guard for Thee. Ottawa: Canadian Committee for the History of the Second World War. (pp. 131-149)
- Keywords: Japanese-Canadian, internment, exclusion.
- Timeline: 1940s.
- Summary: Reflecting on the attitudes Japanese-Canadians faced in the early 1940s, Granastein and Johnson note: “Moreover, white British Columbians (and Canadians generally) had long had fears that the Japanese Canadians were unassimilable into Canadian society and, beginning early in this century and intensifying as the interwar period wore on, that many might secretly be acting as agents of their original homeland, now an aggressive and expansionist Japan” (p. 101).
