About multiculturalism and anti-racism
An outline of our involvement in promoting multiculturalism and advancing racial equity.
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What is multiculturalism
Multiculturalism supports the belief in Canada that all citizens are equal. Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can maintain their identities, take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging. It supports our shared values of human rights, inclusion and mutual respect.
Our country’s collective identity is rooted in the recognition that our many languages, traditions and beliefs enrich our social fabric. In fact, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971, and further committed to this value by enshrining it in law through the Canadian Multiculturalism Act in 1988.
Multiculturalism is not just a characteristic of our society, but a source of strength and resilience. Because they live in the world's first nation to have an official policy on multiculturalism, the people of Canada know that diversity enriches cultural expression, contributes to innovation in the workplace, stimulates creativity, and helps expand markets for goods and services.
Multiculturalism helps Canada forge new links with countries around the world and supports its role in international affairs and the global economy.
Multiculturalism at its core encourages all Canadians to take an active role in society and to build inter-cultural understanding. It strives to and unite people in Canada act against discrimination based on race, ethnic origin and religious belief.
The Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee that all Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities—including equality before and under law, and equal protection and benefit of law—no matter where they come from.
Our areas of involvement
Our approach encompasses promotion of multiculturalism, support for federal institutions, intergovernmental dialogue, and international engagement to combat racism.
Promotion and engagement
Multiculturalism is a fundamental part of our Canadian heritage and identity:
- support communities confronting racism and discrimination and promote intercultural and interfaith understanding
- create a dialogue on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination at the domestic and international levels
Support to federal institutions
We help federal institutions meet their obligations under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, and report annually on their efforts.
Cooperation with other orders of government
To foster continuing dialogue with provinces and territories, we established the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Network of Officials Responsible for Multiculturalism, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (FPTORMIA).
FPTORMIA is an information-sharing forum to help facilitate closer collaboration on the overarching objective of enhancing diversity and equity in Canada.
International engagement
We support and advance Canada’s obligations as a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and other relevant United Nations and Member State-based instruments and fora. Additionally, we:
- support the implementation of the Declaration on the North American Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice
- engage with foreign government entities to exchange on efforts, including policies and programs, to prevent and address racism, discrimination and hate
Endowments
- Global Centre for Pluralism
- Jean Augustine Research Chair
- Chair in Multiculturalism at McGill UniversityFootnote 1
Legislation
Resources
Find a variety of resources, including educational guides, research reports and institutional publications, aimed at exploring the history and current landscape of multiculturalism in Canada.
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Resources on the history of multiculturalism in Canada
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Educational and teaching resources
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Research reports
- Hate Crimes in Canada
- Experiences of discrimination in daily life among Chinese people in Canada, and their perceptions of and experiences with the police and the justice system
- The Neighbourhood Ties of Long-term Residents in Lower-income Neighbourhoods
- The relative earnings of individuals in designated visible minority categories in Canada across four workplace sectors
- Perceptions of and experiences with police and the justice system among the Black and Indigenous populations in Canada
- The weekly earnings of Canadian-born individuals in designated visible minority and White categories in the mid-2010s
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