Despite the ostensible commitment which Canada has made to multiculturalism via making it an official policy as well as in the sense that it has become enshrined as a Canadian value, Canada has nonetheless failed in an overall sense to bring these notions to fruition. This is highly problematic as the notion of the cultural mosaic has long been a central aspect of the Canadian identity, particularly in comparison to their American neighbors to the south whom have more traditionally been likened to a cultural melting pot (Adams, 2003). Though Canadians typically demonstrate a high degree of support for multiculturalism in theory, perceptions begin to change markedly once individuals become affected directly through being asked to adjust in any way to those entering Canada as opposed to the other way around. Indeed, as Stein, Cameron, Ibbitson, Kymlicka, Meisel, and Siddiqui, et. al. (2008) argue, multiculturalism must involve more than the establishment of immigrant enclaves where different groups of people engage in their own cultural practices out of the sight and minds of existing Canadians of mostly European descent; rather, a certain degree of interaction is likely necessary in order to facilitate racial and ethnic harmony such that the true values of multiculturalism can be manifested in reality.
[...] Nevertheless, neither statistical evidence nor the lived experiences of new immigrants to Canada reflects the notion that multiculturalism has been a complete success. Immigrants to Canada as well as Canadians of a non- European origin continue to face a great deal of discrimination in Canada, as revealed by income, level of education, and other measures. Yet it should be possible to reverse this trend such that the reality of multiculturalism better reflects the ideal. This will require compromise on both sides, as the Canadian government must take measures to reduce the economic disparity existing between new and existing Canadians, while at the same time a certain level of compromise may be necessary on the part of immigrants in that some level of integration should occur in Canadians society whereby the cultural mosaic is maintained but the colors' are permitted to mix to some extent. [...]
[...] While this argument is manifestly unfair in painting millions of people with a brush colored by a few individuals whose activities moreover had little to do with immigration, this nonetheless sheds light on the impression held by many in Canada in the post 9/11 era. The impact of the extent to which Canada has deviated from its multicultural ideal is that the three pillars of the policy in Canada—social justice, civic participation, and identity (in terms the sense of belonging one does or does not feel)—have not been met. [...]
[...] Thus, despite the problems associated with multiculturalism in Canada, there is legitimate cause for optimism. The next section will then explore how this optimism can become manifested in positive change. Part Three: Prescription for the Future Despite the fact that Canada has strayed somewhat from the path set by Trudeau, Stein, Cameron, Ibbitson, Kymlicka, Meisel, and Siddiqui, et. al. (2008) suggest that there is a way for the nation to get back on course. One of the most basic strategies is for Canadians to adapt to the manner in which multiculturalism is evolving. [...]
[...] Put another way, the cultural segregation which has defined many Canadian neighborhoods' and communities and cities in terms of the creation of ethnic neighborhoods' should be tempered somewhat to foster a sense of unity. Though the authors concede that there is little which the government can do from a policy standpoint to reverse the trend, and that substantial utility can be gained through the emergence of Chinatowns and Little Italy's across Canada's in terms of giving immigrants a place where they feel welcome, the Canadian cultural mosaic does have certain limitations when the colors' are not occasionally permitted to bleed into one another. [...]
[...] This statistic should be cause for tremendous concern because it is all but inevitable given the heterogeneity that defines the world in which we live that if a variety of immigrants from around the globe will come to Canada and that there will be changes. This suggests that Canadians approve of multiculturalism in theory but in a NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) attitude has emerged whereby this perspective is qualified by the fact that existing Canadians would prefer not to have to themselves adapt. [...]
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