1. Diversity and Politics in Canada Douglas Brown St Francis Xavier University March 2013

2. Diversity and Politics in Canada: Outline Key Concepts Changing Demography and Its Consequences Institutionalization of Diversity Contemporary Issues

3. Key Concepts Vertical mosaic Visible minorities Multiculturalism Group rights vs. universal rights Various lens through which to view diversity… Culture Race Colonialism Combinations of all three (e.g. issues around Islam)

4. Changing Demography…1 Aboriginal population Two dominant settler populations (French, British) Waves of later immigration (to 1970: mostly white, Europeans) (after 1970: mostly non-white, Asian, Latin America, Middle East and Caribbean)

5. Changing Demography…2 Consequences…  Growing diversity, especially in major urban areas  20 percent of Cdn. Population is foreign-born, 16 percent of Cdn. population are “visible minority”  Leads to concerns regarding social cohesion, inequality, and political representation  Broad political debates about the reality/perception of diversity, the nature of rights, and the challenges of accommodation.

6. Institutionalization of Diversity…1 Key Historic Milestones  1763 -- Royal Proclamation: Crown role re aboriginal nations  1774 -- Quebec Act: specific rights and guarantees to French population  1867 – Confederation: entrenches territorial pluralism, recognizes some minority religious and language rights  1971 – federal Multiculturalism Act  1982 – Charter of Rights and Freedoms, aboriginal rights

7. Institutionalization of Diversity…2 Some current policies Multiculturalism policy Financial support for cultural groups Employment equity Human Rights Commissions Anti-racism, discrimination advocacy, advertising, media Statements and/or compensation for historic injustices (e.g. apology for Japanese internment, aboriginal residential schools)

8. Recent Flashpoints Post 9/11…racial profiling/targeting of anti- terrorism measures Debate over “reasonable accommodation” in Quebec Debate over Shar’ia law in Ontario Muslim women and head coverings

9. Deeper, longer term issues…1 Identity and multiculturalism: “aren’t we all just Canadians…?” The study of “Diversity, Power and Inequality”: how to sort out the intersecting and reinforcing impacts of: gender, race, ethnicity, language, aboriginality, sexual orientation, etc.

10. Deeper, longer term issues…2 Identity groups seek at the same time to both overturn and to reinforce identity differences: 1. Overturning: overcoming stereotypes, ending discrimination, achieving greater economic and social equality 2. Reinforcing: preserving cultural and religious traditions, preserving historic rights