Multiculturalism in Canada versus Interculturalism

"For the first time in our history, we're going to define who we are and how we want to evolve as a nation."

"This model will let  us build a society where the francophone majority invites all Quebecers to adhere and contribute to the common culture of our nation."

"[People coming to Quebec] must accept [its democratic values, such as the equality of men and women]. We don't want ghettos, we want one society."

Jean-Francis Roberge, Quebec Immigration Minister

"[Quebecers are] expected to ... collaborate in the welcoming of immigrants and foster their integration into the Quebec nation."

"[Immigrants are expected to] participate fully, in French, in Quebec society [and] participate in the vitality of Quebec culture by enriching it."

Quebec Bill 94

 

This newly passed Act in the Quebec legislature was developed to address failed multiculturalism as practised in Canada for decades, championed by Pierre Elliot Trudeau, at the time Prime Minister of Canada -- father of the current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. It celebrated hyphenated-Canadians living in their cultural, ethnic silos, while also being nominally part of the larger culture of the country, sharing its values, but honouring their heritage.

Multiculturalism seemed to work in its earlier iterations when immigrants from abroad reached Canadian shores and re-established themselves as Canadians, melding into the larger society with shared values ether adopted or brought along with them from their places of origin. That much-celebrated custom of encouraging immigrants to celebrate and honour what they left behind while integrating into Canadian society has run afoul of expectations of late, with newer immigrants hailing from countries where irremediable ethnic, political, cultural and social polarities existed historically as part of the national culture, bringing havoc to Canada.

Newer migrations saw minority groups celebrating what they brought with them, and spurning traditional Canadian values. Recent examples abound of groups harbouring violent tendencies toward others symptomatic of a traditional culture whose values are at variance with Canada's of equality and respect for others, and the result has been social havoc. Quebec has attempted to address that very issue by disallowing religious/cultural symbols on public display. Now, the province has added a requirement for immigrants to leave their cultural hostilities toward others behind, with the imperative of full integration with no social/cultural barriers.

"Interculturalism" has become the new byword, replacing "multiculturalism" in a concerted bid to nip animosities between groups that tend to escalate to public and private threats, intimidation and violence. This would, in theory, lead to an end to the free-for-alls seen of late in Quebec where fractious Middle East tensions have been imported into Canada, with utterly divisive upheavals and too frequently criminal results. 

Much of the Canadian population is also supportive of such initiatives. Some 55 percent of respondents to a Leger poll agreed that the federal government should be "encouraging newcomers to embrace broad mainsteam values and traditions and leave behind elements of their cultural identity that may be incompatible with that". A majority of non-white respondents were in disagreement with the current government's oft-repeated smug assertion that "diversity is our strength".

 

While the city's Jewish community held several memorials honouring those who were killed and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, pro-Palestinian protests took to the streets to bring attention to the devastation brought onto the Gaza Strip through Israel's retaliatory military campaign demanding the destruction of Israel. Still from video CBC

 

Rather, 56 percent chose to support: "some elements of diversity  an provide strength, but some elements of diversity can cause problems / conflict". Another poll of Canadian youth found integrating immigrants was among the most popular single issues in that demographic; Millennials and Gen Z saw 70 percent agreeing that "we should ensure immigrants / Permanent Residents coming to Canada share common Canadian values such as respect for different minority groups".

 

Students and activists protest for an eighth day at an anti-Israel encampment on the campus of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by Alexis Aubin / AFP)

 

The conflicts breaking out on Canadian streets remain a case in point where since the  terrorist attacks in southern Israel of October 7, 2023, hundreds of rallies, blockades and encampments led by extremist groups call for the elimination of Israel. Bullets fired at a Jewish girls' school in Toronto in May of 2024 led Ontario Premier Doug Ford to lash out at people "bringing your problems from everywhere else in the world. I got an idea: before you plan on moving to Canada, don't come to Canada if you're going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods like this".

 

A parade organized by pro-Khalistani groups in Ontario's Greater Toronto area on June 4 saw a tableau depicting former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination along with a sign saying that it was “Revenge for Attack on Shri Darbar Sahib”. (Twitter/@BalrajDeol4)

 

Incidents of Sikh nationalists called Khalistanis who glorify violence against India, have broken out in Ontario and British Columbia. Hindus were attacked by Khalistani loyalists outside a temple hosting a consular event by the Indian government in Brampton, Ontario. A pro-Khalistan event in British Columbia recently featured a re-enactment of the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Riots between rival political groups of Eritrean immigrants took place in Calgary and Edmonton in  2023.

Khalistanis celebrated former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi's assassination in a pro-Khalistani rally in Canada (Image: Theorist)