“Canadian Multiculturalism: Global Anxieties and Local Debates”

Author: Keith Banting and Will Kymlicka

Is multiculturalism an ancient relic of liberal value or a modern concept of absorbing newcomers in mainstream society?

European nation like Netherlands, Germany and Britain multiculturalism failed to accomplish its goal to integrate newcomers in the mainstream society. Now, it is moving toward civic integration, it means that newcomers would deem themselves as a British or Dutch first in public area and would not seek institutional accommodation for integration in society. Particularly, these newcomers are making their own ghetto and cannot move out of ghetto, it causes further social segregation and marginalization in society. There are some critics that they claim there was merit in what the above nations were saying, and multiculturalism in Canada was doomed to fail.

Author of this paper said that ‘Toronto 18’ incident enticed Muslims who were plotting to engage in terrorist act and authority apprehended them. It was true that they were Muslims, and Mr. Mubin Shaikh exposed them to authority their diabolic plan and stopped them to carry their vicious act.  Author stated that there was honour killing in Ontario and victim name was Ms. Parves. There was this side of coin that only one honour killing has taking place since 1971 multicultural policy implemented by the federal government to promote integration of visible minority in Canada.

Interestingly, first generation is developing strong sense of pride for Canada, even their economic prosperity is less, and continually involved in civic and political life. The second generation is making more money due to higher education and speaking one official language fluently, this generation is less socially integrated in mainstream society. It is the third generation fully integrated in mainstream society. Multiculturalism works in Canada, maybe not in Europe.