Canadian CultureCanadian Culture

Ch. 7 & 8 (p. 175-176, 204-207)Ch. 7 & 8 (p. 175-176, 204-207)

What Is Canadian Culture?What Is Canadian Culture?

Culture: a shared approach to life based on Culture: a shared approach to life based on common social norms, beliefs, and valuescommon social norms, beliefs, and values

Is there a Canadian culture?Is there a Canadian culture?

If so, what is it?If so, what is it?

Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration and Multiculturalism Immigration PolicyImmigration Policy

Restrictive from WWI to 1960sRestrictive from WWI to 1960s British, Americans, N. Europeans were preferredBritish, Americans, N. Europeans were preferred

1962: most restrictions removed on Asian and 1962: most restrictions removed on Asian and African immigrationAfrican immigration

1967: immigration policy officially “colour-blind”1967: immigration policy officially “colour-blind” Country of origin and race no longer factorsCountry of origin and race no longer factors Immigrants chosen using a points system based on age, Immigrants chosen using a points system based on age,

education, ability to speak French or English, and education, ability to speak French or English, and employment prospectsemployment prospects

If you have enough points, healthy, of good character, If you have enough points, healthy, of good character, then you’re let in with spouse and dependent childrenthen you’re let in with spouse and dependent children

Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration and Multiculturalism

Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration and Multiculturalism Immigration PolicyImmigration Policy

1976: relatives of immigrants already in Canada 1976: relatives of immigrants already in Canada allowed inallowed in

Refugees (people fleeing unsafe countries)Refugees (people fleeing unsafe countries) Not often welcome before WWII (ex. Jewish refugees)Not often welcome before WWII (ex. Jewish refugees) Post-WWII: economy booming, workers and consumers Post-WWII: economy booming, workers and consumers

needed, more concern for the mistreated, refugees (or needed, more concern for the mistreated, refugees (or “displaced persons”) welcomed“displaced persons”) welcomed

1957: 37,000 Hungarian refugees after uprising against 1957: 37,000 Hungarian refugees after uprising against USSR failedUSSR failed

1968: 11,000 Czech refugees after USSR invasion1968: 11,000 Czech refugees after USSR invasion 1972: 7000 Asian-Ugandan refugees after persecution1972: 7000 Asian-Ugandan refugees after persecution

RefugeesRefugees

Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration and Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism PolicyMulticulturalism Policy Purpose: to support and encourage all ethnic groups Purpose: to support and encourage all ethnic groups

in Canada to honour their culture and share it with in Canada to honour their culture and share it with the rest of Canadathe rest of Canada

Mosaic, not assimilation or melting potMosaic, not assimilation or melting pot Introduced in 1971 by PM TrudeauIntroduced in 1971 by PM Trudeau Programs set up to make all Canadians feel at home, Programs set up to make all Canadians feel at home,

prevent racism, and teach cultural respectprevent racism, and teach cultural respect 1988: Department of Multiculturalism and 1988: Department of Multiculturalism and

Citizenship established to promote multiculturalism, Citizenship established to promote multiculturalism, now Department of Citizenship and Immigrationnow Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration and Multiculturalism Multiculturalism PolicyMulticulturalism Policy

Not all Canadians agree with multiculturalismNot all Canadians agree with multiculturalism For: strengthens Canada, makes all feel welcome, For: strengthens Canada, makes all feel welcome,

increases cultural knowledge/respect and national unity, increases cultural knowledge/respect and national unity, spreads values of tolerance and equalityspreads values of tolerance and equality

Against: emphasizes differences not similarities, Against: emphasizes differences not similarities, prevents a common national identity, can lead to prevents a common national identity, can lead to isolation and conflictisolation and conflict

DifficultiesDifficulties School and national holidays based on Christianity (ex. School and national holidays based on Christianity (ex.

Christmas and Easter)Christmas and Easter) Multicultural Festivals (ex. Chinese New Year and Multicultural Festivals (ex. Chinese New Year and

Ramadan)Ramadan) Superficial? (food, dance, music, and costumes)Superficial? (food, dance, music, and costumes)

Canada’s Social Safety NetCanada’s Social Safety Net Definition: A series of government programs that ensure a Definition: A series of government programs that ensure a

basic standard of living for Canadiansbasic standard of living for Canadians aka “Welfare State”aka “Welfare State”

1927: Old Age Pensions1927: Old Age Pensions Money for retired seniorsMoney for retired seniors Expanded in 1966 – Canada Pension PlanExpanded in 1966 – Canada Pension Plan

1940: Unemployment Insurance1940: Unemployment Insurance Money for people in-between jobsMoney for people in-between jobs

1945: Family Allowances1945: Family Allowances Money for families with childrenMoney for families with children

1966: Day Care and Income Assistance (Welfare)1966: Day Care and Income Assistance (Welfare) Canada Assistance Plan solidified gov. funding for these programsCanada Assistance Plan solidified gov. funding for these programs

Canada’s Social Safety NetCanada’s Social Safety Net

1966: Medical Care Act – “Medicare”1966: Medical Care Act – “Medicare” Prov. & fed. govs would pay for medical servicesProv. & fed. govs would pay for medical services Before Medicare, bills from serious illnesses or Before Medicare, bills from serious illnesses or

accidents could bankrupt Canadiansaccidents could bankrupt Canadians Medicare first started in 1962 in SaskatchewanMedicare first started in 1962 in Saskatchewan

Pushed by Premier Tommy Douglas – “father of Medicare”Pushed by Premier Tommy Douglas – “father of Medicare” In beginning, unpopular with doctors (went on strike)In beginning, unpopular with doctors (went on strike) Douglas becomes leader of federal NDP Party, pushes for Douglas becomes leader of federal NDP Party, pushes for

Medicare across CanadaMedicare across Canada PM Pearson passed national Medicare act in 1966PM Pearson passed national Medicare act in 1966

Worried that NDP would take Liberal votes if he didn’tWorried that NDP would take Liberal votes if he didn’t

Tommy DouglasTommy Douglas