Ontario
Ontario houses both the seat of government, Ottawa, and one of Canada’s major business/financial centres, Toronto. It is generally acknowledged that Ontario is a province which enjoys great success with ethnic diversity and unity; because of its established open attitudes and economic wealth.
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Firstly, Ontario has a huge influx of immigrants every year. Alan Gregg notes that ‘35%’ of the population of Ontario ‘aged 15 or older [is] foreign born’[1]. Gregg also argues that this influx of foreign born citizens can have mixed results; leading to ethnic groups not integrating and instead, like in Toronto, ‘clustering in tightly knit, ethnically homogeneous neighbourhoods’[2]. While others believe that this diversity allows Canada to expand and diversify more than any other nation in the world, as seen when one examines Canada’s government where ‘there are more foreign-born citizens elected to Parliament in Canada than in any other country’[3]. It is natural for ethnic groups to find a place of solace together while they find their feet. Those who have then integrated, over time, have shown their commitment to their new home through political participation, for example. Therefore it can be argued that Ontario may suffer from some initial setbacks, through the natural ghettoisation of immigrants; but Canadian culture and society only acts as a catalyst of encouraging integration and active participation.
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Secondly, Ontario has been the scene for Islamic hatred and conflict. Some researchers, such as Michael Dewing, argue that there has been an ‘emergence of…individuals and groups promoting racist ideas’[4]. Ethnic diversity may have been successful for the immigrants, but for those living there, it has become an unwanted burden. As too many people enter a nation already short of work, in the tail of an economic crisis. Studies, such as Prof. Kymlicka’s, suggest that without policies of multiculturalism ‘intolerance and xenophobia’ are prime problems which could develop. A prominent example of ‘Islamic radicalism in Canada’ which still remains in the mind of many Canadians is that of the ‘Toronto 18’[5]. But this was not an example of the failure of ethnic diversity in Canada, but more so its military commitments to the Middle East; which in effect endangered these Islamic-Canadian terrorists’ homeland.
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Part of the 30 minute light show, on Parliament Hill;
Ontario. Touching upon the diverse history of Canada and what the people believe
makes Canada today.
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But even though saddening cases
like this occur, there are still a great proportion of Canadians and Muslims
alike who enjoy a feeling of union. On the one hand, Prof. Kymlicka argues that
‘83% of Canadians agree that Muslims make a positive contribution to Canada’[6].
While, ‘Muslims have the same level of pride in Canada as other immigrants’45.
Therefore while ethnic diversity may be successful in Ontario, there are a few
individuals who break from this happy harmony and rebel for personal reasons;
which provides the appearance of the failure of multiculturalism among only a
few.
[1] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[2] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[3] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p8.
[4] Michael Dewing, Canadian Multiculturalism; as issued and used by the Library of the Canadian Parliament. (revised 15th September 2009), Library of Parliament, Social Affairs Division, 2009, p5.
[5] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p14.
[6] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p9.
[2] Allan Gregg, Identity Crisis, March, 2006, http://walrusmagazine.com/article.php?ref=2006.03-society-canada-multiculturism&page
[3] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p8.
[4] Michael Dewing, Canadian Multiculturalism; as issued and used by the Library of the Canadian Parliament. (revised 15th September 2009), Library of Parliament, Social Affairs Division, 2009, p5.
[5] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p14.
[6] Prof. Will Kymlicka, The current state of Multiculturalism in Canada and research themes on Canadian Multiculturalism 2008-2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p9.
