The Provinces
Like states across the USA,
Canada is split up into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The provinces receive
their power and authority directly from the Constitution Act, 1867; whilst the
territories derive their powers and mandates from the federal government. ‘All
[the] provinces [in Canada] have adopted some form of multiculturalism policy’,
with ‘at present, six of the ten provinces...[having] enacted multiculturalism
legislation’[1].
These policies and legislations bear many similarities, but also have some
stark differences; for example linguistic differences, such as in Québec.
Alberta:
Alberta ‘has a fund’, which can be ‘used for projects and community work’[2]. This support of the local community, allows acceptance of diversity to grow at grass root level.
Manitoba:
Manitoba states, in its Multiculturalism Act (1992), that its province is ‘not a collection of many separate societies, divided by language and culture, but a single society united by shared laws, values, aspirations and responsibilities’. One could argue that this situation must encourage further ethnic endorsement by the people and unity of the province. It is also important to note that this statement in government policy can offer a positive image to immigrants hoping to arrive in the Canadian province of Manitoba. However, this could be a misleading image to only entice skilled and wealthy immigrants to the province.
British Columbia:
BC, in a similar way to Manitoba, has a sensitive policy to prevent the alienation of ethnic groups and the creation of racist sentiment. The Multiculturalism Act for BC states that the provincial government must carry on…services and programs in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality’ of the province and its people.
Saskatchewan:
‘Saskatchewan was the first province to adopt legislation on multiculturalism’[3]. The leading role, which it took, brought about the advancement of many other provinces towards adopting similar policies. One of the central features of their multiculturalism act is ‘respect to…cultural heritage, religion, ethnicity, ancestry and place of origin’. But in a similar way to that of BC and Manitoba, Saskatchewan aims to encourage a sense of unity around a joint ‘multicultural heritage…[and] society’. Unity is therefore ensured through acceptance of ethnic groups into the provincial history books.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador:
All play host to similar policies of inclusion and racial acceptance within their individual communities.
Alberta:
Alberta ‘has a fund’, which can be ‘used for projects and community work’[2]. This support of the local community, allows acceptance of diversity to grow at grass root level.
Manitoba:
Manitoba states, in its Multiculturalism Act (1992), that its province is ‘not a collection of many separate societies, divided by language and culture, but a single society united by shared laws, values, aspirations and responsibilities’. One could argue that this situation must encourage further ethnic endorsement by the people and unity of the province. It is also important to note that this statement in government policy can offer a positive image to immigrants hoping to arrive in the Canadian province of Manitoba. However, this could be a misleading image to only entice skilled and wealthy immigrants to the province.
British Columbia:
BC, in a similar way to Manitoba, has a sensitive policy to prevent the alienation of ethnic groups and the creation of racist sentiment. The Multiculturalism Act for BC states that the provincial government must carry on…services and programs in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality’ of the province and its people.
Saskatchewan:
‘Saskatchewan was the first province to adopt legislation on multiculturalism’[3]. The leading role, which it took, brought about the advancement of many other provinces towards adopting similar policies. One of the central features of their multiculturalism act is ‘respect to…cultural heritage, religion, ethnicity, ancestry and place of origin’. But in a similar way to that of BC and Manitoba, Saskatchewan aims to encourage a sense of unity around a joint ‘multicultural heritage…[and] society’. Unity is therefore ensured through acceptance of ethnic groups into the provincial history books.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador:
All play host to similar policies of inclusion and racial acceptance within their individual communities.
'A brief segment from CTV News about Canada's Provincial Boundaries'
- CTV NEWS
- CTV NEWS
[1] 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, p12.
[2] 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, p13.
[3] 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, p14.
[2] 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, p13.
[3] 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, p14.