Canadian Nationalism
Multiculturalism contributes towards Canadian identity — the creation of a homogeneous society bound together by multiculturalism is intrinsically Canadian, promoting our values of tolerance, acceptance and diversity.
Canadian identity, because of it’s distinctly multicultural roots is embraced by all Canadians, as it should be.
Robert Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine: two politicians, LaFontaine from eastern Canada and Baldwin of Western Canada joined forces to demand a responsible government — answering to Canadians rather than British-appointed governors.
As a result of their efforts, the British government introduced responsible, democratic-esque government to parts of Canada and Newfoundland.
The issue of Francophone language was also mediated — the British choosing to abandon plans to assimilate French speakers into Canadian culture.
Clifford Sifton: the minister for the interior in Wilfrid Laurier’s government, who attracted British and American immigrants as the population that would make the best homesteaders.
Subsequently, more immigration offices were established in non-English speaking European countries, creating immigration to populate the prairie provinces.
Multiculturalism: in 1971, Pierre Trudeau’s government adopted a policy of “multiculturalism within a bilingual framework.” together with legislation that opened Canada to all forms of immigration. Despite these policies, many immigrants believe that their needs as new Canadians are not being met.
In 1982, Pierre Trudeau repatriated the Canadian Constitution, developing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and guaranteeing rights for Canada’s indigenous peoples.
The process of repatriation involved consent from all provinces (bar Quebec) and concessions that mandate the presence of a Notwithstanding Clause.
Amendments to the constitution, such as the proposed Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords went to referendum. Upon the losses, these attempts at creating Indigenous unity failed.
The Constitution was capable of uniting Canadians around one central constitution, yet challenges are posed regarding Quebecois representation in the actual constitution text.
Metis self-determination was furthered as Canada was developed into a country. Various uprisings demanded Metis self-determination, such as the Red River Uprising, led by Louis Riel.
In 1870, the province of Manitoba was established as a province for Canada’s Metis population.
Unfortunately, the influx of European immigrants into Manitoba was seen as a betrayal, as the land could not be used exclusively by the Metis.
The Indian Act was passed to give the Federal government control over the lives of Indigenous peoples — allowing Indians to become full citizens if they give up their treaty rights.
In 1970, the Indigenous population pushed back against efforts of Chretien and Trudeau to eliminate treaties from Canada — their success in pushing back resulted in the formation of a new relationship between Canada and Indigenous partners.
Land claims remain unresolved, many pass through the government and the Supreme Court.
When laws preventing the affirmation of land rights were repealed, the Nisga’a First Nation challenged the Canadian government for their land claims. The Constitution affirmed these rights.
Impact on Francophone perceptions of Canada
Lord Durham’s report: report demanding the creation of one unified Canada: resulting in decentralization from Britain and the furtherance of Canadian democracy.
Investigated and reported on acts of revolt in Lower and Upper Canada.
1840 Act of Union: unifying Canada into one territory; fears of Quebec assimilation into English culture and custom as the English still held territorial control and governance.
Confederation: creation of Canada as one country, providing sovereignty to Canadian peoples.
Northwest Resistance: resistance demanding appropriate representation, which succeeded until English settlers headed to Canada.
Official Languages Act: Act that denotes English and French as Canada’s official languages.
Supports the French language and preserves it as an official language; however many criticize the Official Languages Act as being incapable of promoting and actually culturally preserving the French language in Quebec society.
Quebec Sovereignty: a movement designed to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada, giving it the self determination that a country would have.
Quiet Revolution: period of change in Quebec featuring increased industrialization, changes in Quebec society such as healthcare, etc. and an increase in tensions between French and English Canada. Socio-political and socioeconomic change.
Parti Quebecois: formed as a sovereigntist, Quebec-nationalist political party to demand Quebecois independence. Was elected in the 1970s and held a referendum in the 1980; then another referendum in 1995.
Bill 101: Parti Quebecois passed laws in Quebec to promote and mandate the French language, making it the only official language of Quebec and therefore requiring signage to be only in French.
1995 Referendum: a referendum on Quebec sovereignty was held in 1995 based on the tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The vote was tight; with the no side winning by 30,000 votes (out of 9 million)
Separatist movements in Quebec: the Quebecois have demanded sovereignty because they believe that Quebec is a distinctly separate society from the rest of Canada, and therefore requires special stipulations to belong and coexist in Canadian society.
Canadian nationalism impacts our identity: the ways in which we interact and coexist with oneanother in Canadian society; our food, our customs, our culture is manipulated by the people we interact with and the country we identify with.
Dominion Institute: the Dominion Institute (now Historica Canada) promotes Canadian culture and identity by acting as an archive of all things Canadian and Canadian history; inclusive of awareness of our Armed Forces, our culture and the history of Canada.
Historica Canada now is responsible for updating the Canadian citizenship handbook and preserving Canadian historical moments in our history.
Department of Canadian Heritage: is a government department designed to preserve and promote Canadian history, language culture and media.
Pluralism: plurality of nationalities and cultures, fostering diversity to create a more plural society.
International Identity: Canada’s international identity currently consists of tolerance of other peoples, diversity, acceptance and the promotion of Canadian values; along with national myths that give Canadians a sense of belonging.
Responsibilities as Canadians: to participate and be inclusive of these values; to be civically engaged and vote; to follow laws to uphold civic nationalism; to contribute to Canada as a personal contribution to Canadian prosperity, identity and culture in return for the opportunities that Canada affords us.
Multiculturalism contributes towards Canadian identity — the creation of a homogeneous society bound together by multiculturalism is intrinsically Canadian, promoting our values of tolerance, acceptance and diversity.
Canadian identity, because of it’s distinctly multicultural roots is embraced by all Canadians, as it should be.
Robert Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine: two politicians, LaFontaine from eastern Canada and Baldwin of Western Canada joined forces to demand a responsible government — answering to Canadians rather than British-appointed governors.
As a result of their efforts, the British government introduced responsible, democratic-esque government to parts of Canada and Newfoundland.
The issue of Francophone language was also mediated — the British choosing to abandon plans to assimilate French speakers into Canadian culture.
Clifford Sifton: the minister for the interior in Wilfrid Laurier’s government, who attracted British and American immigrants as the population that would make the best homesteaders.
Subsequently, more immigration offices were established in non-English speaking European countries, creating immigration to populate the prairie provinces.
Multiculturalism: in 1971, Pierre Trudeau’s government adopted a policy of “multiculturalism within a bilingual framework.” together with legislation that opened Canada to all forms of immigration. Despite these policies, many immigrants believe that their needs as new Canadians are not being met.
In 1982, Pierre Trudeau repatriated the Canadian Constitution, developing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and guaranteeing rights for Canada’s indigenous peoples.
The process of repatriation involved consent from all provinces (bar Quebec) and concessions that mandate the presence of a Notwithstanding Clause.
Amendments to the constitution, such as the proposed Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords went to referendum. Upon the losses, these attempts at creating Indigenous unity failed.
The Constitution was capable of uniting Canadians around one central constitution, yet challenges are posed regarding Quebecois representation in the actual constitution text.
Metis self-determination was furthered as Canada was developed into a country. Various uprisings demanded Metis self-determination, such as the Red River Uprising, led by Louis Riel.
In 1870, the province of Manitoba was established as a province for Canada’s Metis population.
Unfortunately, the influx of European immigrants into Manitoba was seen as a betrayal, as the land could not be used exclusively by the Metis.
The Indian Act was passed to give the Federal government control over the lives of Indigenous peoples — allowing Indians to become full citizens if they give up their treaty rights.
In 1970, the Indigenous population pushed back against efforts of Chretien and Trudeau to eliminate treaties from Canada — their success in pushing back resulted in the formation of a new relationship between Canada and Indigenous partners.
Land claims remain unresolved, many pass through the government and the Supreme Court.
When laws preventing the affirmation of land rights were repealed, the Nisga’a First Nation challenged the Canadian government for their land claims. The Constitution affirmed these rights.
Impact on Francophone perceptions of Canada
Lord Durham’s report: report demanding the creation of one unified Canada: resulting in decentralization from Britain and the furtherance of Canadian democracy.
Investigated and reported on acts of revolt in Lower and Upper Canada.
1840 Act of Union: unifying Canada into one territory; fears of Quebec assimilation into English culture and custom as the English still held territorial control and governance.
Confederation: creation of Canada as one country, providing sovereignty to Canadian peoples.
Northwest Resistance: resistance demanding appropriate representation, which succeeded until English settlers headed to Canada.
Official Languages Act: Act that denotes English and French as Canada’s official languages.
Supports the French language and preserves it as an official language; however many criticize the Official Languages Act as being incapable of promoting and actually culturally preserving the French language in Quebec society.
Quebec Sovereignty: a movement designed to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada, giving it the self determination that a country would have.
Quiet Revolution: period of change in Quebec featuring increased industrialization, changes in Quebec society such as healthcare, etc. and an increase in tensions between French and English Canada. Socio-political and socioeconomic change.
Parti Quebecois: formed as a sovereigntist, Quebec-nationalist political party to demand Quebecois independence. Was elected in the 1970s and held a referendum in the 1980; then another referendum in 1995.
Bill 101: Parti Quebecois passed laws in Quebec to promote and mandate the French language, making it the only official language of Quebec and therefore requiring signage to be only in French.
1995 Referendum: a referendum on Quebec sovereignty was held in 1995 based on the tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The vote was tight; with the no side winning by 30,000 votes (out of 9 million)
Separatist movements in Quebec: the Quebecois have demanded sovereignty because they believe that Quebec is a distinctly separate society from the rest of Canada, and therefore requires special stipulations to belong and coexist in Canadian society.
Canadian nationalism impacts our identity: the ways in which we interact and coexist with oneanother in Canadian society; our food, our customs, our culture is manipulated by the people we interact with and the country we identify with.
Dominion Institute: the Dominion Institute (now Historica Canada) promotes Canadian culture and identity by acting as an archive of all things Canadian and Canadian history; inclusive of awareness of our Armed Forces, our culture and the history of Canada.
Historica Canada now is responsible for updating the Canadian citizenship handbook and preserving Canadian historical moments in our history.
Department of Canadian Heritage: is a government department designed to preserve and promote Canadian history, language culture and media.
Pluralism: plurality of nationalities and cultures, fostering diversity to create a more plural society.
International Identity: Canada’s international identity currently consists of tolerance of other peoples, diversity, acceptance and the promotion of Canadian values; along with national myths that give Canadians a sense of belonging.
Responsibilities as Canadians: to participate and be inclusive of these values; to be civically engaged and vote; to follow laws to uphold civic nationalism; to contribute to Canada as a personal contribution to Canadian prosperity, identity and culture in return for the opportunities that Canada affords us.
