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The concept of identity is complex. We identify individuals based on an array of characteristics: age, gender, language, culture, religion, skin colour, place of residence, political opinions, sexual orientation, etc. Sometimes people identify themselves (we call this “asserted” or “proclaimed” identity), by deciding to emphasize a specific trait in a given context. In other situations people are identified by others, who decide which characteristics to emphasize (“assigned” identity). A person’s assigned identity may differ from his or her asserted or proclaimed identity. Assigned identities can also be a pretext for rejecting people, depriving them of their rights and exaggerating their differences.

The following paragraphs focus on a specific type of identity, namely cultural identity. In the course of its history, Canada has welcomed people of a wide variety of origins and cultures. Canadian society is thus multicultural. Canadians share a citizenship and values that set them apart. They are not, however, obliged to forget their origins. Their rich heritage may be seen as an integral part of their Canadian identity. Some people have immigrated here from another country (first generation immigrants), others are second generation immigrants (children of the former group) and other people’s Canadian roots date back much longer.

There are independent immigrants who plan their move, file an application and are assessed in the light of criteria like education, knowledge of Canada’s official languages, age and probability of finding employment. Other newcomers move here to join a family member (father, mother, child, etc.) who has agreed to sponsor them. Still others are refugees fleeing war, natural disasters or persecution due to their political beliefs, religion, skin colour, sexual orientation, etc.

In addition to promoting harmony between Canadians and respect for cultural diversity, the federal and provincial governments have to adopt measures to counter racism, discrimination and other types of injustice toward cultural communities. Citizens have a similar duty, which obliges us to rise to at least three challenges: understand cultural diversity, learn how to speak appropriately about diversity, and become accustomed to and partake in diversity.

We have to start by understanding that cultural diversity in Canada is long standing: it is neither recent nor isolated. Each time a misunderstanding or disagreement involving cultural or religious differences arises, some people tend to talk about a clash between the values of “real” Canadians and those held by Canadians who are somehow “less real.” We need to see these differences of opinion as disagreements between Canadian citizens. Understanding diversity also means realizing that individuals who emphasize their belonging to a cultural group do not represent the entire group: They simply wear the badges of one culture among many others. This view allows us to take into consideration both the individual and collective aspects of identity. For instance, two Canadians who say they belong to the Afro-Quebec community may, respectively, be French speaking and English speaking, Black and White, Muslim and Christian, sovereignist and federalist, etc. Finally, understanding cultural diversity involves thinking about how relations between cultural groups have taken shape over the years — through wars, slavery, expropriations, collaboration, alliances, agreements, mutual avoidance, etc.

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