Multicultural Heritage: Charter Of Rights

Fundamental Freedoms Dept: Immigrants and their children can maintain their customs and traditions while integrating into society: that idea underlies both the message and the policy of multiculturalism. But some critics prefer attacking multiculturalism to debating matters of religious identity from the perspective of fundamental freedoms as prescribed in the Quebec and Canadian Charter of Rights. CharlesPhillippe Courtois Opinion, March 1 insists that "the decision allowing kirpans in Quebec schools was based on Article 27 of the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights in which "the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians is entrenched." However, nowhere in the Supreme Court of Canada judgment on the kirpan in schools the 2006 Multani case is there a reference to that article of the Charter. Rather, the judges wrote that "the court does not at the outset have to reconcile two constitutional rights, as only freedom of religion is in issue here." The judges declared that the decision prohibiting Gurbaj Singh Multani from wearing his kirpan to school infringed his freedom of religion, according to Montreal Gazette. Does the Canadian policy of multiculturalism impede immigrant integration? Not according to a 2011 international study sponsored by the European Commission, where Canada ranked third among 29 countries for the strength of its integration policies. Courtois insists that Canada's multicultural policy is seen as weakening Quebec's message of integration. However, he provides no evidence in support of that claim other than a poll published in La Presse on Feb. 14 that found that 79 per cent of Quebecers approve of Bill 101 and 66 per cent see multiculturalism as a threat to the future of French in Quebec. The survey merely reminds us that many francophones believe that the ethnic and linguistic diversity of the population is a threat to the French language. Federal multicultural policy and the Canadian Charter's article on multiculturalism have not affected either the objective or implementation of Bill 101 and in Canada there are legitimate debates around the message of multiculturalism and government policies aimed at responding to the ethnic, racial and religious diversity of the population. Critics and supporters of multiculturalism have raised concerns about whether some expressions of religious identity conflict with gender equality. At times these issues can be complex, but it is important to avoid generalizations about the preservation of minority cultures that purportedly prevent the integration of immigrants. Courtois rightly points out that several Quebec political leaders have publicly denounced "federal" multicultural policy. However, they have not always practised what they preached. Under Premier Ren L vesque in 1981, cultural communities minister G rald Godin introduced an action plan entitled "Many Ways of Being a Quebecer." One of its objectives was to "assure the preservation and development of cultural communities and their specific characteristics." As reported in the news.
@t canadian charter of rights, customs and traditions