What does multiculturalism mean in Canadian context?

Multiculturalism is the federal policy that recognises and protects Canada's cultural diversity and the equal participation of all ethnic and religious communities in Canadian society. Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau introduced the policy in the House of Commons on October 8, 1971, framing it as multiculturalism within a bilingual framework. Canada became the first country in the world to adopt an official multiculturalism policy.

Parliament enshrined multiculturalism in section 27 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when the Constitution was patriated in 1982: 'This Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.' The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, passed in 1988 under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, made Canada the first nation in the world to give multiculturalism statutory force.

The 1988 Act commits the federal government to recognise the diversity of Canadians as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society, to promote full and equitable participation, to encourage the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritages, and to fight racism and remove barriers. The Department of Canadian Heritage runs programmes that fund cultural festivals, anti-racism initiatives, and the integration of newcomers. Canadian Multiculturalism Day is observed each year on June 27, set by proclamation in 2002.

Multiculturalism applies inside the constitutional protections for Indigenous peoples, Anglophone and Francophone communities, and the Charter rights of every individual. More than one in five Canadians is foreign-born, and the 2021 census recorded over 450 ethnic and cultural origins, more than two hundred languages spoken, and a racialised population of just under 27 per cent of the country.