The Multicultural Constitution

Abstract

This piece provides a deep analysis of Canadian multiculturalism policy, its goals, achievements and shortcomings, from its origins in the 1940s to the present day. The piece explores the legal and constitutional foundations of the policy. It reflects on the policy’s implementation alongside more rigid constitutional entitlements for official language, indigenous, religious and national minorities. It considers critiques from the right and the left, and provides responses. It examines the policy in comparative perspective and concludes with a summary and appraisal.