Discuss The Role Of Multiculturalism In Canada

From birth until death, a human life will experience a multitude of directions on which way to grow and develop. As a young child moves through their own rites of passages into adulthood, one will fit into social constructs based on their gender, religion, social hierarchy, wealth as well as their race. The belief one would hold the attitude to exclude people based on their religious beliefs or race is seen as altruistic behaviour in support of the belief system that surrounds the individual. In the United States, race has divided populations or helped build new socioeconomic paths for generations simply by virtue of ones’ skin colour. In some cases, racism is hidden by a veneer of nationalism, which has been observed in the recent US Republic …show more content…
Since then, Canada has built itself on diversity and multiculturalism with the fundamental belief that all citizens are equal regardless of race, ethnic origins and/or religion. In the recent Federal Elections, Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister as a result of a culturally positive and unifying campaign. The Conservative party on the other hand, lead by the party leader Stephen Harper and Prime Minister, ran on a campaign of intolerance to Muslims. This partisan campaign message had divided the Canadian people in regards to the direction Mr. Harper wanted to lead Canada, as well as the conservative party. By voting in the liberal party, the Canadian population had shown through direct action that they do not accept the anti Muslim rhetoric, and had elected a government that believed in unity and inclusiveness. Not only had the liberal party united a nation, the party itself maintained a level of diversity reflective of its citizens through the cabinet ministers they had appointed. Contrary to Canadian politics, the US election campaigns central theme has been divisiveness and discrimination. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has made misogynistic, racist and prejudicial comments towards anyone who was not far right leaning in their political views. Many of his controversial quotes had become media fodder, allowing his most vocal proponents to share their political incorrect commentary through social media. Many minorities from various religious, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds reject Mr. Trumps ideologies, and many worry that the discrimination they have experienced in the past will become a major social problem if Mr. Trump were to be elected. Physical violence, obscene comments and social isolation for visible minorities would result if divisive behaviour is socially