RaceEthnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

RaceEthnicity - Essay ExampleImmigrants and their children penetrate lines of wealth, neighborhood, education and profession. For example, a recent study of first year students at the University of Toronto showed that more than half find themselves as non-white by race. Approximately 40 percent are Asians. Only about one tierce came from homes where English is the only language spoken. Toronto and Vancouver stand out as the intimately ethnicly and racially diverse cities in Canada, although the cultural mix in other Canadian cities also exist in variable proportions. (About Canada)In 1971, the federal government announced its policy of multiculturalism. It challenged all Canadians to accept cultural diversity, while advance them to participate fully and equally in the Canadian society. Many urban English-speaking Canadians supported the policy, looking at it as a timely recognition of pluralism. When the policy was announced, the Canadian ethnic mosaic was calm very much do minated by those of European heritage and was designed to recognize their contribution to Canada. As immigration to Canada from the developing world increased, the multiculturalism policy had to deal with the concerns of visible minorities. These new and emerging communities were more bear on about the elimination of racial prejudice and discrimination. They wanted to ensure equal access to jobs, housing and education. (About Canada)The unrestricted education sector f... Classrooms are evolving in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, as the majority of new Canadians, some 250,000 of them annually, take up residence in these cities. (Drummond and Lacey, 2007) A holistic approach to education is required in the light of the most recent controversies in Herouxville, Quebec, some 200 kilometres northeast of Montreal, resulting from the passage of a controversial computer code of way aimed at potential Muslim immigrants. Last February 11, six women, accompanied by a handful of manful an d female Muslim students, appealed in Quebec for changes to the so-called code of life, which lays out societal norms for Herouxville. May Haidar, one of the women, say Its apparent there is a misconception and a wrong view of Muslim women, so we want to plainspoken a dialogue to let them (the non-Muslim Canadians) know us and, of course, we want to know them. (Moore, 2007) Andre Drouin, the town councilor behind the code of behavior for immigrants, said the residents in Quebec are eager to welcome the visitors and prove that they are not racists. tho Drouin was unrepentant about the code and said it will stay put. The debate over accommodation of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities continues to rage in Quebec and its Premier Jean Charest has named a special commission to study the issue. The Canadian Islamic Congress considered filing a human rights complaint against the Herouxville council. (Moore, 2007) The controversial five-page immigrants code, passed by the Herouxvil le town council in January, says a persons face should not be covered, except at Halloween, and that children should sing Christmas songs in December. It informs