The Canadian Multiculturalism Act — 1988 and What It Means

# The Canadian Multiculturalism Act — 1988 and What It Means

Canada was the first country in the world to make multiculturalism an official government policy. This is a defining feature of Canadian identity and a recurring topic on the citizenship test.

• 1971 — Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announces the Multiculturalism Policy in the House of Commons (October 8, 1971)
• 1982 — Section 27 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms entrenches multicultural interpretation
• 1988 — Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's government passes the Canadian Multiculturalism Act — making multiculturalism the law
• 2002 — June 27 designated as Canadian Multiculturalism Day

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act commits the federal government to:

1. Recognise that the diversity of Canadians regarding race, national or ethnic origin, colour, and religion is a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society
2. Promote the full and equitable participation of individuals and communities of all origins in Canadian life
3. Recognise and promote the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial diversity of Canadian society
4. Combat discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, religion, or national origin

The Act also requires every federal institution to consider multiculturalism in its policies, programs, and operations.

Canada was particularly well-positioned to embrace multiculturalism because:

• Founded by two language groups — English and French — already required accommodating cultural difference
• Indigenous peoples were always part of the Canadian fabric
• Waves of immigration — from Europe in the early 1900s, Asia in the late 1900s, around the world today — made diversity the norm
• The Charter of Rights (1982) entrenched equality and minority rights

Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world:

• About 23% of Canadians are foreign-born — among the highest of any developed country
• Over 250 ethnic origins are represented in Canada
• Over 200 languages are spoken at home
• About half of Toronto's residents were born outside Canada
• About 40% of Vancouver's residents are of Asian heritage

Canada is officially bilingual (two equal languages: English and French) but multicultural (no single official culture). The two policies work together:

• Bilingualism governs language in federal institutions
• Multiculturalism recognises and protects cultural and ethnic diversity

For more, see [Canada's Official Languages](/blog/official-languages-act-canada) and [Bilingualism in Canada Explained](/blog/bilingualism-in-canada-explained).

Section 27 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states:

This means that when courts interpret Charter rights — freedom of religion, equality, language rights, etc. — they must do so with multiculturalism in mind. It is one of the most distinctive features of the Canadian Charter compared to other constitutional documents.

Canadian multiculturalism shows up in everyday ways:

• Ethnic festivals — Caribana (Toronto), Folklorama (Winnipeg), Carifest (Calgary)
• Religious accommodation — workplaces and schools accommodate religious holidays from many traditions
• Heritage languages — schools and communities teach Mandarin, Punjabi, Italian, Tagalog, Arabic, and dozens more
• Cuisines — every major Canadian city has rich, diverse food scenes
• Public art and education — multicultural themes are common in schools and public spaces

Multiculturalism is widely supported in Canada but not without debate:

• Some argue it can lead to silos if cultural groups don't mix with each other
• Quebec has at times preferred interculturalism (a model that emphasises French-speaking common ground while accepting cultural diversity within it)
• Religious freedom and gender-equality debates sometimes intersect with multiculturalism (e.g. niqab in citizenship ceremonies)

Despite debates, the vast majority of Canadians consistently say multiculturalism is a positive feature of Canadian identity.

Common citizenship-test questions:

• When did Canada adopt multiculturalism as a policy? *(1971 — policy; 1988 — Act)*
• Was Canada the first country with multiculturalism as a policy? *(Yes)*
• What protects multiculturalism in the Constitution? *(Section 27 of the Charter)*

Try our [free practice test](/practice-test) — it covers multiculturalism questions in the same format you will see on test day.