The Idea of a Unified Canadian Identity - Essay Example

Canadian Identity The idea of a unified Canadian identity has been a matter of contention from the time when the country attained Dominion status in 1867. This is mainly because there are diversified views concerning what it is to be Canadian with some believing that it is because of being within the same country while others propagating the belief that being Canadian is essentially as a result of the multicultural components of the country. While these opinions have been expressed, it should be noted that Canada has essentially developed its own identity through not only the recognition of its cultural diversity, but also through the development of a strong nationalist outlook, especially after the Second World War. Canadian identity has come about as a result of its multicultural nature, the identification of a common destiny by its people, and immigration which has become a basic part of the country’s policies. The multicultural nature of Canada came about as a result of the different origins of the people who settled in this country. The first groups of people who have been recognized as the original settlers of this land are the natives who are known in Canada, the First Nations. Many centuries later, a part of Canada which came to be known as Quebec was colonized by France and French settlers established settlements in this region. This territory then came under the control of the British and led to a situation where there was constant conflict between the British and French settlers, especially when the latter felt that their rights were being infringed upon by the British crown. These problems especially came to the fore after the granting of greater independence to Canada in 1867 when the nationalistic feelings between these two flared up. However, during the twentieth and twenty first centuries, these problems have been for the most successfully dealt with mainly as a result of the efforts of the federal government to ensure that the interests of all groups are protected. This has been achieved through the recognition of language rights in such a way that some parts of the country have ended up being bilingual while it has also been a requirement that public services be delivered in both French and English.1 It is mainly as a result of these efforts that there have been very few serious frictions between the French speaking and English speaking populations which have essentially come to put their identity as Canadians before that of their ancestral origins. The multicultural nature of Canada has ended up becoming a pillar of the country rather than a source of friction between its people. The coming together of all Canadians, no matter their origins, in recognition of their common destiny can be considered to be one of the most fundamental features of Canadian identity.2 This is as a result of the efforts of the federal government which has ensured that it develops policies which are designed to protect the minorities in the country while giving equal status to all cultural groups. The development of a democratic system where the people of Canada have the right to choose their own leadership and determine their own destiny has been instrumental in the creation of a national identity where all of its people, despite their differences, are able to exercise their rights. Furthermore, the election of prime ministers from the Quebec region to office in recent years has brought about a situation where they have worked towards ensuring that there is a diffusion of conflict between this region and those with majority English speakers. The result has been that a significant level of cooperation between the different cultural groups has been established as these prime ministers have led the country towards the creation of a strong national identity. The efforts of the federal government have led to a strong national identity to the extent of referenda for secession in Quebec have been twice defeated mainly because even a majority of Quebecois have come to identify more with Canada than with their own region. It should be noted that its system of government has also been influential in making sure that regional interests are represented and protected;3 leading to a situation where a national Canadian identity is becoming stronger than a regional one. Since the 1960s, in order to bring about a demographic recovery in the country, the Canadian government has adopted very favorable immigration policy. The immigration of people from all over the world and their adoption of an essentially Canadian way of life have led to a situation where the people of this country have been united.4 This union has come about mainly because the increasing number of immigrants has been able to counter the some of the negative effects brought about by the British- and French-speaking populations. Immigrant communities have been able to bring about diversity in the political, social and economic life of Canada; having a positive effect on the way that people interact as well as the foreign policy adopted by the country.5 These individuals have, in addition, been able to adapt to life in Canada so effectively that they have become a basic part of life in the country. They have further been able to promote a strong Canadian identity, especially in the second and third generations after the original immigrants, that they have not only transcended the political and social conflicts previously experienced, but have also been instrumental in the creation of a strong Canadian identity that has allowed the nation to continue thriving. In conclusion, the discussion above has attempted to show that Canadian identity has come about as a result of its multicultural nature, the identification of a common destiny by its people, and immigration which has become a basic part of the country’s policies. Among the most significant aspects of these has been its multiculturalism which has allowed for the creation of a diverse nation. Finally, through the development of a strong national identity, these cultures have been brought together in such a way that they have fostered unity as well as created a situation where there is less conflicts that threaten to divide Canada as a nation. References Berdahl, L. and Tracey, R. (2010). "Being Canadian in the World: Mapping the Contours of National Identity and Public Opinion on International Issues in Canada." International Journal 65, no. 4: 995-1010. Mason, S. (2013). "Regional Influences on Political Identity: Canadian and U.S. Urban Comparisons." Canadian Journal of Urban Research 22, no. 2: 18-44. Potrebenko, H. (2007). "Belonging and Identity." Canadian Literature no. 193: 99-100,183. Raney, T. (2009). "As Canadian as Possible ... Under what Circumstances? Public Opinion on National Identity in Canada Outside Quebec." Journal of Canadian Studies 43, no. 3: 5-29,246. Zubrzycki, G. (2013). "Aesthetic Revolt and the Remaking of National Identity in Québec, 1960-1969." Theory and Society 42, no. 5: 423-475. Read More