QUESTIONS:
Reitz provides three findings from his work:
- His first finding is that there are both positive and negative effects to social cohesion of ‘visible’ minority Canadians who maintain a strong ethnic identification. What are the positive and negative effects? (paragraphs 4, 5, & 6)
The positive impacts of social cohesion are revealed in matters on how the minority groups feel attached and part of the Canadian community. The positive side is measured when we look at how a person from the minority feels attached and have a sense of belonging in Canada and their satisfaction when in Canada. There are also voting privileges
The negative impacts include the strong negative attachment on the number of immigrants who acquire citizenship in Canada. There is also a low level of satisfaction and acquisition of identity in the country. There are also strong attachments on feelings of trust in others (Reitz, 2010).
- What is the second finding of his work? (paragraph 8)
The second finding is that there are inequalities that indicate a barrier to policy. The minorities in Canada have inequality challenges and the visible minorities have small incomes and high poverty rates. The economic status of the visible minorities in Canada has been improving with time and the children if those visible minorities have high levels of education and improved levels of income (Reitz, 2010).
- What is the third finding of his work? (paragraph 9)
The third finding is that the visible minorities are discriminated in Canada. Many immigrants are reported to experience issues of discrimination more than the whites. The visible minorities also face high discomforts in social situations and live-in fear of being attacked. The children have a 42% rate of being discriminated while for the blacks, it rises up to 60% (Reitz, 2010).
- What are the social results of these three findings? (paragraph 10)
The results of the three findings on discrimination include;
The visible minorities are less socially integrated into the Canadian community as compared to the whites.
The visible minorities acquire the Canadian identity at a slow rate.
The newly arrived racial minority immigrants is easily forgotten with experience in Canada (Reitz, 2010).
- What do his findings suggest for future multicultural policy? (paragraphs 11 and 13)
the research shows that the multiculturalism policies should emphasize on both the potential strengths of diversity and also stand to find solution its challenges. The policies are supposed to advocate for a socially active commitment in the development of positive affiliations amid groups (Reitz, 2010). The inter-group exchanges can assist the Canadians in addressing several issues including the cultural practises and inequities.
- What were the four objectives of multicultural policy set out in 1971 by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau? (paragraph 12)
- Multicultural philosophy was meant to support the minority communities
- The policy was also meant to ensure that there would be full participation of the visible minorities in the Canadian society
- Multicultural policy would also ensure the visible minority learns an official language.
- The multicultural policy would also ensure that there is an interchange among the Canadian cultural groups for the sake of national unity (Reitz, 2010).
- What does he suggest all Canadians should be doing to promote positive multiculturalism and social cohesion? (paragraph 14)
To promote positive multiculturalism, there is a need to have a frank and authentic discussion of some challenges we face as a multicultural society. He suggests that all Canadians should explore ways to bring communities together for a more valid discussion (Reitz, 2010).
- What does he suggest ‘minority’ communities do to promote positive multiculturalism and social cohesion? (paragraph 15)
The minority communities can play a positive role in the integration of immigrants and the members of the minority group to the larger community. The latter can be done by inducting them into the social, economic and political factors (Reitz, 2010).