Policy and legislation concerning multiculturalism

• National
• International

In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt a Multiculturalism Policy. Canada’s approach to diversity has evolved over the years and is embedded within a broad policy and legislative framework.

National

• 1947 : Passage of the first ever Canadian Citizenship Act
• 1960 : Passage of the Canadian Bill of Rights
• 1963 : Establishment of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
• 1969 : Book IV of the Bilingualism and Biculturalism Commission Report emphasizes the bilingual and multicultural nature of Canada
• 1969 : Introduction of the Official Languages Act
• 1971 : Introduction of Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy
• 1977 : Passage of the Canadian Human Rights Act
• 1982 : Adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• 1984 : Special Parliamentary Committee Report, Equality Now, calls for a Multiculturalism Act and establishment of a national research institute on multiculturalism and race relations issues
• 1986 : Passage by Parliament of the Employment Equity Act
• 1988 : Passage of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act
• 1996 : Government establishes the Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• 1997 : Renewed Multiculturalism Program announced

International

• 1948 : The International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
• 1948 : The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• 1958 : The International Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation
• 1965 : The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Canadian ratification in 1969)
• 1966 : The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Canadian ratification in 1976)
• 1966 : The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Canadian ratification in 1976)