ARCHIVED – Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act 2007-2008

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Executive summary

The 2007-2008 report is the 20th report tabled in Parliament detailing the Government of Canada’s efforts to implement the multiculturalism policy. It also marks the first multiculturalism annual report to Parliament by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. On October 30, 2008 the Honourable Jason Kenney was appointed Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. At the same time, responsibility for multiculturalism was transferred from the Department of Canadian Heritage, to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

Each of the previous 19 reports to Parliament are snapshots in time that demonstrate government responsiveness to issues of the day impacting Canada’s diverse communities. Inside the pages of this 20th report, seven federal institutions describe how they have changed or evolved since the Canadian Multiculturalism Act came into force to consider and respond to Canada’s increasing diversity, and the pressing need to promote integration.

Since the first Annual Report for 1988-1989, the activities of federal institutions to implement the Act have deepened and become more comprehensive. The Multiculturalism Program has also evolved over time to respond to Canada’s changing diversity and to address emerging issues in our increasingly pluralistic society.

During this reporting period, the Multiculturalism Program announced new priorities for the Multiculturalism Program grants and contributions in 2008-2009, focusing on promoting integration, youth-at-risk, and increasing intercultural understanding. The program guidelines are available online at: www.cic.gc.ca/multi/pgm/index-eng.asp

In 2007-2008, the Government of Canada finalized details for the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP) and the National Historical Recognition Program (NHRP). At the end of March 2008, the Government of Canada’s ex-gratia symbolic payments of $20,000 to living Chinese-Canadian Head Tax payers and to persons who were in a conjugal relationship with a now-deceased Head Tax payer totaled over $12.9 million. Further information about these Historical Recognition programs is available online at: www.cic.gc.ca/multi/rdrss/hrp-eng.asp

In the coming year, the Multiculturalism Program will continue to build partnerships with other federal institutions to enhance implementation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, and develop tools to help measure gaps and progress.

Federal institutions across Canada reported achievements and challenges in implementing the Canadian Multiculturalism Act during 2007-2008. Submissions were received from 114 institutions including federal departments, Crown corporations, agencies, and offices established to perform a government function through legislation or a Governor in Council appointment.

The majority of federal institutions reporting in 2007-2008 have appointed a senior manager responsible for implementing multiculturalism. The majority of institutions reported that they did not face barriers or challenges in implementing the Act.

In the past year, 11 federal institutions reported notable achievements that best illustrate the work of their institutions to implement the Act. These include promoting Canadian multiculturalism both at home and abroad, undertaking initiatives to ensure equality of opportunity for the employment of all Canadians, and promoting the full participation of all in Canadian society.

Several institutions have improved services and promoted federal programs to different communities by airing advertising campaigns in multiple languages besides English and French, and through outreach activities. Consultations with diverse communities were held in areas such as commemoration, diversity and official languages, community relations, housing, and banking.

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