1. Canadian national identity
Related Issue 4: To what extent should individuals and groups in Canada embrace a national identity?

2. Ideas that we will be exploring in this unit:
Exploring perspectives on Canadian identity
Promoting identity: The role of individuals, groups, and government
Challenges and opportunities related to Canadian unity
Future Visions of Canada

3. Exploring perspectives on Canadian identity
Chapter 16: To what extent have perspectives on Canada as a nation contributed to the development of a national identity?

4. Views on Canada’s Identity
What are various perspectives on national identity in Canada?

5. National identity & government policy
Canada: pluralistic, democratic nation = wide range of perspectives on many issues (what national interests are and what a national identity might be)
FNMI national interests may not support the same vision of national identity as those the Canadian nation-state
Official Languages Act
Created by PM Pierre Trudeau
Aim was the reduce Francophone isolationism within Canada
Guaranteed the Francophone that their language and culture would be protected by the law
Multiculturalism Act
Aimed at building an ‘inclusive’ Canada by supporting pluralism within a framework of individual rights
Important aspect of our national identity
Made ‘multiculturalism’ a legal government policy

6. Multiculturalism act
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of Canada to
(a) recognize and promote the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial diversity of Canadian society and acknowledges he freedom of all members of Canadian society to preserve, enhance and share their cultural heritage.”
Due to increased immigration and changes to immigration patterns, there has been debate about the role of multiculturalism in Canada.
How has the Multiculturalism Act shaped your identity? Do you think it is desirable and viable to continue promoting the Multiculturalism Act in Canada?

7. Voices: Canadian identity & political platforms
Read pages
Respond to questions 1 and 2

8. The evolution of Canadian national identity
What are historical perspectives of Canada as a nation?

9. Nationalism in upper & lower Canada
Durham Report (1839) recommended that:
Upper and Lower Canada be united into one colony
Responsible government be granted
French Canadians be assimilated
*French in the Legislature was banned
Municipal institutions be established in Canada

10. Responsible government
Government that is accountable to its citizens for its actions
The cornerstone of parliamentary democracy in Canada
Became a rallying cry in Canada in the first half of the 1800s as citizens became disturbed by the power structures in Canada
The push for RG was one of the motives behind the 1837 &’38 rebellions
RG did not usher in a ‘golden age’ of cooperative politics in Canada, but quite the reverse
The Legislature was divided:
Reformers against Tories
French against English
Catholics against Protestants
Upper Canadian against Lower Canadian

11. Baldwin & Lafontaine Emerged in the 1840s
Mutual desire to unite English and French partnerships in Canada
laFontaine was the reason that the French language was allowed to be spoken in the Assembly
Act of Union, 1849
Created Responsible Government within Canada

12. Canada’s fathers of confederation: pre- & post-confederation
Began among the Maritime colonies
1867:
British colonies unite together
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario & Quebec, become provinces with a central government
Not all were happy about Confederation
Battles were fought in newspapers and Legislation!

13. Investigation: Louis Riel: Another Canadian Founding Father?
Read pages
Answer questions 1 and 2

14. Building Canadian national identity
How can differing perspectives build a national identity?

15. Sir Clifford Sifton “The Little Napoleon of the West”
Minister of Interior from
Saw mass immigration to Canada
He promoted recruitment of religious groups like Mennonites & Doukhobors
This promoted a greater diversity of language, culture and religions to Canada

16. Voices: What is a Canadian?
Read
Answer questions 1-3