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An identity of many: it was in the 1960s that the Canadian government started to rethink its notion of assimilating immigrants.

Article Excerpt
In 1971, a new government policy was announced in Canada. It embraced multiculturalism; the idea that other cultures could not only exist within the country but enrich it.

The new approach was designed to integrate different ethnic groups rather than assimilate them. The government aimed to work with various cultural groups; aiding immigrants to become part of the country by say, learning one of the official languages. Ottawa also planned to help them retain their ethnic identity and overcome barriers to their full involvement in Canadian society.

Ottawa spent millions of dollars on special initiatives in language and cultural maintenance. It also sponsored programs to help ethnic minorities in the areas of human rights, freedom from racial discrimination, citizenship, immigration, and cultural diversity.

Multiculturalism was included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so the courts could balance individual and multicultural rights. For example, freedom of individual expression was limited by the ban on racial slurs or circulation of hate propaganda.

Most first generation immigrants tried to fit in and became proud citizens of their adopted country. Now, curiously, sociologists are spotting a reverse trend within the second generation. Some are going back to ethnic roots sometimes with sinister implications--jihadists, intent on fighting "holy" wars, are popping up among native-born communities.

In the past, immigrants to Canada, to a large extent, left their ancient conflicts behind them when they settled here. Irish Catholics and Protestants didn't kill each other in Canada as they did back home. If Serbians and Croatians weren't exactly chummy they mostly left their blood feuds behind them.

However, many of these groups still...

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