OTTAWA, February 7, 2005 -- The Honourable Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), tabled the 2003-2004 Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act in the House of Commons today. The Report provides Canadians with a synopsis of what federal departments and agencies are doing to advance the values and principles of multiculturalism."I am pleased to table this Report which details what the Government of Canada is doing to combat discrimination, promote cross-cultural understanding, and make Canadian institutions more representative of our society," said Minister of State Chan.The "Best Practices" section of the Annual Report profiles a number of federal departments and agencies that have applied the Canadian Multiculturalism Act to their respective mandates. Telefilm Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission each describe the steps they are taking to increase representation of diversity in mainstream media. Transport Canada also outlines its Diversity Strategy, one of the most comprehensive in the federal government. This strategy uses a set of policies and practices to promote diversity, and to increase and retain visible minority groups in the Department.The Annual Report also provides an update about such on-going projects as the Law Enforcement Aboriginal Diversity Network (LEAD), a partnership between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Multiculturalism Program. LEAD addresses the need for a common, professional approach to policing that better serves ethnocultural, ethnoracial, and Aboriginal communities. Canada's Multiculturalism Policy promotes full and equitable participation in Canadian society for people of all origins and encourages interaction between communities of different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. It also encourages public institutions to be respectful and inclusive of Canada's multicultural character.For information about the Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, please visit our Web site: at http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi/reports/ann2003-2004/index_e.cfmA backgrounder is available on the Web.Information:Roy BornmannOffice of the Minister of State (Multiculturalism)(819) 997-9900BACKGROUNDER2003-2004 Annual Report on the Operation ofthe Canadian Multiculturalism Act- The Annual Report provides a synopsis of activities by federal departments and agencies to advance the values and principles of multiculturalism in the 2003-2004 fiscal year.- The Report demonstrates the importance of cooperation and partnership, not only between federal partners, but also with other levels of government, institutions, businesses, associations, and voluntary groups.- Some 110 departments, agencies and crown corporations submitted reports on their activities with respect to the requirements of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Multiculturalism in Canada- Canada was the first country to adopt a Multiculturalism Policy (1971).- The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was adopted by Parliament in July 1988, making Canada the first country in the world to pass a multiculturalism law.- The Act builds on Section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which calls for the Charter to be interpreted "in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians. "It draws its strength from the equality provisions in the Citizenship Act, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Official Languages Act and fully supports international human rights agreements.- In 2002-2003, visible minority groups represented 7.4 percent of the federal public service workforce, compared to 6.8 percent in the previous fiscal years. (Employment Equity in the Federal public Service 2002-2003)- Seventy-three percent of Canadians believe immigrants are having a good influence on the way things are going in Canada. (Ipsos-Reid, 2004)- Fifty-eight percent of immigrants to Canada between 1991 and 2001 came from Asia and the Middle East. (2001 Census) - Eighty-three percent of Canadians believe that it is better for a country to have a variety of people with different religions. (Ipsos-Reid, 2004)- Thirty percent of visible minorities in Canada were born here. (2001 Census)
