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12 These labels also correspond to the depart- fractionalization is defined as the probability that two
ments responsible for immigration and integration, individuals selected at random within the country will
whose successive changes in designation correspond be from different ethnic groups. For the later period,
to the same phenomenon: the Ministère des the index is a simple measure of the proportion of the
Communautés culturelles et de l’Immigration population that is not a member of the dominant
(MCCI, Ministry of Cultural Communities and of ethno-linguistic category as reported in Kurian’s hand-
Immigration, 1981–1993); the Ministère des Affaires books (1997, 2001). In addition, a refined and updated
internationales, de l’Immigration et des Communautés successor to the original ELF (cf. Okediji, 2005) also
culturelles (MAIICC, the Ministry of International places Canada’s overall level of diversity as the
Affairs, Immigration and Cultural Communities, highest in the developed world.
1993–1996); and then the Ministère des Relations 16 The term consociational democracy refers to
avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration (MRCI, Ministry the way societies that are divided into ethnic, linguis-
of Relations with Citizens and of Immigration [trans- tic, or religious segments or regions often rely on a
lation, A.D.], 1996–2005). In 2005, this department pattern of elite consultation and accommodation
was renamed once again, with a variant, the between representatives of each segment. See for
Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés example Lijphart (1977).
culturelles (MICC, Ministry of Immigration and 17 This set of failed constitutional amendments,
Cultural Communities). It is interesting to note that negotiated by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his
before the establishment in 1968 of the first depart- provincial counterparts, is named after the govern-
ment in Québec responsible for immigration, the ment meeting house in the Gatineau Hills north of
Ministère de l’Immigration du Québec (MIQ, The Ottawa where negotiations were held in 1987. The
Ministry of Immigration of Québec, 1966–1981), Accord specified that each provincial legislature was
matters related to immigration were handled by the to confirm its agreement within three years.
Ministère des Affaires culturelles (Ministry of Cultural 18 The disastrous impact of immigration on
Affairs, 1966). For a summary portrait of these differ- Canada’s First Nations will not be discussed here, due
ent departments, please see the interesting article by to space restrictions, but would deserve a separate
Gladys Symons (2002). discussion.
13 Moreover, the term ‘visible minority’ refers to 19 From its inception, a major point in the platform
these measures. It appeared in 1984 in the document of this party has been Québec political autonomy.
Equality Now and on the heels of the work of the 20 See a brief discussion of the agreement by
federal Royal Commission on Equality in Margaret Young at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/
Employment, where Judge Rosalie Abella, today a library/PRBpubs/bp252-f.htm
Supreme Court judge, was the sole commissioner. 21 From the names of the respective ministers who
See also the section by Denis in this chapter which signed the accord, which granted immigrant selection
provides other details related to this concept. and integration powers to Québec (Grenier, 2003).
14 Aboriginal religious traditions were marginal- 22 The vast majority of immigrants to Canada
ized by Christian proselytizing under both the French settle in those three urban centres.
and British colonial régimes. For many decades after 23 Canada received about 230,000 immigrants in
the British Conquest the most salient cleavage was 2002, the majority from Asia. See Citizenship and
between the Protestant majority and the Catholic Immigration Canada (2002) for details.
minority, with the latter category being the majority 24 Much of the criticism has related to the period,
religion in Québec. Most English speakers were until 1962, when national origin was a major factor
Protestant and just about all French Canadians were in the determination of admissibility. As Couton has
Catholic. Starting in the 1800s the English-speaking explained, there was no separate Québec policy at
population became more diverse in its religious com- that time. On the other hand, criticisms about exclu-
position, with the arrival of waves of Irish and Jewish sion on the basis of criteria under the ‘point system’
immigrants. In recent decades, Canada has experi- and de facto exclusion due to the locations of immi-
enced extensive secularization, as reflected in declin- gration offices overseas could also apply to Québec.
ing religious attendance rates and a growing 25 For example, by requiring uninterrupted pas-
proportion of the population reporting no religious sage from point of origin to Canada, by the imposi-
affiliation. At the same time, new waves of immigra- tion of a ‘head tax’, or by a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’
tion have increased the numbers of Muslims, with the country of origin, whereby the person could
Buddhists and members of other religions. not leave that country to come to Canada
15 For the earlier periods, the index of pluralism is (Abu-Laban and Gabriel, 2002; Hawkins, 1988).
measured by the ethno-linguistic fractionalization 26 The terminology has varied over time, as have
(ELF) scores assigned by Soviet ethnographers as the precise criteria and the weight given to each.
reported in Atlas Narodov Mira (Taylor and Hudson, 27 During the periods when designated occupations
1972). For each country, the index of ethno-linguistic were accorded points – the system now emphasizes