At the outset of this discussion, let me make very clear that I support our unique Canadian take on multiculturalism — that is, the “Canadian mosaïc”. However, let me be just as clear that I feel there should be developed an understanding, perhaps even a codified one, of roles and responsibilities for all parties involved (because let’s face it, immigration is not just a task for immigrants, and it is not just a task for existing Canadians; it is an all-party national effort).
We should be very clear that although we encourage Canadians to hold on to their heritage, and to be proud of their heritage, they are (once arrived) first and foremost Canadian. There must be an understanding that English and French are our official languages, and there will be no federal or provincial monies spent to accomodate any languages other than those official languages when providing services. At the same time, it may be worth the one-off cost to prepare a list of language courses and resources in each Canadian region to provide to new Canadians to assist in the transition to what is often a brand-new language(s).
There should also be a very clear understanding of what the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms means for Canadians, and what it means for how a new Canadian should govern their own behaviour. Let’s face it, many new Canadians leave their own countries to escape discrimination and less-than-ideal national principles, but many new Canadians seem surprised at just how progressive the Western world (North America in particular) really is. New Canadians should not come to Canada with the objective of changing it into their home country; they should be encouraged to enrich the tapestry of our own mosaïc with their food, their music, their art and history, but not with the objective of entrenching foreign customs and laws into our own.
These things should be made much more clear than they currently are by Citizenship and Immigration Canada at the very outset of an application for citizenship or residence. And dare I say, we should introduce a system whereby citizenships and residences are probationary for a predetermined period of time, during which time repeated or serious breaches of such codified Canadian norms would result in our parting of company.