ulticult pioneers AT last, something more than opinion. _ Somchow, when Basil Bibby, Neii Bissoondath, and Richard Gwynn wrote books condemning Canada’s multi- culturalism policy they received wide publicity, were granted numegpus radio and interviews, made many public appearances, and enjoyed favorable editorial comment. ' . Bissoondath’s book, for “example, was 1994 best-seller. ; The authors claimed that our multiculturalism policy led :to “apartheid” or “ghettoism” | “and was breaking Canadian ‘unity, already strained by - Quebec separatism. «| Now, along comes - Proféssor Will Kymlicka of the _ University of Ottawa who, unlike the anti-multicultural-° “ism policy authors who rely on . : their personal impressions and opiniotis, has actually done - some meaningful research: : . ‘©, His ‘conclusion: “Whether we examine the trends within Canada since. 1971, OF.com-, 2463 Marine Drive '. Wést Vancouver. 926-0712 0° pare Canada with other coun- tries, the conclusion is the same — the n multicultural pro- gram is working.” Kymilicka stadied several indicators of integration into Canadian life by members of ethnic minorities. Here’s what he found: Since 1971, not only has there not been ghettoization by cultural groups, but immi- grant group members arc cager to become Canadian cit- izens through naturalization, that they participate in the political process more widely than nanve-born Canadians, and that there is considerable inter-mammage with members of other cultures and races. Their participation in the political process is marked more by the same perceived class interests of most other Canadians than it is by ethnici- ty or race. Thus, ethnic minor- ity members are found in “every Canadian political party. Klymicka argues that if Canada’s policy were less suc- cessful in integrating immi- grants and their descendants than the United States, with its (theoretical) “melting pot” approach, these tendencies should be more pronounced in the U.S.A. than in Canada, They arei’t. Canada leads in these respects. The only country doing a better job than Canada is Australia, which is also the on!y other country that has adopted a multicultur- a B. , We st-Va n “Friday Dec 26th. Doors Open 9:30 Did you know. B.C’s Children’s Hospital Emergency Department was built to care for a maximum of 50 children each day, but now, the Department sees an average 100 children each day? alism policy based on Canada’s pioneering approach and is attracting, Asian immigrants in significant numbers. Multicultural policy is designed to help people retain and express their identities. Those identities are constantly changing by their interaction with everything and everybody in their adopted country. So, a Canadian-Punjabi culture, 3 Canadian -Chinese culture, a Canadian-famaican culture is emerging. If these and the changing Canadian- British, Canadian- French culture and Canadian- Aboriginal culture are added, what emerges is a dynamic, multifaceted true Canadian culture. That it may be impos- sible to detine is precisely because of its richness, versatil- ity, adaptability and vitality. A culture that is easily and more or less permanently defined is necessarily limited, static, and moribund. Prof. Kiymicka is placing his findings in a book. Ir will be interesting to note what will be the reaction of the crit- ics, editorialists, the media, and the reading public when it is published. — Engene Kacilis ts che communi- cations director for the Burnaby Multicultural Sociery. —~ The News believes stronaty in freedom of speech and the right of all sides in a debate to be beard. The colum- nists published in the News present dif- fering points of view, but chose views ae not necessarily of the newspaper its Boxing Day Sale: 11 am ~ 5 pm Shop for savings of up ro 50% on selected merchandise at second floor stores. Happy Holidays! © Amber 2 Bookshop Girder & Beam’ Construction Toys The Body Shop Crystal Gallery Limago Details Out of Africa Global Culture Quay Souvenir Centre Perks Rockport Luggage Seabird Fashions Tulips Saje Aromatherapy The Discovery Store Quay Celebrity Lingerie Please Mum Kids Kutz LZulaika Accessories Jeans Republic : Vancouver ne Closed Chrisemas Day and New Year's Day. * 222-1028. «- Free parking on weckends and holidays. Coe ~ Informatinn: 985-6261. 110th Ave. - J.Gregory Mens Apparel