The Difference that Multiculturalism Policy Sets
-
Bannerji critiques Canadian multiculturalism as a policy that does more than manage cultural differences it rather actively constructs and governs them entrenching these differences in the "national" identity while perpetuating inequalities. By framing non-white populations mainly through their cultural identities, multiculturalism emphasizes cultural distinctiveness over structural issues like systemic racism. This reconfiguration hides racial inequality by offering cultural diversity as the direct lens for inclusion, distracting attention from broader systemic barriers in this country. Canada’s national identity remains rooted in bilingual (English & French) and bicultural (implicitly white) ideals. This structure marginalizes racialized groups, positioning them as "others" who are tolerated but not fully integrated. Their inclusion is contingent on cultural differences, which strengthens their status as outsiders in the national narrative. The notion also fetishizes "cultural strangers," marking their distinctiveness as markers of diversity while also maintaining the white dominance. Immigrants and racialized communities are welcomed conditionally with their cultural identities commodified to improve the Canada's global image. The policy erases the old realities of racism and colonialism by rebranding Canada as a tolerant and racially inclusive nation but it rathers suppresses discussions of institutional racism and shifts the burden of integration onto marginalized communities, erasing their longstanding contributions and struggles (especially in Quebec). Bannerji argued that Canadian multiculturalism constructs "difference" as a tool to celebrate and govern racialized communities while maintaining white dominance. By hiding systemic inequalities under the impression of cultural diversity, the policy perpetuates Canada’s image as tolerant and progressive, even as it marginalizes and racializes non-white populations.