2007年7月13日，“21世纪加拿大多元文化的未来”座谈会在中国社会科学院民族所举行。来自加拿大政策研究所（Policy Research Initiative）的骆菁（Jean L. Kunz）博士为与会者作了主题演讲报告。
中国社科院民族所副所长黄行教授会见了客人，并简要介绍了民族所的科研情况，表示愿意加强与加拿大政策研究所的学术联系。
参加座谈会的有多伦多大学政治学系博士研究生冉明锐（Marie Eve Reny）、蒙特利尔大学硕士研究生安妮•白琳顿（Annie Billington）；北京外国语大学加拿大研究中心主任龚燕教授、董宜坤博士；中国社科院民族所加拿大研究中心张继焦教授、杜发春副教授、张小敏助教授、杨春宇博士；中国社科院研究生院殷鹏、关袆、禹成莹等10余人。座谈会由中国加拿大研究会副秘书长杜发春主持。
骆菁博士首先简要介绍了加拿大政策研究所的基本情况，然后结合自己的研究项目，对加拿大多元文化的现状和未来进行了深入、详尽的分析。她说，就理论和目的而言，加拿大在民族文化多样性方面的政策和立法的主要目的是：构建包容的公民身份、减少边缘群体参与社会经济活动的障碍、增强加拿大经济面对全球化的适应能力。然而，理论和现实存在一定差异。尽管加拿大采取了许多保障公平和减少歧视的措施，但调查表明有色民族与非有色民族之间的收入差距明显较大，甚至在加拿大出生（即第二代和第三代移民）的有色人种也能感到歧视和排外。这就意味着，如果排外和不公平问题没有受到重视，相对于欧洲裔来说，多元文化政策对于有色少数民族就实行得不尽人意。多元文化主义可能是二十世纪的梦想，那么它会成为二十一世纪的难题吗？尽管加拿大与其他国家相比有更高的民族文化多样性和移民，但不少选择认为加拿大应该实行同化政策，放弃“马赛克”式的多元文化主义政策。
骆菁博士认为，多元文化主义指加拿大人关于平等、宽容和相互尊重的价值观。自1971年以来，多元文化主义政策经历了这样的演进过程：即由最初的颂扬差异，到制度上的迁就融和、再到最近的包容和完全参与四个阶段。（1）20世纪70年代，可称为“民族性的多元文化主义”（Ethnicity Multiculturalism），其焦点是“颂扬差异”，参考点是“文化”，训令是“民族性”，问题来源是“偏见”，解决途径是“文化的敏感性”。（2）80年代，称为“公平性的多元文化主义”（Equity Multiculturalism），焦点在“管理多样性”，参考点是“结构”，训令是“种族关系”，问题来源是“系统歧视”，解决途径是“就业公平”。（3）到了90年代，则被称为“公民性的多元文化主义”（Civic Multiculturalism），其焦点在“建设性的结合”，参考点是“社会构建”，训令是“公民身份”，问题来源是“排外”，解决途径是“包容”。（4）到了二十一世纪，则变为“融和性的多元文化主义”（Integrative Multiculturalism），其焦点在“包容的公民身份”，参考点是“权利和责任业务”，训令是“认同”，问题来源是“全球化和公共安全”，解决途径“尚在探索中”。
自2001年美国“9•11”恐怖事件后，安全问题随即成了人们谈论文化多样性和移民问题的重复话题。另外，全球化尤其是信息技术的进步和旅行的容易，大大增加了由于认同和公民身份产生的新问题。骆菁博士提出，根据上述社会和人口发展趋势，针对由移民所产生的民族文化多样性问题，加拿大应该实行何种政策？另外，目前在加拿大，个人和社区已经与全球紧密相连，但其文化、宗教和语言又各不相同，那么，在加拿大这样一个多元社会里，包容性的公民身份又如何能够得以发展呢？这些问题，正是加拿大政府和学术界目前和将来必须回答的问题。
座谈会上互动较强，参会学者也提出了不少问题，骆菁博士均做了很好的回应。与会者经过交流和讨论，对加拿大21世纪“融和性的多元文化主义”有了较深入的了解。中加双方学者表示应该就此问题定期举办各种学术交流活动，系统深入地进行研究和探讨。
骆菁博士现为加拿大政策研究所的项目主任，她拥有多伦多大学社会学硕士和滑铁卢大学社会学博士学位。加拿大政策研究所设在首都渥太华，是加拿大政府的研究机构，原隶属于枢密院，2006年改组隶属于为加拿大人力资源和社会发展部。加拿大政策研究所曾于2006年12月与中国社科院民族所合作，在北京成功召开了“中加社会和谐与经济发展研讨会”。骆菁博士即是那次研讨会的加方组织者和协调人。目前，她与中国社科院研究人员再度合作，准备在2008年国际人类学民族学世界大会上，组织一个名为：“全球化时代中的文化多样性：对多元文化的比较研究”的专题会议（论坛，分会）。欢迎中国加拿大研究会的同仁参加此会议，感兴趣的学者，请在2007年10月30日前，将论文摘要发送到如下信箱（J.Kunz@prs-srp.gc.ca dufch@cass.org.cn）。据了解，国际人类学民族学2008年世界大会将于2008年7月15－23日在中国昆明召开，大会主题是：“人类、发展和文化多样性”，规模为5000人来自世界100多个国家和地区，其中加拿大参会学者预计将超过100人。大会网站：www.icaes2008.org.
Seminar on Multicultural Canada in the 21st Century
On July 13th of 2007, invited by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IEA/CASS), Dr. Jean Kunz from Policy Research Initiative Canada, had a presentation/roundtable discussion in IEA/CASS, the topic is Multicultural Canada in the 21st Century: Harnessing Opportunities and Managing Pressures. Professor Huang Xing, Vice Director of IEA/CASS welcomed and exchanged views with Dr. Jean Kunz.
There are more than 10 attendees joined in this seminar, such as Ms. Marie Eve Reny from University of Toronto, Ms. Annie Billington from University of Montreal, Professor Gong Yan and Ms. Dong Yikun from Beijing Foreign Studies University, Professors Zhang Jijiao, Zhang Xiaomin, Du Fachun etc. from CASS. This seminar organized by Professor Du Fachun. The working language is English.
Dr. Jean Kunz lectured that Multiculturalism resonates with Canadian values such as equality, tolerance, and mutual respect. Since its inception in 1971, multiculturalism policy has evolved from that of celebrating differences to institutional accommodation, and more recently to inclusion and full participation. In theory and intent, Canada ’s policies and legislation regarding ethno-cultural diversity are tools for building inclusive citizenship, reducing barriers to social and economic participation of marginalized groups, and sharpening Canada ’s economic edge in face of globalization. Yet, empirical evidence suggests a gap between theory and reality. In spite of measures to ensure equity and reduce discrimination, research continues to demonstrate the earning gap between visible minorities and those who are not. The perception of discrimination and exclusion persists even among visible minorities born in Canada, that is, the second and third generation Canadians. Such evidence suggests that, if issues of exclusion and inequality are not addressed, multicultural policies may not work as well for racial minorities compared to those of European origin. Additionally, rhetoric regarding the economic benefits of diversity and immigration has yet to be borne out with concrete evidence. While multiculturalism might be a dream of the twentieth century, could it become ‘a twenty-first-century conundrum?’ Although support for ethno-cultural diversity and immigration is higher in Canada compared to other countries, many are of the opinion that Canada should abandon the ‘mosaic’ approach to multiculturalism for one that encourages assimilation. In a Dominion Institute/CDFAI survey conducted by the Innovative Research Group in 2005, 70% of Canadians indicated that adapting to the Canadian way of life should be the priority for new immigrants.
In Dr. Jean Kunz’s finding, multiculturalism policies have evolved since their inception in the early 1970s. In the 1970s, the emphasis was on encouraging individuals to involve themselves in Canadian society by valuing their cultural identities. The 1980s saw a significant shift from celebrating cultures to removing institutional barriers to full social and economic participation by racial minorities. With the passage of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982), the Multiculturalism Act (1988), and the Employment Equity Act (1986), state institutions were obligated to reflect Canada ’s multicultural reality in their organizational structure. While equity remains a key aspect of multiculturalism, the focus in the 1990s has moved to fostering shared citizenship.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security has become a recurring topic in discussions of cultural diversity and immigration. In addition globalization, particularly advances in information technology and ease of travel, increasingly raises new questions regarding identity and citizenship. How then can Canada move towards the goal of inclusiveness in light of the pressure points identified earlier? Dr. Jean Kunz suggests that we may centers on the following questions: In light of these emerging social and demographic trends, what policies might Canada wish to adopt regarding ethno-cultural diversity resulting from immigration? How can inclusive citizenship be developed in pluralistic societies such as Canada where individuals and communities are globally connected but diverse in culture, religion and language? These questions will be addressed through roundtable consultations in Canada and China, review of research evidence, and analysis of current approaches to cultural diversity among countries similar to Canada.
Dr. Jean Lock Kunz is associate director with the Policy Research Initiative (PRI). In her current position, she oversees projects on issues relating to citizenship, immigration and diversity, as well as on China. At PRI, she is also responsible for PRI’s project on poverty and exclusion. Prior to joining the PRI, Jean was Chief, Labour Market Policy at the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). She has written extensively on issues relating to immigration, multiculturalism, race relations, labour force participation, youth, and media. Some of her work include Unequal Access: A Canadian Profile on Racial Differences in Education, Employment and Income (Canadian Race Relations Foundation), Immigrant Youth in Canada (Canadian Council on Social Development), and Media and Minorities: Representing Diversity in a Multicultural Canada (Thompson Education Publishing, with Augie Fleras). Prior to joining the Public Service, Jean was senior research and policy associate with the Canadian Council on Social Development, primarily responsible for the creation of its cultural diversity research unit. Jean obtained her Master’s in Sociology at the University of Toronto and a Ph.D from the University of Waterloo.