Diversity in Canada

Case Study # 113701

Canadian Studies > Charter of Rights
Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Canadian Studies > Government and Government Policy

Diversity in Canada

An analysis of the Canadian case of "Clive Stevens and Robert Symister versus Lynx Industries," its ruling and the implications for diversity in Canada.

1,442 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2009 Canada

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses one of the world's most racially and ethnically diverse countries, Canada, and how they have officially tried to accommodate racial diversity. The paper then examines the case of "Clive Stevens and Robert Symister versus Lynx Industries," a case in 2005 of two black Jamaicans who were dismissed from Lynx Industries, allegedly for race-based reasons. It describes the background of the case, the ruling and its implications for diversity in Canada.

From the Paper:

"From a personal viewpoint, Canada's multicultural character makes the avoidance and prevention of poisoned environments an absolute imperative. The nation, more than any other in the world, is a nation of immigrants and, both traditionally and historically, a melting pot. Canada's multicultural composition is protected and supported by a multicultural federal policy which seeks to ensure the continuation of racial harmony in the country. National legislature attempts to ensure the protection of racial harmony through various anti-discriminatory policies. Amongst these are policies and laws which, as noted in the essay, prevent and de-legitimize workplace discrimination. The reasons why they do so is because equality is not just a human right but it is one of the most fundamental of the human rights. As directly pertains to the protection of this right in the workplace, suffice to say that discriminatory employment practices have the potential to deny people the ability to earn a livelihood. In other words, it denies them the right to be independent and self-supporting, to provide for their families and ensure the well-being of their children. Indeed, the importance of employment equity and the avoidance of racial harassment and the tainting of the workplace environment with poisonous racial slurs, cannot be overstated."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Canada's Employment Equity Act." Media Awareness Network. 2008. http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/legislation/canadian_law/federal/employment_equity/employ_equity_act.cfm
Mahtani, Minelle. "Interrogating the Hyphen-nation: Canadian Multicultural Policy and Mired Race " Identities." CERIS working Paper no. 20. 2002. Toronto: Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement.
Mental Health Works. "Rights and Responsibilities." Mental Health Works Canada. 2007. http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/employers/faq/question7.asp
"Racial Harassment and Poisoned Environments." Ontario Human Rights Commission. 2008. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/factsheets/Harassmentandpoisonedenvoronments?page=Harassmentandpoisonedenvoronments.html#Heading16