A New Canada in a New Commonwealth : Multiculturalism and International Representation

Canada, as a former colony of the British empire and a next door neighbour of the American super power, has always been preoccupied with defining its specific identity and making it known to the world. Canada’s involvement in the Commonwealth corresponds to both a traditional and a modem definition of Canadian identity. At first it corresponded to a Canadian identity which was defined mainly by its British dimension and its status as the senior dominion in the empire. But as time passed, Canada turned towards the multicultural definition of its identity which has now become its hallmark. This article shows that this redefinition of Canada’s national identity closely accompanied the evolution of the Commonwealth of Nations. Two moments in time which reflect this parallel evolution will be closely examined : the relationship between Canada and India in the late 1940s and early 1950s and the role played by Canada in relation to South Africa in 1961 and 1971. These historical moments will show that Canada played an important role in helping the Commonwealth to emerge as a multiracial organization, an evolution which was consistent with Canada’s own evolution towards multiculturalism.