Canadian Values Lecture Part 3

Introduction

• Exploration of Canadian values and their origins.
• Comparison with United States values.
  • Similarities and differences despite historical contexts.

Sources of Canadian Values

• Values can be acquired from multiple sources and are subject to change.
• Today's focus: Imported values through immigration.
  • Immigrants brought ideologies that influenced Canadian society.

Fragment Theory

• Developed by political scientists to explain Canadian value origins.
• Core Idea: Canadian values were shaped by fragments of ideologies from early settlers.
  • Timeframe: 1760 - early 1800s.
  • British and French settlers brought European ideologies to North America.
  • Interaction with Indigenous cultures and the new geographic environment.

Ideologies Defined

• Ideology: Cohesive set of values and beliefs guiding citizen behavior.
• Three Main Ideologies:
  1. Liberalism
     • Focus on maximizing individual freedom.
     • Minimal government involvement.
     • Emphasis on voluntary exchange.
  2. Conservatism
     • Focus on hierarchy and social order.
     • Rigid class structures and obligations between classes.
  3. Socialism
     • Focus on social and economic equality.
     • Government involvement to ensure equality of opportunity and outcome.

British and French Ideological Influence

• British Settlers: Classical liberalism.
• French Settlers: Classical conservatism.
• These ideological fragments rooted Canadian values.

Impact of Loyalists

• United Loyalists: Fled to Canada due to American Revolution.
• Brought "Tory touch" or reform liberalism.
  • Emphasizes equality of opportunity before competition.

Formation of Canadian Values

• Mix of British, French, and Loyalist ideologies.
• Interaction with geography contributed to a distinct Canadian culture.
• Result: Emergence of Canadian socialism.
  • Strong welfare state and sense of social obligation.
  • Diverse political representation, e.g., New Democratic Party.

Multiculturalism and Later Immigration

• Post-Confederation Immigration: Continued to shape Canadian values.
  • Notable waves from Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia.
• Multiculturalism: Strongly associated with prairie provinces, especially Alberta.
  • Challenged binational identity narrative.

Other Influences on Values

• Popular Culture: Expresses and reshapes Canadian values.
  • Facilitates conversation and debate among Canadians.

Conclusion

• Understanding Canadian values involves exploration of immigration history and popular culture.
• Upcoming focus: Popular culture's role in reflecting and reshaping values.