Toronto - Multiculturalism is a cornerstone of Canadian national policy but the underlying behavioural theory is only partly valid, according to a new U of T study.

"Multiculturalism has remained somewhat controversial, particularly in light of the experiences of other countries where current immigration has led to inter-ethnic conflicts which seem to threaten social cohesion," says sociologist Jeffrey Reitz.

The underlying behavioural theory is that preserving our cultural mosaic and resisting the 'melting pot' helps build Canadian cohesion and national unity, explains Prof. Reitz, who is the R.F. Harney Professor of Ethnical, Immigration and Pluralism Studies at U of T. "It turns out that this is only partly valid. Preserving the ethnic and cultural diversity of Canada enhances a sense of belonging and improves the quality of life of Canadians but it also poses challenges because it tends to isolate Canadians from one another. This, to some extent, weakens Canadian identity and reflects some inequality and social exclusion in Canadian society."

The study suggests multiculturalism in Canada could be much more effective if it moved beyond celebrating diversity to embrace a commitment to developing positive relations between groups.

The research is the subject of a new book entitled Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion: Potentials and Challenges of Diversity to be published in June and is based on a survey of 40,000 Canadians regarding their views of the ethnic, racial, and religious diversity of the country. Conducted in 2002 by Statistics Canada, the survey included representation from every large ethnic and racial group across the country, and is the largest and most comprehensive source of evidence on Canada's multicultural diversity and how it is working today

The research team was lead by Reitz. Co-authors include U of T sociologist Raymond Breton, and U of T psychologists Karen Dion, and the late Kenneth Dion. The team also included graduate students Rupa Banerjee, now a faculty member at Ryerson University and Mai Phan. Research was supported with a grant from a Joint Initiative Multiculturalism Issues of Canadian Heritages and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.