In situations that involve racial, religous, or class divide, there is often little time from when everything seems to be 'just fine' to experiencing a break down. Two cases in point are the reactions of the Middle East against Denmark because of the cartoon published in on of their newspapers, and the riots in France. Both should well known to most people so there isnt any need to rehash details.
Again, where is this in Canada? It's fine to quote very different situations in other countries, or state hypothetical possibilities, but I am asking about the here and now.
Could events such as those, in the form of violent outbursts by certain members of society, or other events, such as more long term and silent segregation, take place in Canada? It would be foolish to think that somehow it could not happen here
Oh dear, foolish? Again, a hypothetical. But as of yet, no one has brought specific trends to light to show how these dangers are taking root in Canada. As for violent outbursts, I've been in caught in two riots after hockey games. Does this suggest a trend in hockey fan culture?
Is there the possibility that in a country with high levels of immigration, cultural diversity and multinational makeup that segregation could occur among one or more of these groups? Why not.
Possibility, sure. But I can come up with a wild array of my own possibilities, as with everyone else. Yes, segregation could occur, but in an increasingly diverse multiculture, it is far more likely to be self-imposed, and not forced by the culture at large. This is a big difference from the historical segregation you may be alluding to.
How about First Nations People? Just today Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announced a plan to improve the safety of drinking water in native communities. Yes, in Canada, a wealthy country by most standards, we have 21 communities in which water is undrinkable and another 170 where great risk lies. Of course the treatment of First Nations people in this country is embarassing and disgusting in many other aspects and in fact I would argue that if one wanted a case of segregation in this country, this is the best example.
Well, we had been restricting ourselves to immigration, but...
First nations (note the plural) hardly always sing from the same song book, and are hardly equal in terms or resources and wealth across the country. Yet there is no agreement on either side (first nations and federal government) on how to proceed on so many issues. This is not an issue of race so much as it is an issue or economic power, land and defining self-government. It is very, very different from issues of immigration. In fact, there have been some straw polls in the past that have suggest new Canadians don't necessarily always share a sympathetic view towards the plight of first nations people.
Of course there are other possibilities too. Extreme Quebec Nationalists may once again wave a revolutionary flag and bring the FLQ back to life. Or perhaps a group of Extreme Alberta Republicans may one day take the same route and instill violence. There are other examples, although probably not very likely.
Sure, and you forgot about the rumblings of Ontario seperatism, or the potential breakaway of Cape Breton Island from Nova Scotia. As for the FLQ, it's dead. As for the PQ, even that party has embraced cultural diversity. No longer can that old fart Parizeau blame the "money and the ethnics," his cause needs the "ethnics." They are part of Quebec society. Nothing anyone can do about it. As for Alberta, it is hardly about immigration or race, as that province is actively seeking immigrants to come to that province right now. The big issues are money and finacial control, not the race or immigration issues that were being spoken of earlier.
I would not suggest that there is currently a segment of society that is on the cusp of breaking away from the mainstream in a form of quiet segregation or through violence (aside from the First Nations). But issues dealing with cultural, nationality, immigration and intergration are always going to need to be adressed on an ongoing basis and at a time when tension between the Middle East and the West has left relations in a fragile state, there needs to be a heightened social conciousness in diverse country such as Canada to ensure that problems like we have seen in Europe do not occur here
Following your first sentence, what is the danger?
You may not have noticed it, but this country actually puts considerable resources towards immigration and cultural issues, on the national, provincial and municipal levels. And this does not include the myriad of non-government groups and organizations that work very hard in pursuit of a healthy multicultural society on all levels. It has been, and is, an ongoing effort, and has attracted the attention of many European nations who are trying to understand why Canada is so successful at having created a multicultural society. Is everything perfect? No, but some people think we are actually doing something right.