From Reasonable Accommodation to Understanding

144 Pages·2013·5.38 MB·French

by  Amanda Bennett

Université de Montréal

From Reasonable Accommodation to
Understanding:
Reconsidering Diversity Management Practices in Quebec.

by
Amanda Bennett

Department of Political Science
Faculty of Arts and Science

Mémoire Presented to the Faculty of Arts and Science
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Masters of Science
Political Science

December, 2012

© Amanda Bennett, 2012

Université de Montréal
Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales
This mémoire entitled :
From Reasonable Accommodation to Understanding: Reconsidering Diversity
Management Practices in Québec.
Submitted by :
Amanda Bennett
was evaluated by a jury composed of the following persons:
Laurence McFalls, president, reporter
Bob White, jury member
Charles Blattberg, thesis advisor

Résumé
En 2007, le Premier ministre du Québec, monsieur Jean Charest, a établi la
Commission de consultation sur les pratiques d’accommodement reliées aux
différences culturelles afin de donner suite aux conflits émanant des différences
ethniques et culturelles. La commission a pour mandat de dresser le bilan des
pratiques d’accommodement au Québec, d’analyser la problématique, de consulter la
population et de formuler des recommandations au gouvernement afin d’assurer la
conformité des pratiques d’accommodement avec les valeurs de la société
québécoise. En premier lieu, ce mémoire démontrera que deux facteurs, dont
l’évolution de l’identité de la majorité francophone et l’évolution des pays d’origine des
immigrants, ont contribué à un malaise de gestion de la diversité et, par conséquent,
ont rendu l’établissement de la commission pertinent. En deuxième lieu, m’appuyant
sur une revue de la méthodologie, des conclusions et des recommandations de la
commission, ainsi que la réplique du Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés
culturelles, je vais illustrer que, malgré un mandat pertinent et achevé, la réponse
gouvernementale fut inadéquate. Finalement, je démontrerai que les modèles de
gestion de diversité soutenus par le rapport de la Commission, la laïcité inclusive et
l’interculturalisme, sont des aspects nécessaires de la gestion de la diversité.
Cependant, ils en découlent des philosophies politiques de neutralisme et pluralisme
dont la force et le compromis en sont les buts. Je crois que le Québec peut être
meilleur gestionnaire de sa diversité et peut obtenir de vraies réconciliations en
prônant la conversation; une approche patriotique de la gestion de diversité.

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Mots-clés : Accommodement raisonnable, Commission de consultation sur les
pratiques d’accommodement reliées aux différences culturelles, Conversation,
Gestion de diversité, Interculturalisme, Laïcité, Patriotisme.

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Abstract
In 2007 and in response to conflicts stemming from ethnic and religious
difference, Quebec Premier Jean Charest established the Consultation Commission
on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences. The Commission’s
mandate was to take stock of accommodation practices in Quebec, analyse the
issues, consult the population and formulate recommendations to the government to
ensure accommodation practices’ congruence with the values of Quebec society.
This mémoire will first argue that two factors, namely the evolution of the francophone
majority population’s identity and changes to immigrants’ origins, contributed to
Quebec’s malaise with diversity management and thus made the establishment of the
Commission relevant. Second, through a review of the Commission’s methods,
findings, recommendations and the Ministry of Immigration and Cultural communities’
response to the recommendations, it will be argued that while the Commission’s
mandate was both pertinent and fulfilled, the government’s response was inadequate.
Finally, it will be argued that while open secularism and interculturalism, diversity
management methods proffered by the Commission’s report, are necessary
components of diversity management, they espouse the political philosophies of
neutralism and pluralism which respectively result in force and compromise. I will
argue that Quebec can manage difference more effectively and achieve true
reconciliation by embracing conversation, a patriotic approach to diversity
management.

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Keywords: Consultation commission on accommodation practices related to cultural
differences, Conversation, Diversity management, Interculturalism, Patriotism,
Reasonable Accommodation, Secularism.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1
1. Identity, Immigration and Integration ........................................................................................ 3
1.1 Evolving identity ............................................................................................................ 4
1.1.1 Political and Constitutional Changes............................................................. 4
1.1.2 Social and Economic Development ............................................................. 10
1.1.3 Secularism and the Quiet Revolution ........................................................... 13
1.1.4 Language: A New Common Denominator ................................................... 15
1.2 Immigration ................................................................................................................. 19
1.2.1 Evolution of Quebec’s Immigration Policies ................................................ 20
1.2.2 Evolution of Quebec’s Integration Policies ................................................... 21
1.2.3 Evolution of Quebec’s Immigrants’ Origins .................................................. 24
2. The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural
Difference ...................................................................................................................................... 30
2.1 The Commission: Methodology, Report and Recommendations ................................ 30
2.2 Québec Government Response ................................................................................. 37
2.2.1 Bill 94 ........................................................................................................... 43
2.2.2 Shortcomings .............................................................................................. 46
3. Secularism, Interculturalism and Patriotic Conversation ..................................................... 50
3.1 Contemporary Political Philosophies........................................................................... 51
3.1.1. Neutralism and Force .................................................................................. 51
3.1.2 Pluralism and Compromise .......................................................................... 53
3.2 Open Secularism ........................................................................................................ 55
3.2.1 Secular Regimes .......................................................................................... 56
3.2.2 Open Secularism: The Maclure-Taylor Model .............................................. 58
3.2.3 Open Secularism and “Conspicuous Symbols” ............................................ 61
3.2.4 Shortcomings ............................................................................................... 64
3.3 Interculturalism ............................................................................................................ 69
3.3.1 What is Interculturalism? .............................................................................. 70
3.3.2 Components of Bouchard’s Interculturalism ................................................ 73
3.3.3 Interculturalism, not Multiculturalism is Suited to Québec ............................ 79
3.3.4 Shortcomings ............................................................................................... 81
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3.4 Aiming Higher (Than Neutralism and Patriotism) ........................................................ 84
3.4.1 Patriotism ..................................................................................................... 86
3.4.2 Patriotism: Conflict and Common Good ....................................................... 87
3.4.3 Patriotic Conversation .................................................................................. 90
3.4.4 Conversation and Quebec ........................................................................... 93
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 96
Bibliography ...................................................................................................................... 99

Annex A ................................................................................................................................... i
Annex B .................................................................................................................................. v
Annex C .............................................................................................................................. viii

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