Pluralistic Planning for Multicultural Cities: The Canadian Practice

Abstract

Multiculturalism necessitates broadening the scope of pluralism in planning. Ethnic minorities often require a divergent set of community services, housing facilities and neighborhood arrangements. The multinationalism of the global economy is further diversifying built forms and functions in contemporary cities. Canada, an acknowledged multicultural society, has encountered pressures to diversify the way urban facilities, services and structures are provided. How the Canadian planning system has been responding to these pressures is the subject of this article. Through case studies and illustrative examples, the article surveys the range of planning issues arising from multiculturalism and describes the patterns of Canadian responses. It concludes by outlining lessons drawn from Canadian experiences about how multiculturalism extends the meaning of pluralism in planning.