<P> The Canadian Multiculturalism Act (the Act) is a law of Canada, passed in 1988, that aims to preserve and enhance multiculturalism in Canada . </P> <P> The Government of Canada, under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, declared in 1971 that Canada would adopt a multicultural policy . The Government of Canada would recognize and respect its society including its diversity in languages, customs, religions, and so on . In 1982, multiculturalism was recognized by section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was then enacted by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney . </P> <P> In a webpage published by the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRC) it is declared that: "In 1971, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy ." This statement likely refers to the 8 October 1971 announcement of Prime Minister Trudeau in the House of Commons of Canada that, after much deliberation, the policies of bilingualism and multiculturalism would be implemented in Canada . One result of this policy statement was the Canadian Multiculturalism Act' of 1988 . </P> <P> The preamble of the Act declares that, </P>

Canada was the first to enact a multicultural