Firstly because immigrants, wherever they go, retain their languages and customs for, at least, a generation. Thus, in Brooklyn, there are Russians who arrived before WW2 and who have not yet adopted English as the language of their community. Similarly, in Stamford Hill, one can live in Hebrew. This is the same all over the world.

Secondly, because the various levels of government in Canada encourage the use of languages other than English and French and the retention of the manners and customs of immigrants, e.g.:

"Diversity of race, religion and lifestyle help define and set Toronto apart from other world cities. Toronto is home to virtually all of the world's culture groups and is the city where more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken" http://www.toronto.ca/quality_of_life/diversity.htm

It is this multi-culturalism, this lack of requirement to conform to any local standard, that attracts immigrants to Canada. I think it a neat trick to have made the cultural void here a marketing feature and it has worked; I watched hundreds of people shuffle past a sugar shack on the weekend, all of them yammering to their children, without hearing any English or French.

Rather than struggling to impose your way of life on the great mass of Canadians, why not try celebrating diversity, learn a little Cantonese or Punjabi, eat the foods these New Canadians have brought with them. Embrace Canada for what it is rather than regreting that it's not America.

Firstly, multi-culturalism does not mean lack of racism, immigrant groups still hate the groups they hated in the old country and add new hatreds here. The consequence isn't harmony but balanced tensions.

Secondly, there isn't cultural segregation, at least not in Toronto, there are distinct ethnic and cultural neighbourhoods but, very often, children born here have parents who are of two different backgrounds. For example, I know some Indo-Swedish-Canadians and, unfortunately for their physical features, some Ukranian-Filipino-Canadians. It may be that there are taboos among some cultures about intermingling but, over time, the force of penistry drives men to break down those barriers.

Sorry to be rude, but b*ll*x. It is the best feature of a city like Vancouver. Even you should be able to understand the difference between choosing to retain a culture and being segregated as a consequence of it.

You, for example.

Very dramatic, but meaningless.

Eh? I am beginning to suspect that you have no idea what you are talking about, other than indulge in an argument for argument's sake.

You have absolutely no idea who I invite into my house, or their command of the English language. And, you will have to excuse me on this, I'm not taking instructions from you about who I chose to associate with.

You advocate that everyone should adopt a single, dominant, sub-British, culture on the day they land in this country. It won't work. Multiculturalism is the reality of Canada now, particularly in the cities. If you don't like it then OK, that is your opinion, but thankfully you are not going to change it.

Look, let's try and put this as simply as possible in the hope you will begin to understand. Canada's official policy is multiculturalism. Immigrants are required to obey the law of the land, respect other peoples lifestyle choices, and that is about it. If they want to integrate then that is fine. It they want to retain their own culture, customs and language that is fine too. Anything in between is also just fine.

You seem to be suggesting that multiculturalism is some sort of recipe for national disaster. It is quite the opposite. My belief is that people will integrate, though it will take generations rather than years. You can see the difference in attitudes and values of second and third generation immigrants. (You have heard of the banana people I suppose?) However, integration is done at a pace that people find comfortable. It leads to a more cohesive society with a greater breadth of shared values. I certainly don't see anything in the melting pot approach of the US, or the cultural imperialism of Europe, that makes me think that the Canadian way is wrong.

<Shudder>

I have always had birthday cards sent from my Aunt in Canada and they were really not funny!!

I actually thought the orange pekoe tea was ok, came prepared with my PG tips but didn't need them in the end

Sorry to hear things haven't worked out for you. Where did you move to?

How does that compare to the English stuff?

You just made that word up!

Indeed. I was trying to convey a Marxist vision of the inevitabilty of men following their cocks across town.

The small square button to the right of the quote button is called the multi-quote button. If one clicks this for each post they reply to, one can reply to each message in the same response, separated into each post responding to.

Yes I know that but the messages I quoted were spread out on different pages and I was quoting them as I was reading them.

That explains it...

I know many people on here think I am mentally challenged but I'm not that bad!!

I am, I have kids lol.