E/CN.4/2004/18/Add.2 page 2 Summary At the invitation of the Canadian Government and in accordance with his mandate, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance visited Canada from 15 to 26 September 2003. The purpose of the visit, pursuant to the implementation of the Programme of Action of the Durban Conference, was to assess the present situation in Canada, with regard to the question of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, and hence the state of relations between the various communities, against the country’s characteristically multi-ethnic and multicultural background. In the course of his visit, the Special Rapporteur found that Canada as a country is proud of its ethnic, racial, cultural and religious diversity, which is supported by a multifaceted, multicultural policy, democratic institutions and protection of human rights, as well as by many programmes and projects run by a number of federal and provincial departments. The Special Rapporteur also found a readiness in the country to innovate, especially with regard to the implementation and elaboration of treaties with aboriginal communities. The Canadian Government considers that these innovations have achieved significant results. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur’s contacts with representatives of the various ethnic, racial, cultural and religious groups, particularly the representatives of aboriginal communities, indicate that Canadian society is not free of racial discrimination. The members of these groups whom the Special Rapporteur interviewed, consider that they suffer discrimination in the areas of education, health, employment and housing. As far as the representatives of these aboriginal communities are concerned, the historical disregard for their land rights, despite the many treaties signed with the Canadian Government, reflects persistent discrimination against them. The members of Canadian communities of African and Caribbean origin told the Special Rapporteur that they experienced the same feeling of persistent discrimination against them. The contrast between these communities’ strong and deep-rooted feelings of discrimination on the one hand and the political will of the federal and provincial authorities on the other indicates a lack of understanding and sympathy as well as poor communication between the communities concerned and the authorities in charge. The Special Rapporteur has also noted the need for an intellectual and ethical strategy, which could both respond adequately to the deep emotional and psychological experience of discrimination and encourage attitudes to evolve towards a form of multiculturalism, which would not be limited to the mere equalitarian and democratic superimposition of communities, but which is likely to facilitate interactions, mutual, interpersonal and intercommunity awareness and respect for cultural differences. The Canadian Government has made it clear, however, that in recent years programmes and measures have been introduced by the federal Government and by the provincial authorities to facilitate civil participation and the exercise of sovereignty based on harmonious intercommunal relations respectful of cultural differences. The Special Rapporteur has therefore put forward recommendations to the Canadian Government which may add credibility, trust and recognition to its genuine political commitment to combating racism, discrimination and xenophobia. These recommendations concern: public recognition, at the highest level, of the fact that these evils persist, despite the efforts