International Symposium
Interculturalism
QUEBEC-EUROPE DIALOGUE QUÉBEC-EUROPE DIALOGUEon
May 25 to 27, 2011Montréal
Program
a
ore and more culturally diversified, contemporary democratic nations face difficult choices. They must combine the continuity of their culture, historically rooted, with other cultures, other trajectories. The major challenge is to arbitrate the relationships between different and sometimes conflicting worldviews. Legitimately, old majority cultures wish to maintain their identities and some prerogatives, but within the limits of the legal rules that they have set up through laws and charts. In doing so, they must manage to distinguish, among their founding myths and associated values, what must be protected, what is open to negotiation, and what has to be redefined. This is a process that must be strictly governed by the principles of democracy and the primacy of rights. Equal dignity along with the actual enjoyment of rights and the participation of all citizens constitute their prerequisites.
The solutions to this kind of challenge are all but simple. For one, forced assimilation, which violates the rights of minorities, is no longer an option. Exclusion and discrimination must be rejected. At the other end of the spectrum, models that favour laisser-faire and open relativism leading to fragmentation have no future either. Therefore, from both
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni Gérard Bouchard
M
A Québec-Europe dialogue
Day 1
Opening public lectures
Interculturalism and Interculturality
sides of the Atlantic, a number of intellectuals and militants are now sear-ching for an in-between of sorts, a middle road that respects diversity while preserving values and ideals that can be shared by all citizens. In this spirit, interculturalism sets forth a way to attend to ethno-cultural diversity that arouses a growing interest because it embodies the willin-gness to transcend antinomies. The goal is to encourage interactions between citizens and groups and thus allow everybody to take advan-tage of a common cultural patrimony. Interculturalism brings to the fore the dynamic of exchange and mixing that has generated this patrimony which is now forcefully disseminated at a broader scale by globaliza -tion. All this is in line with the underlying philosophy of interculturalism, i.e. to advance the opening to otherness and to foreground common, inclusive worldviews.
Over the last years, the Council of Europe has been working in this direction, trying to straddle theory and practice, with a view to better integrating new migrants as well as national and other minorities (including Roms). As far as Québec is concerned, interculturalism is a road that has been traveled since a few decades. From the foregoing, one can see the relevance of a Québec/Europe dialogue focusing on this theme.
This being said, a lot of work remains to be done in order to further develop this line of thought and to achieve a more efficient translation of the central principles into policies, programs and know-how. Those are precisely the goals of the Symposium, which will rely both on the contribution of nume rous experts and the essential participation of the public.
So, to all and everybody, welcome to this much expected meeting and many thanks for your help.
Gérard Bouchardand Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
In charge of the Symposium for Québec and Europe
Location: Auditorium de la Grande Bibliothèque Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec 475 De Maisonneuve Boulevard East
Montreal(Berri-UQAM metro)
WEDNESDAY MAY 25, 2011
6pm-6:45pm Welcoming of participants • Confirmation of registration.
• Headphones for simultaneous translation are available at the proper table (ID card required).
7pm-7:10pm Opening remarks by Gérard Bouchard
7:10pm-7:15pm Video message from the Honorable Monique Gagnon-Tremblay
Minister of International Relations (Québec)
7:15pm-9:30pm Session chairperson: Simon Durivage
Journalist and moderator at Radio-Canada/RDI
Gérard Bouchard
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
L’interculturalisme ou la recherche d’équilibres.
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
Director General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport and Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe
Vivre ensemble dans l’égale dignité.
Exchange with the public
Day 2
Symposium
Location: Amphithéâtre du Pavillon Sherbrooke Université du Québec à Montréal
200 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal(Place-des-Arts metro)
THURSDAY MAY 26, 2011
8am-8:45am Welcoming of participants • Confirmation of registration.
• Headphones for simultaneous translation are available at the proper table (ID card required).
9am-9:15am Opening remarks byGérard Bouchard
9:15am-10:15am
Session A
Integration Models:
Comparative Insights
Presentation of several models and experiences of integration in North America and in Europe. To provide concrete benchmarks which will fuel the deliberations of all the following sessions of the Symposium. Session chairperson: Peter Leuprecht
Université du Québec à Montréal
UNITED KINGDOM
–
Ted Cantle
Executive Chair, Institute of Community Cohesion (United Kingdom)
The Journey From Defensive Multiculturalism to Positive Interculturalism: Is That Land Upon the Horizon?
THE NETHERLANDS
–
Frank Lechner
Emory University (USA)
The Travails of Integration in the Netherlands.
Exchange with the public
10:15am-10:30am Break
10:30am-11:30am
Continuation of
Session A
ITALY AND TUSCANY
–
Emilio Santoro
University of Florence (Italy)
From the Respect for Different Cultures to the Value of Cultural Difference.
CANADA
–
Will Kymlicka
Queen’s University (Canada)
The Evolving Canadian Experiment with Multiculturalism.
Exchange with the public
11:30am-1pm Lunch (nearby restaurants, see attached list)
1pm-2:15pm
Session B
Rights in Light of Interculturalism
The rule of law and social justice are of paramount importance to inter-culturalism. Can the latter inspire developments in these directions? Session chairperson: Maryse Alcindor
QUÉBEC
–
Pierre Bosset
Université du Québec à MontréalDe l’accommodement raisonnable à l’interculturalisme au Québec : faux problèmes et vrais défis.
Exchange with the public
3:45pm-4pm Break
4pm-5:15pm
Session C
Secularism: An Overview
of Current Models and Debates
What are the stakes, the structure, the contents and ramifications of the debate on secularism on both sides of the Atlantic? Is an interculturalist conception of secularism possible?
Session chairperson: Geneviève Nootens
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
EUROPE
–
Jean-Paul Willaime
École pratique des hautes études (France)
Les évolutions en Europe vers une laïcité de reconnaissance et de dialogue.
QUÉBEC
–
Gérard Bouchard
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Les écueils et les enjeux du débat québécois sur la laïcité.
Exchange with the public
Session B.1
The Right to Equality
The principle of equality is central in our societies. How does it articulate (in legal and other areas) with non-discrimination, socioeconomic inclu-sion and management of ethnocultural diversity? What place should the equality principle have in the interculturalist model?
EUROPE
–
Emmanuelle Bribosia
Institut d’études européennes et Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgique) Le rôle de l’égalité et de la non-discrimination dans la mise en œuvre d’un dialogue interculturel en Europe.
QUÉBEC
–
Pearl Eliadis
Human Rights Lawyer (Québec)
Down the Garden Path: Canada’s “Culturalisms” and the Need for Equality Rights.
Exchange with the public
2:15pm-3:45pm
Session B.2
Accommodation Practices?
What are the legal and sociological arguments that support accommo-dation practices in democratic societies? What are the objections against these practices? Where do European countries stand on this matter? What connections can be made between accommodation practices and interculturalism?
EUROPE
–
Frédérique Ast
Doctor of Law and jurist for the organization Défenseur des droits (France) La capacité de l’Europe à accommoder les autres cultures : la diabolisation de l’interculturalisme ?
FRANCE
–
Dounia Bouzar
Ph.D. in Anthropology of religion (France)
Entre discriminations et multiculturalisme : la notion du « plus petit dénominateur commun » appliquée à la diversité religieuse française.
6:30pm-7:15pm
Evening
Welcoming of participants • Confirmation of registration.• Headphones for simultaneous translation are available at the proper table (ID card required).
7:30pm-9:30pm
Session D
The Work of the Council of Europe:
Three European Intercultural
Experiences
Session chairperson: Gérard Bouchard
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Irena Guidikova
Director of the Intercultural Cities programme, Council of Europe Cités interculturelles : bâtir l’avenir sur la diversité.
Gilda Farrell
Head Of Division, Social Cohesion Research & Development Division, Council of Europe
Compétences interculturelles dans les services sociaux, la nécessité de l’évolution institutionnelle.
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
Director General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport and Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe
Dimensions religieuses du dialogue interculturel.
Exchange with the public
9:30pm End of evening
Day 3
FRIDAY MAY 27, 2011
8am-8:45am Welcoming of participants • Confirmation of registration.
• Headphones for simultaneous translation are available at the proper table (ID card required).
9am-10:15am
Session E
Intercultural Practices in Education
How do the broad purposes and orientations of interculturalism translate into the daily practices of education? What are the obstacles, difficulties and successes, what are the already established leads, what are those opening up on new horizons?
Session chairperson: Céline Saint-Pierre
Université du Québec à Montréal
QUÉBEC
–
Marie McAndrew
Université de Montréal
L’éducation au Québec contribue-elle au développement d’une société pluraliste et inclusive ? Les acquis et les obstacles dans une perspective comparative.
EUROPE
–
Ólöf Ólafsdóttir
Director of Education and Languages, Council of Europe
Comprendre et valoriser la diversité : les travaux du Conseil de l’Europe en matière d’éducation interculturelle.
Exchange with the public
2pm-3:15pm
Session G
National Language,
Identity and Integration
How to simultaneoulsy accommodate ethnocultural diversity and ensure the survival of the language and identity of host societies, especially in the context of minority (stateless) nations? What are the specific and concrete challenges, what strategies should be implemented to meet these challenges?
Session chairperson: Patricia Rimok
President of the Québec Conseil des relations interculturelles
QUÉBEC
–
Linda Cardinal
University of Ottawa
L’avenir du français dans un Québec interculturel.
EUROPE
–
Thomas Facchinetti
Cantonal Delegate of integration, Office for multicultural cohesion, Neuchâtel (Switzerland)
Souveraineté minoritaire et intégration des migrants : un dilemme identitaire ? Le cas de la République et canton de Neuchâtel en Suisse.
Exchange with the public
3:15pm-3:30pm Break
10:30am-12:15pm
Session F
Economic and Social Inclusion
Social and economic inclusion and non-discrimination are pivotal condi-tions for the kind of integration advocated by interculturalism. In this regard, what is the situation today both in Europe and Québec? What do the statistics reveal, what are the barriers and the means to overcome them? What priorities for action should be set?
Session chairperson: Yasmina Chouakri
Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes
QUÉBEC
–
Stephan Reichhold
Executive director of the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI)
Les particularités du Québec en matière d’intégration des nouveaux immigrants.
QUÉBEC
–
Marie-Thérèse Chicha
Université de Montréal
Immigration et intégration professionnelle : une transition incertaine et fragile.
EUROPE
–
Gilda Farrell
Head Of Division, Social Cohesion Research & Development Division, Council of Europe
La stigmatisation des migrants : une barrière à l’inclusion économique et sociale en Europe.
Exchange with the public
Many thanks to our partners
3:30pm-5:10pm
Session H
Interculturalism: Looking Forward,
Directions for the Future
The objective of this session is to conclude the Symposium with a discus-sion on the future. What are the possible ways forward for interculturalism and how should they translate into policies and programmes?
Session chairperson: Michel Venne
Executive director of l’Institut du Nouveau Monde
Micheline Labelle
, Université du Québec à MontréalFrançois Rocher
, University of OttawaLes limites indépassables de l’interculturalisme en contexte canadien : un chemin semé d’embûches.
Bergman Fleury
Chair of the Advisory Committee on Integration and Reasonable Accommodation in the Schools (Québec)
Interculturalisme et perspectives de l’éducation à vivre ensemble.
Nicole Girard
Acting Director General, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Le pari moderne et civique du multiculturalisme canadien.
Peter Leuprecht
Université du Québec à Montréal, ex-Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Le dialogue interculturel – indispensable dans une société pluriculturelle. Regards croisés Canada/Québec – Europe.
Exchange with the public
5:10pm-5:30pm The HonorableKathleen Weil
Minister of Immigration and Cultural communities (Québec)
5:30pm Conclusion of the Symposium
