The Redefinition of Citizenship in Canada, 1950s–1970s

In the 1950s, English-speaking Canada very much identified itself as an integral part of a wider British World. Canada’s bicultural nature, with the French-Canadians, complicated this self-identity in Canada. However, by the 1970s, this British World had come to an end. During this period, citizenship in Canada was redefined in a significant way from being an ethnic (British)-based one to a more civic-founded one – which was more inclusive of other ethnic groups and Indigenous peoples. This chapter will argue that this redefinition of citizenship took place primarily in the context of this major shift in national identity, focusing on key external events that led to this process. It will then explore pieces of citizenship legislation and other moves which illustrate the redefinition of citizenship during this period.