'DIFFERENTLY THE SAME'MULTI/INTER/CULTURALISM AS IMMIGRANT GOVERNANCE MODEL.

Interculturalism vs multiculturalism: Two solitudes? Scorpions in a bottle? Strange bedfellows? Tweedledum or tweedledee? Many believe these 'isms' are fundamentally different and incompatible, with interculturalism positively contrasted as a new and improved model for integrating immigrants. This paper challenges each of these notions by reframing the debate over multi/inter/culturalism along governance lines. The paper argues that, despite differences in tone and emphasis, the principles of an integrative inclusivity inform the discursive logic behind both governance models. The paper also contends that Canada's official multiculturalism is less 'multi' than widely perceived, while Québec's interculturalism is less 'inter' than many propose. The paper concludes on a cautionary note: In that neither multiculturalism nor interculturalism have a knack for meaning what they say or for saying what they mean, debates over the 'isms' as competing governance models will remain a contested affair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]