Refers to the group of people within society either largest in number, in a superior social position, or that successfully shapes or controls other groups through social, economic, cultural, political, military or religious power.  In most parts of Canada, the term refers to White, English-speaking, Christian, middle to upper-income Canadians.

With reference to race and culture, the experience of persons who do not speak the majority group's language, cannot find work or gain access to social services and therefore, cannot become full and equal participating members of society. Refers also to the process of being  "left out" of or silenced in a social group.

The intervention into a dispute or negotiation of an acceptable impartial and neutral third party, who has no authoritative decision-making power, to reach voluntarily and acceptable settlement of issues in dispute.  In a race relations context, its aim is to reach a signed agreement setting out specific steps to be taken by each side to restore racial harmony and peaceful relations.

Term usually used to refer to the American monocultural society in which there is a conscious attempt to assimilate diverse peoples into a homogeneous culture, rather than to integrate as equals in the society while maintaining various cultural or ethnic identities.

Originally referred to persons of mixed Indian and French ancestry. Now refers to a person who self-identifies as Métis, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and/or is accepted by the Métis Nation through its acceptance process.

Refers to a group of people within a society that is either small in numbers or that has little or no access to social, economic, political or religious power.  In Canada, refers to the diverse ethno-racial identities that are not of the dominant white group.  In some areas, they are not always in the minority numerically. Minority rights are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, The Human Rights Acts and Codes, and the UN Convention on the rights of minorities. The term may imply inferior social position.  In common use, Racial or Visible Minority describes people who are not White; Ethnic Minority refers to people whose ancestry is not English or Anglo-Saxon; Linguistic Minority refers to people whose first language is not English (or not French in Quebec).

A broad term which may refer to a set of structured learning activities and curricula designed to create and enhance understanding of and respect for cultural diversity.  The term often connotes inclusion of racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, national, international and political diversity, and is also inclusive of the culture, heritage, history, beliefs and values of the various peoples people within a pluralistic society.

Federal policy announced in 1971 and enshrined in law in the Multiculturalism Act of 1988 which acknowledges the unequal access to resources and opportunities of Canadians who are not of the dominant white group, and urges the recognition of their contributions, the preservation of their cultural heritage and the equal treatment of all Canadians. The existence within one society or nation of two or more non-homogeneous but equally recognized ethnic, racial, cultural, linguistic or religious groups.  Canadian (federal) and Ontario (provincial) policies on multiculturalism ensure this diversity and equal rights for and recognition of all groups.  (Although it can and should include anti-racism, there has been an increasing recognition of the limitations of this concept because it does not explicitly acknowledge the critical role that racism plays in preventing the achievement of the vision, and also because it may promote a static and limited notion of culture as fragmented and confined to ethnicity).