This book investigates how the rhetoric of tolerance and multiculturalism in Canada functions to maintain colonial power structures and define national identity. Eva Mackey, a scholar in cultural studies, utilizes a combination of historical analysis and contemporary sociological research to examine how white Canadians perceive their own identity in relation to racial and cultural 'others.' By analyzing public discourse and conducting interviews, the author argues that the Canadian project of liberalism often masks underlying exclusionary practices that reinforce the status quo.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a critical text for understanding the paradoxes of Canadian multiculturalism. It is widely recognized for its rigorous academic approach to the intersection of colonial history and modern identity politics.