Like most western societies, Canada is facing fundamental societal questions at the present time which have led the state to examinewhat it seems to perceive as a problem of cohesion, as well as the current parameters of citizenship. This paper attempts tothrow light on certain responses which the Canadian state has brought to these questions. By analysing its recent practices anddiscourse in relation to the management of national and cultural diversity, it appears that, far from relaxing criteria and norms forcitizenship as often seen in certain identity claims, the Canadian state has chosen to return to and strengthen the notions and idealsthat have traditionally served as foundations to the image they convey of the Canadian political community.