In the current Canadian context, the concept, "multiculturalism" is widely used in at least three senses: 1) to refer to the multi-ethnic composition of the population of Canada (The Canadian Mosaic), 2) to refer to the federal government policy, and 3) to refer to the ideology of cultural pluralism underlying the federal policy. This paper analyzes the assumptions behind these different conceptions of multiculturalism, and seeks to address some of the social implications of the disparities between them. First, the paper draws out the main ideas implicit in the model of multiculturalism as a societal ideal. Secondly, the paper examines current federal policy, and scholarly criticisms thereof, in the light of the egalitarian mosaic ideal. Finally, the paper looks at multiculturalism as a movement for social reform, designed to bring federal policy more closely in line with the egalitarian ideal of cultural pluralism.