By the year 2000, approximately one in every five Canadians will represent an ethnic minority. Even today, Canada is home to over a hundred different linguistic and cultural groups. Yet between these Canadians and the health care system there exists a large cultural gap. At the crux of the matter is the lack of recognition by health care professionals of the cultural differences and related health beliefs of various groups. A further impediment is the lack of formal educational programs, theory and research in multicultural nursing care in Canada.