Canada is often described as a multicultural nation. Basically, it means that Canadians are not of any one cultural background, race or heritage. Instead, Canadians today have a vast diversity of cultural heritages and backgrounds. This multicultural diversity is a result of centuries of immigration. All Canadians can trace their origins to an immigrant past. This does not mean that the majority of Canadians are immigrants. Only about 16% of today's Canadian citizens were born outside Canada. Nor does this mean that anyone who wants to immigrate to Canada may do so. Immigration to Canada is a privilege, not a right. Canada remains selective about who may enter and, equally important, who may not.