Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2003, biomedical genetics has been heralded as the key to eradicating diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Yet genetic science brings with it a host of concerns over the nature of differences between people and groups, and consequently it is mired in debates about race, ethnicity, population and culture. Canada, famous for its multiculturalism both in policy and scholarly debate, is less well known for its ambitious genetic science policy aimed at improving human health.  This talk explores the social and cultural politics of new genetic technologies in Canada and their relationship to multiculturalism and identity.