Working site on citizenship and multiculturalism issues.
2013/08/08 Leave a comment
How the respective Ministerial roles between Minister Kenney and Alexander are shaping up – both Ministers have their names on statements and releases.
Statement — Ministers Jason Kenney and Chris Alexander issue statement recognizing Eid al-Fitr.
2013/08/08 Leave a comment
Further confirmation of just how mainstream and accepted gay rights have become in Canada and how the Conservative Party is part of that mainstream.
John Baird’s defence of gay rights ‘offensive,’ women’s group says | Toronto Star.
2013/08/08 Leave a comment
Good discussion of some of the issues around the monarchy and suggestions for more written clarity regarding the power of the prime minister in relation to the legislature. Other governments have done so without undermining the role of the monarchy; and the article also lists a number of other options that could go further.
Not likely to happen given any debate would be divisive but good to have a range of options laid out and discussed.
Monarchy’s role in government: Most Canadians want fixes, but how? – The Globe and Mail.
2013/08/07 Leave a comment
Good piece by Robert Sibley on the history and the people that shaped Canada’s becoming independent in the 20s and 30s. And a strong comment on how much the role of the public service may have changed since then.
That’s the kind of visionary counsel — backbone stiffening, if you will — Canadians could once expect from their public servants. You have to wonder, given the current dysfunctional relationship between the government and the public service, if those days are long past, and, if so, how that might affect the country’s future.
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2013/08/06 Leave a comment
Good to see a healthy debate on the legacy of Trudeau, given that so much writing has had elements of hagiography. Bob Plamondon’s recent The Truth About Trudeau provides a valuable counter-narrative that, like many counter-narratives, may try too hard to make its case. On the other side, Andrew Cohen, emphasizes the long-term impact of Trudeau’s achievements, particularly the Constitution and the Charter, and his role, sometimes divisive, in trying to keep the country together.
Like all leaders with a legacy of achievement, views and interpretations will differ, but if Trudeau doesn’t ‘haunt us still,’ his legacy continues to shape the country, in big and small ways.
Even the Conservative government, opposed to much of the Trudeau legacy, has to live within it, sometimes with grace (e.g., the 2008 apology to aboriginal Canadians), sometimes churlishly (e.g., refusing to publicly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Charter). And the reference to multiculturalism in the Charter (the Canadian ‘brand’) has equally sticking power despite efforts to invoke pluralism as an alternative.
2013/08/05 Leave a comment
Priceless quote from Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the British Public Service, and even better reality check from Lucy Kellaway:
“Having benefited from investment in my personal development over the years, I am passionately committed to the Civil Service being a learning organisation.” The civil service might be a learning organisation (whatever that is). But learning how not to talk flatulently about passionate commitment is going to be very hard indeed.
2013/08/03 Leave a comment
Not much that is really new on the ‘enemies list’, but a helpful reminder that it has consequences in terms of government funding.
Liste d’«ennemis» – Ottawa doit changer de ton, disent les organismes visés | Le Devoir.
2013/08/02 Leave a comment
A good overview putting some of the critiques in a broader context. Yes, the changes have been significant and, in many cases overdue, and a number of others less defensible. But his great political skill has been able to operate at two levels at the same time: developing and encouraging support among the numerous ethnic communities in Canada while pursuing some major policy changes that make immigration more restrictive for non-economic immigrants.
One of my own ‘tests’ of how immigration and the related issues of citizenship and multiculturalism are perceived in a country is the presence or absence of strong anti-immigration lobbies or political parties. While we have a range of critics of immigration policies, naturally enough, we have no major organized opposition to Canada as an immigrant-based country.
All Canadian political parties are engaged with immigrants and new Canadians, with any wedge politics to increase support among ethnic communities, not to create a split with the ‘mainstream’.
The dynamic in Quebec is different, and more influenced by European debates and tensions.
2013/08/01 Leave a comment
A good initiative as some of these soft techniques – providing less intrusive ways to influence behaviour rather than heavier regulation – are worth exploring, despite the inevitable criticism of nanny statism.
The changes in citizenship language requirements and procedures essentially tried to nudge people to doing citizenship testing up front through a faster process. Unfortunately, given the abysmal processing capacity and backlog – more than 2 years to become a citizen, largely moot.
Canada studies Britain’s ‘nudge unit’ for ways to give the public a push – The Globe and Mail.
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Multicultural Meanderings 