International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Difference in Tone

2014/03/22 Leave a comment

Quite a different approach from Minister Alexander compared to Minister Kenney. Incredibly bureaucratic and normal:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) coordinates the federal activities related to the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). The ICERD is a United Nations Convention that promotes and encourages universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction based on race, sex, language or religion.

Our role

CIC’s role includes:

  • coordinating federal input to periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racism (CERD) on Canada’s implementation of the ICERD;
  • leading Canada’s periodic appearances for the presentation of reports to the CERD, a committee of independent experts that monitors implementation of the ICERD; and
  • consulting with partner departments regarding progress in responding to recommendations from the CERD.

CIC activities

Under the mandate of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, CIC works to foster the full participation and integration of Canadians from all ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds into society. CIC’s multiculturalism activities in support of the ICERD implementation include:

The CIC Settlement Program also supports locally based approaches to remove barriers as well as help build welcoming and inclusive communities. The wide range of stakeholders involved with the program allows projects to address many different challenges to integration, including those faced in the workplace, schools and community members at large.

Human Rights.

But of course, Minister Kenney in his role as Multiculturalism Minister also issued a statement, more political in tone than the bureaucratic one under Minister Alexander. Not a bad division of roles but even Minister Kenney’s current statement below is subdued compared to previous years:

“The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a day observed in like-minded countries around the world to reaffirm our shared commitment to combatting racism.

“Canadians are rightly proud of our country’s successful pluralism, fostering a society where all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, faith, or country of origin, have a place.

“Our government continues to be actively engaged in efforts to fight discrimination both at home and abroad.

“Throughout the past year, Canada maintained our status as a world leader in the global fight against anti-Semitism as the Chair of theInternational Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Our government will continue to work closely with the IHRA to promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research.

“Moreover, Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom continues to advocate for the rights of persecuted religious communities around the world.

“As Minister for Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to take a moment on this day to reflect on the importance of our country’s values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

In contrast, the 2013 press release had much more involvement and direction by the Minister:

“The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity for Canadians to join with other freedom-loving people around the world in reaffirming our commitment to reject and eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

“While we can be proud of our own country’s successful pluralism, we need to ensure that all Canadian citizens reject extremism, do not import ancient enmities, and continue to embrace Canada’s tradition of ordered liberty, which guarantees the equality of all citizens under the law.

“Through initiatives such as the Office of Religious Freedom, our Government will also continue to condemn acts of racial hatred around the world. These acts often accompany the targeting of religious communities.

“As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to continue to uphold the fundamental values of our free, democratic and peacefully pluralist society and to reject all forms of unjust discrimination.”

Minister Kenney issues statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2014)

Minister Kenney issues statement on the International Day (2013)

And lastly, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation continues to align itself with the government’s priorities:

Today the CRRF is proud to launch a new resource area dedicated to “Imported Conflict”, an emergent arena of study and public discourse that encompasses immigration, citizenship, multiculturalism and approaches to social and economic integration, and is essential to our understanding of what still needs to be done to promote integration and civic participation of Canadians of all origins.

The first document to be included in the special resource collection will be the Mosaic Institute’s recently released report, The Perception & Reality of “Imported Conflict” in Canada, and its abundant resources. The report is the culmination of a two-year study of Canadians’ perceptions and concerns about “imported conflict” in Canada. The report provides an interesting perspective as an initial endeavour, and the CRRF looks forward to examining and gathering further research in this area.

CRRF announces new initiative on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Filed under Multiculturalism, Racism Tagged with ,

Shopping for Votes Can Undermine Canada’s Fine Balance – Diaspora Politics – My Op-Ed

2014/03/21 Leave a comment

From New Canadian Media, my op-ed on diaspora politics, assessing the factors and politics behind why governments and political parties adopt some causes and some not:

Ironically, as the government aims to strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship, suggesting a more exclusive attachment to Canada, its active engagement in diaspora politics reinforces a more fluid concept of identity and citizenship, one more in tune with the complex identities many Canadians have.

Diaspora politics are a legitimate part of the Canadian landscape. While some may perceive it as “pandering,” diaspora politics reflect a valid response to the concerns of citizens. The challenge for all political parties is to balance the interests of individual communities – both with other groups and Canada’s broader interests and values.

Too strong a focus on “shopping for votes” risks undermining this balance.

Shopping for Votes Can Undermine Canada’s Fine Balance – New Canadian Media – NCM.

Filed under Citizenship, Multiculturalism Tagged with ,

Is criticism of Israel anti-Semitic? | My take

2014/03/21 Leave a comment

One of my recommendations on the approach to antisemitism from my piece in the CJN:

Secondly, we must strengthen messaging on the commonalities between anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance. Some of the pioneering work by Jewish communities is being lost in the focus on anti-Semitism. More express links among all forms of hatred, racism and discrimination can help combat anti-Semitism through engagement of a broader range of communities. The activities of the Holocaust centres in Canada in educating our increasingly diverse population are good examples. Perceived exclusive government focus on anti-Semitism may undermine understanding and support among other communities.

Is criticism of Israel anti-Semitic? | The Canadian Jewish News.

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Expect Pauline Marois to seek sovereignty diversion: Hébert | Toronto Star

2014/03/21 Leave a comment

While Hébert’s assessment may change somewhat after the leader debates, a good assessment of the PQ’s electoral strategy:

And so the word is that Marois will seek salvation in a diversion.

Over the remaining two weeks of the campaign, the PQ is expected to go harder on its plan for a secularism charter. The project is as polarizing as the notion of a referendum but in a positive sense for the sovereigntist party.

It remains to be seen whether enough voters will decide that their support for the charter outweighs their opposition to another referendum to reverse the momentum of the campaign in the PQ’s favour.

According to CROP, the charter is a priority for only a fraction of its supporters. And fatigue with that debate is even more prevalent among Quebecers than fatigue with the referendum issue. Still, from the PQ’s electoral perspective, a tired horse is better than a lame horse.

Expect Pauline Marois to seek sovereignty diversion: Hébert | Toronto Star.

Further illustration of charter strategy seen in Minister Drainville’s most recent comments,  and making the plea for majority government:

Only way to save charter is through majority government: PQ

Drainville is also playing on the fears of the niqab/burka, and extending the Charter to include students, not just teachers and professors, relying on anecdotes of a few students at Concordia  (the exchange with the reporter is worth reading). I do find the niqab/burka in Western countries symbolizes rejection of integration, in contrast to kippas, turbans, hijabs, crucifixes etc.:

Ban the burka for students, Parti Québécois says

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Role of Media in Integrating Immigrants: Metropolis Panel Discussion

2014/03/21 Leave a comment

For those interested in the role of ethnic and mainstream media in integration, please find below a transcript of the Metropolis discussion last week, organized by New Canadian Media and involving yours truly. Fairly long but it was a good and interesting discussion.

Thanks to CIC for deeming it important enough to merit transcription (tax dollars at work!).

Role of Media in Integrating Immigrants: Metropolis Panel Discussion

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Spring Equinox: Happy New Year to my Iranian Friends and Readers

2014/03/20 Leave a comment

Noruz_Haft-Sin_Tisch_44

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« Un vote pour le PLQ, c’est un vote contre la charte », soutient Drainville

2014/03/20 Leave a comment

PQ trying to get back on track for its campaign strategy after PKP reminded people of sovereignty:

Le projet de loi 60, dont M. Drainville était responsable dans le gouvernement Marois, a polarisé l’opinion publique au cours des 18 derniers mois. Il est toutefois passé sous le radar depuis l’entrée en scène de Pierre Karl Péladeau, candidat vedette du Parti québécois dans la circonscription de Saint-Jérôme.

« Un vote pour Philippe Couillard, un vote pour le Parti libéral, c’est un vote contre la charte », a déclaré l’ex-ministre, précisant du même souffle que sa sortie n’avait rien à voir avec la remontée du PLQ dans les sondages.

« Le plan de match, depuis le début, c’est de parler de la charte au 15e jour », a-t-il répété. Une campagne publicitaire invitant les Québécois à voter pour la charte et le PQ a également été lancée mardi.

« Un vote pour le PLQ, c’est un vote contre la charte », soutient Drainville | Élections Québec 2014 | ICI.Radio-Canada.ca.

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SUCCESS admits mistake in posting Chinese-only signs | Vancouver Sun

2014/03/20 Leave a comment

A controversy has erupted in Richmond over Chinese-language only advertising aimed at reducing gambling among Chinese-speaking Canadians. This is not the first flare-up of language issues (McDonald’s customer alleges language discrimination – British Columbia) and reminds us of the balance between serving new Canadians in an effective way (where use of other languages plays an important role), targeting communities in need, but not doing so exclusively that it alienates the “mainstream.”

I don’t share the view that targeted programs necessarily present the kind of ethical issue presented below as long as other general programs and support are available. If we are too universal, we may be less effective. But the signs should have a short description of the program in English to avoid such issues.

This is a fascinating ethical issue. Since SUCCESS is mostly funded by the B.C. and federal governments, it means that taxpayers are supporting an organization that explicitly excludes non-Chinese-speaking people from participation — since they wouldn’t be able to read the signs.

It is ethical that this program to fight addiction is only for those who speak Chinese?

SUCCESS admits mistake in posting Chinese-only signs | Vancouver Sun.

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Jonathan S. Ostroff: Standing with Israel, but rejecting conscription | National Post

2014/03/20 Leave a comment

Reinforces much of the points made by Jonathan Kay (Shariah with a Jewish face), including the similarities with Muslim (and other) fundamentalism (e.g., expressions like “rampant immorality”):

Ben-Gurion and the other founders of the secular state of Israel wanted the army to be a melting pot for immigrants from all over the world. Haredi Jews did not, and still do not, want to be melted down. Living in an environment of rampant immorality and lack of commitment to Jewish observance is toxic to their youth. And yes, Haredim believe that marriage is between a man and a women; they do not want to serve in an institution that enforces the acceptance of homosexuality. Religious Zionists who consider it a great virtue to serve in the army complain that more than 20% of their youth loose their religious commitment during their service.

This is why many Haredi parents here in Canada and the United States refuse to send their sons to live in dorms in a co-ed secular universities. This is why Haredim have separate schools, separate newspapers, no television, no unfiltered Internet. They spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on education systems that isolate their children from secular culture.

Jonathan S. Ostroff: Standing with Israel, but rejecting conscription | National Post.

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How losing 18,000 people made Manitoba $100-million poorer – The Globe and Mail

2014/03/20 Leave a comment

Although the article doesn’t state it, hard to believe that the shift from the mandatory Census to the National Household Voluntary Survey didn’t have something to do with it:

In past years, many people in Manitoba were missed. It has a large aboriginal population and aboriginal people tend to be missed at higher rates. Immigrants tend to get missed, and Manitoba had its highest levels of immigration in decades between 2006 and 2011. In 2011, the province also faced massive flooding that forced many people from their homes. Yet once the results of the reverse record check were complete, Statscan concluded that the adjusted population was only 1,233,728. A year earlier, it was thought to be 1,251,690.

But when they looked more closely at that sample, they examined something called the T-statistic, which acts as a test of statistical accuracy. Manitoba’s T-statistic was extremely high, “way out of bounds,” Mr. Falk said. (Manitoba’s was 3.35. Next highest was Alberta at 1.61). It points to a bad sample in the reverse record check, he said.

“It’s the canary in the coal mine,” he said. “The probability of getting a more extreme result than we observed in 2011 … is nearly non-existent.”

Statscan agreed there was something unusual. “We took a rigorous look at this,” Mr. Smith said. “We found nothing, and we went over it with a fine tooth comb.”

How losing 18,000 people made Manitoba $100-million poorer – The Globe and Mail.

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