Godwin’s Law
2014/03/13 Leave a comment
An old post, but continues unfortunately to be relevant, by Bernie Farber on the abuse of Hitler comparisons (Godwin’s Law):
Boer War memorial a ‘sensitive’ affair, bureaucrats warned Tories
2014/03/13 Leave a comment
Good example of fearless advice, and a reminder of how governments “use and abuse” history, to use Margaret MacMillan’s phrase:
“I never want to see this again, this is the 10th time I have commented on this,” an assistant deputy minister acidly responded to a list of invited officials.
The same senior bureaucrat was asked to sign off on Blaney’s prepared speech for the event and responded with a fundamental observation: “Speech doesn’t tell what the war was about, we are missing a learning opportunity.”
Boer War memorial a ‘sensitive’ affair, bureaucrats warned Tories – The Globe and Mail.
FIFA Accepts the Turban and Hijab
2014/03/13 Leave a comment
Premier Marois and Charter advocates to take note: Quebec Soccer Federation reverses controversial turban ban.
Quebec Values Charter and Elections
2014/03/12 Leave a comment
More catching up, starting with the polling numbers:
Continuing with running on the Charter, confirming identity politics rather than substance:
No surprise that allophones and anglophones see the Charter primarily targeting Muslim women:
A rare declaration of principle from the a senior staffer in Jean-Francois Lisée’s office:
A wide range of commentary on the elections, and have selected only a few. From the Globe, Antonia Maioni’s fatalistic prediction, The PQ’s appeal is locked in, a more nuanced assessment by Chantal Hébert, Quebec election not a foregone conclusion, and Daniel Weinstock’s longer-term perspective, Québec at a Crossroads
Following the announcement of Pierre Karl Peladeau, the owner of Quebecor, Quebec’s media conglomerate, that he will run as a PQ candidate, lot’s of commentary and speculation what this means in the short and long-term. Summary by Chris Selley in the National Post provides a good sense of reactions, Full Pundit: Will Péladeaumania cure Marois malaise? Makes it clear sovereignty is on the agenda despite Maurois’s calculated ambiguity.
Lastly, a reminder that the election call meant the end of Parliamentary hearings on the proposed Charter, including this good brief from the Montreal Holocaust Centre, which has done good work in engaging the diverse communities in Montreal on Holocaust and intolerance issues:
Citizenship – Varia
2014/03/12 Leave a comment
Catching up on citizenship issues while I was away.
Good piece by Nicholas Yeoung of the Star sharing some anecdotal reactions to the proposed changes to the Citizenship Act:
http://read.thestar.com/?origref=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FcyqfDhUNZj#!/article/53147e0bec0691be4e000037
More on the British revocation provisions regarding those convicted of or suspect of terrorist activities. In contrast to the proposed approach by the Canadian government, the UK Minister has the authority, not the courts, and the UK does not intend to respect the international convention on statelessness:
How a British Citizen Was Stripped of His Citizenship, Then Sent to a Manhattan Prison | The Nation
Some op-eds on perceived remaining issues related to changes in the government’s approach to citizenship, starting with the first generation limit and a somewhat plaintive complaint about the impact on his daughter, born, living and growing up in the USA, who will not be able to pass on her Canadian citizenship to her children. Part of the risk of expatriate life, and if it is that important to her family, there are a number of paths available (but none are cost-free, ranging from the family spending time in Canada, to the daughter marrying a Canadian or giving birth in Canada).
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/my-daughters-second-class-citizenship/article17124132/
A more serious issue is to what extent is the government required to provide consular assistance, given the increased range of situations Canadians find themselves:
No surprise that an ATIP request shows that the proposed shorter waiting time for people serving in the Canadian military is more symbolic than real, with only a minimal number of potential applicants:
The usual monthly update on citizenship processing stats, showing improvement given Budget 2013 money. The test is whether the government will continue to publish these stats should the trend turn, or commit to service standards and quarterly reports, rather than press releases when it serves their interest.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2014/2014-02-28.asp
And pity the abandoned Chinese millionaires:
Diasporas and Canada
2014/03/12 Leave a comment
Mowat Centre report “Diaspora Nation” on the impact and potential of the various diaspora communities:
Aga Khan Interview
2014/03/12 Leave a comment
Good and thoughtful interview with the Aga Khan:
Some people refer to it as Islamification. I can’t think of one single country where that has succeeded. The reason is the diversity within Islam, the different types of attitudes towards inheritance, towards zakaat. The attempt to bring a Muslim country that has a multiple of interpretations of Islam around one single interpretation of Islam has never worked. They may try to force it. That’s a different issue. I’ve never seen it work where it wasn’t followed by some form of dictatorial government.
Text of speech before Parliament here:
I believe that Canada is uniquely able to articulate and exemplify three critical underpinnings of a quality civil society: a commitment to pluralism, to meritocracy, and to a cosmopolitan ethic. A cosmopolitan ethic is one that welcomes the complexity of human society. It balances rights and duties, freedom and responsibility. It is an ethic for all peoples, the familiar and the other, whether they live across the street or across the planet….
Address of His Highness the Aga Khan 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims
Only unfortunate aspect was partisan exclusion of other political parties from Toronto event. The Government never seems to learn that when it rises to the occasion, as in the residential schools apology and the Mandela funeral, it benefits; when it plays partisan games, like the Toronto event, the mission led by Minister Baird to Ukraine etc, it loses. It is not the only government to play such games, but seems to show less sense of when and where.
And the quasi-trolling of event attendees for political follow-up, while an understandable temptation (not convinced that other parties would behave better) does cheapen the Government:
Q&A: Irshad Manji on Multiculturalism
2014/03/12 1 Comment
Good short interview with Irshad Manji on Islam and multiculturalism. Continues to surprise me that so many forget that multiculturalism was about integration from both the diversity and equity aspects, and never was about an “anything goes” or extreme relativism. Always in the context of the Canadian Constitution, including the Charter, and overall Canadian laws and regulations.
The Aga Khan: the singular appeal of a pluralist – The Globe and Mail
2014/02/27 Leave a comment
Good piece by Janice Stein on the Aga Khan:
Not only Quebec struggles with the contours of pluralism. Canada is redefining the meaning of citizenship in an age when many are citizens of more than one state. What obligations, some Canadians ask, do we have to those who spend most of their time abroad? When at risk abroad, should they be rescued? And what responsibilities fall to those who come to Canada seeking refuge and opportunity? What should “they” learn and be required to do?
Such concerns are new to the debate on pluralism – and come at a time when we, too, are aging and need new faces, new cultures and new talents if we are to flourish.
We may need new immigrants badly, but our approach to pluralism cannot be purely pragmatic. We must, as the Aga Khan has said in the past, recognize that “the other is both present and different, and appreciate this presence – and this difference – as gifts that can enrich our lives.”
The Aga Khan: the singular appeal of a pluralist – The Globe and Mail.
Vacation Stop
2014/02/24 Leave a comment
Will be traveling the next few weeks and will restart March 12.
Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote
Click image for book purchase
