On Mar. 18, 2009, Hon. Jason Kenney, Min. of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, spoke at Huron College at UWO.
He spoke on a variety of subjects, but largely focused on what he perceived to be the role of his Ministry.
It was his opinion that immigrants to Canada are pretty well off – they have their own institutions and organizations, and don’t really need much governmental support. Never mind that he talked at great length to dismiss the legitimacy of organizations that have criticized his policies, and failed to identify which organizations spoke for the most discriminated elements in society.
What immigrants do need is language skills. Min. Kenney rebuffed studies that have shown that recent immigrants to Canada are faring far worse than previous generations by saying it’s because they don’t have proficiency in English or French.
The fact that Canada’s immigration patterns in recent decades have shifted to substantially more racial minorities obviously does not play into the equation. Somehow the immigrants from eastern Europe and the Ukraine, which populated significant parts of central Canada where Kenney was raised, did not have the same problems, even though they did not learn English in their first generation either.
But to make it worse, these immigrants don’t even do what they need to be doing. Only 20% of them take language classes offered by the government.
So you see, if you’re an immigrant to Canada and you’re having a tough time, it’s really your fault, not the government’s. Min. Kenney seemed oblivious to the acute xenophobia towards these immigrants, and denied that there have been calls to bar certain groups from entry to Canada. He thought the British and Australian immigration models (and responses) was something we should emulate.
Min. Kenney, are you not monitoring levels of intolerance in Canada? Or are you only concerned about helping your political constituency alone?
Kenney was unable to explain how he learned so much about immigrants and visible minorities who face discrimination while growing up in Saskatchewan. He conceded his social group consisted of all white-males as a youth, but attributed that to his involvement with the Liberal Party at the time. All of the minorities were obviously hiding out in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
Updates
Min. Kenney repeated the call for immigrants to speak English or French before immigrating to Canada at a conference in Calgary, clearing up any ambiguity that may have previously existed.
These policies are nothing more than a covert for of racism, seeking to perpetuate historic racist legislation in Canada that sought to bar ethnic minorities from entering Canada, and overturn progress made in recent years to remedy these policies.
More recent statements seem to indicate he is backpedalling in face of sharp criticism by the public. Despite blaming the media, Min. Kenney’s statements are recorded by the media and attendees at his talks this week.
Since Mr. Ig has stated that he is favor of enforced compulsary bilingual signage (and I assume compulsary bilingualism to follow) the immigrants will have an ever harder time under a Liberal government, having to learn both languages before they are able to work!
Omar – The article you link to doesnt set out Kenney’s actual statements with respect to immigrants learning English or French. It all seems to be about not allowing American deserters stay in Canada.
I also think that your conclusions are flawed in certain respects. Yes Canada has always accepted immigrants from non-english/french countries but as a percentage of all immigrants the number from those countries has skyrocketed. The majority of immigrants to Canada from the early twentieth century were from Britain (an English country).
And while I agree that there is intolerance towards immigrants by some Canadians (a phenomena that immigrants unfortunately face in all countries of the world), that intolerance was unquestionably greater when Jason Kenney was a kid.
Thus I think your dismissal of language and emphasis of racism as a cause for immigrants being “worse off” than in previous generation is flawed.
Either way I dont think its fair to blame the government. Government only has so much capacity (especially in a liberal society) to teach language and reduce discrimination.
KC,
I obviously know that the linked story doesn’t talk about those comments. I was there in person, and the session was recorded.
The deserter issue was definitely the highlight, given that one of them walked out in the middle of his talk, calling him a moron, and protesters were outside the window chanting for most of the session.
Rich Droste was also on hand, and asked Min. Kenney questions related to war resisters.
It was Min. Kenney that cited studies indicating that recent immigrants are doing worse off than previous generations of immigrants. But it’s his explanation of this phenomenon that was offensive.
I would question your interpretation of levels of intolerance, as the target groups and manifestations of intolerance are quite different over time. Min. Kenney does seem stuck in an era long past though, and is clearly not in touch with issues that contemporary visible minorities face.
Omar – If you found his comments offensive, you are offended too easily. I’m no fan of Jason Kenney but these are not some of his more offensive comments.
A lack of skills in the languages of commerce of any country is going to be a significant barrier to economic advancement of immigrants. Given the shift in countries of origin for new immigrants it is reasonable to conclude that the number of Canadians who come to Canada without passable english and french HAS risen significantly over the past decades (and century).
I’m not trying to say that language is the sole, or even the majority cause of declining outcomes for immigrants. I would cite a generally growing gap between rich and poor as an important factor as well. My point is simply that it is not ridiculous or “offensive” to suggest that language plays a role.
I know it is fashionable to blame everything on our allegedly brutally racist society but I think that attributing the DECLINING outcomes for contemporary immigrants to racism is without basis. I challenge you to provide ANY evidence of a rise in racist attitudes over the last few decades. For all our flaws (we are far from perfect just like every other country in the world), Canadians are more tolerant and pluralistic than at any time in our history. I suspect that my Chinese great grandfather who immigrated to Saskatoon at the turn of the century would PROFOUNDLY disagree with your assertion that the level and acceptability of racism at all compares to what those of his generation suffered.
Claiming that it is an insult to immigrants to even partially attribute declining outcomes to language barriers is demagoguery of the worst kind. Attributing everything that ails people to racist attidues is reductionist and lacking in evidence.
As someone who was there with the war resisters crowd, I agree that his comments were offensive to immigrants.
He was justifying budget cuts and small government, as these guys always do, but this time under the guise that there are no problems, it’s all their fault if they experience difficulties in society.
But you know I think almost 4/5 of the room were offended by his talk, period. I absolutely loved the guy who stood up and walked out while he was talking and yelled, “You are a moron.” He is (a moron, that is).
And in the same news (today):
MP wants Canada to get tough on immigrants
Seems other people are offended too KC.
And in other news,
Linda Gray, Republican State Senator for Arizona, is taking flak after an email exchange with a high school student.
The student wrote to the Senator to express concern about recent cuts to the State’s education budget.
The letter was one continuous sentence containing no punctuation.
Senator Gray wrote back to the child:
She blamed the kid’s poor education on the kid, rather than on her party’s education policies that have let this child down.
Hilarious irony. Sad truth.
And to put the cherry on the cupcake, it turns out that the child has special needs!
Source: State senator mends fences with e-mailer in 9th grade
Im still confused about why that is so offensive Omar. Even the Charter does not guarantee equality on the basis of language, and Im not aware of any caselaw under which an inability to speak English or French an analogous ground.
You really tie a countries hand behind its back when you insist that new immigrants not need to learn the two languages of commerce in the country and then complain when those same immigrants “fall behind”. I dont think you can have it both ways.
I dont necessarily think its good policy but offensive?
By the way, there’s nothing really new about what he’s proposing.
The current federal skilled worker immigration regime requires prospective immigrants to qualify on a points system.
They get points for various things such as number of years of formal education; arranged employment in Canada; number of years of work experience; having family already in Canada, etc.
The largest number of points comes from language proficiency. Off the top of my head, the language category is worth 24 out of 100 possible points.
It is damn near impossible to obtain the necessary 67 points minimum without reasonable proficiency in either of Canada’s official languages.
That is the CURRENT program, as it stands today. Thus, what Jason Kenney is proposing is not really new.
He’s still an arse, though.
KC,
What’s so offensive about Jason Kenney is his poor understanding of visible minority communities (Lawrence is on a side issue). And his sheer arrogance over him deciding what the challenges they really face in Canada are.
I was so befuddled by his analysis (described as moronic by many present) that I felt prompted to inquire how he developed such an expertise in multiculturalism growing up in Saskatchewan.
It’s no surprise that the vast majority of Conservative support comes from rural ridings and provinces that are far more homogeneous than Ontario, B.C., Quebec, etc. As I pointed out to him, these immigrants he kept referring to do not vote for him or his party.
These guys simply just do not get it.
Omar – I know you are “befuddled” by Kenney’s analysis but I am not typically persuaded by appeals to authority. Forgive me if I’m not persuaded that just because you live in a large urban centre and are involved with minority groups that your argument should automatically be accepted as true. You still have not provided any reason to doubt that language is a significant cause of declining immigrant outcomes and why allegedly increasing racism is. At least in Kenney’s case the trendline (ie more non-english/french speaking immigrants moving to Canada) supports his thesis.
As for Conservatives representing rural areas I think the converse of what you said about them could be applied to you. YOU may not “get it” that a lot of people from conservative ridings are tired of paying for social services and being relentlessly stereotyped as racists.
As someone who has lived in both I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. The overwhelming majority of problems facing all people have an internal and external locus of control. While we are all to some extent constrained by the parameters set by socio-economic forces, much of our outcomes are determined by our individual choices (ie failing to learn the language of commerce of the society in which we live).
I’d prefer to look at this issue rationally than resorting to demagogic cliches like “hes blaming immigrants”.
I think if he just said that I would be perfectly content.
And we would quickly usher in the end of Conservative rule in Canada.
Can you believe this is our Minister of Immigration and Citizenship? What an embarasment to Canada. First with the Arab League fiasco and his cronyist policies, labelling any solidarity with Palestinians as anti-semitism, and now this whole George Galloway further repression of freedom of speech. What is happening to Canada??? I thought freedom of speech was garunteed in the Charter? Guess we were wrong.
I wouldnt be so sure Omar. I see your perpetuating the whole ‘requiring knowledge of English and French is racist’ crap on your own website.
You have a very sad view of this country.
This is exactly why so many people are reluctant to hand over the power to punish racist speech to Human Rights Commissions. When a politician cannot even suggest that basic language skills should be an essential criteria for new immigrants without being accused of racism; the term has been stretched to such ridiculous lengths that it loses the meaning originally attributed to it.
I have no problem with conservatives, but it’s people who misuse public office to push their own political ideologies and bully the public that scares the crap out of me. But what can we do?
You’re right in that we do have very different views of our country.
I recognize and acknowledge that Canada has a very long history of racist (there is no other word for it) immigration policies.
Language skills as a component of a composite score is quite distinct from a clear prerequisite. To be clear, English is my first language, as it was for my ancestors that came to Canada. This is not a personal issue, but an advocacy one that typifies my objections to the current government. Steven, what you can do is voice your opposition to policies you object to. KC, I like the way you bring HRCs into every conversation though.
When racist immigration policies were adopted in the past, they were often done in subtle or round-about ways to deliberately avoid the impression of overt racism.
I see the Minister’s statements as no different in this respect.
I’m an articled student whose intended area of practice is immigration/refugee law. I’ve been working in the field now for several years.
Since minister Kenney took office last year, he’s done more to harm his party’s credibility within the immigration/immigrant community than the often-criticized Diane Finley did during her entire tenure. Kenney seems to be unconcerned as to how immigrant communities in Canada view him, which was not something you would have said about Finley. He seems to have been intentionally chosen as the Anglo white-guy face of Canadian immigration — just in case immigrant Canadians had forgotten who *really* matters to Canada’s New Government. Apparently Kenney is considered to be the Conservative Party’s multiculturalism expert, which shows how unimportant and contemptuous the subject must be to the Conservatives.
All I’ll say on the official languages issue is that it’s a red herring, and as Omar states, the emphasis placed on it by white Canadians is often just a form of encoded racism.
Omar – I have no problem calling a spade a spade or a racist a racist. I recognize that Canada has a history of racist immigration policie (keyword history). My great grandfather payed the Chinese head tax when he moved here so it would be pretty difficult to deny that.
What I object to is a tendancy of some–including yourself and others on this blog–to see a racist behind every corner, to stereotype broad swaths of this country as racist (in the same manner as racists themselves use sterotypes), and to have no problem using the stong and condemnatory term “racist” to impute motive with weak circumstantial evidence. When I see that tendency I am more reluctant to have racial hate laws because clearly the term is being interpreted overly expansively by some people (which is why I brought HRC’s into this).
Canada has a massive queue of immigrants waiting to be approved and the overwhelming majority of whom are not white. “White” immigration is virtually a non-issue in this country. Immigration from Britain, the US, and France (some of the largest “white” countries) are less than 10% of total immigration to Canada. The fact is that introducing language as a prerequsite is not going to change that dynamic in an significant way, and it just may improve the average economic outcomes of those who do move here. If we had more symetric immigration from white and non-white countries you might have a case here but we dont. All this would do is ensure that the immigrants who do move here speak english or french.
The reality is that the overwhelming majority of new Canadians will not be “white” for the foreseeable future and most people, including myself, are more then fine with that. Skin colour is a completely irrelevant consideration for most people (despite your protestations to the contrary). But language isnt skin colour, it IS a relevant consideration when assessing new immigrants, and it is as wrong as racism itself to accuse those who support a language criteria of racism.
KC, After posting here for probably over a year, you’re still anonymous, so I hope you’ll understand why personal anecdotes will be treated with some level of skepticism.
Until you start working with visible minority communities, especially vulnerable populations, on a regular basis, you probably will not realize the pervasive nature of systematic racial discrimination. I’ve made very few public comments about the role of HRCs (I can count them on a hand), so I won’t even go there.
I agree that immigration patterns have changed in terms of ethnic composition. And that is what is the real issue here, not language skills, as Kenney suggests. I never said language cannot be a component of consideration, but Kenney’s statements attributed the challenges of visible minorities to their language and not their appearance, culture, faith, or other factors that all play into workplace discrimination.
Skin color is not irrelevant in Canada.
Meanwhile, American economists are acknowledging that immigration might be the solution to their economic woes,
Kenney is stuck with trying to explain why immigrants to Canada are having a harder time. I guess they learn to speak “American” faster than either of our official languages.
Until we have a greater appreciation by our government of the enormously valuable skills, trade, innovation and culture (to be seen as an asset, not a liability) immigrants bring to Canada, feelings of exclusion will continue to be perpetuated, and the Conservatives will remain the party of rural and homogeneous ridings.
Omar – Why would one forgo anonimity on this blog? One cannot have a viewpoint counter to what I’ve taken to calling the “Osgoode consensus”–that ‘non-whites’ are subjected to brutal racism on a near daily basis by white oppressors that must be addressed with heavy handed state invervention–without being derided as racist himself.
For what its worth I am almost invariably mistaken for being a member of a particular minority group that has had a rougher go of it than any other group since before confederation. My experience has not been as bad as you suggest it is for non-whites.
And given what apparently passes as “racism” in your world I am not prepared to accept your anecdotes about the experiences of individuals of various races (or as you prefer to call them “minority communities”). From what I can gather from you the simple act of refusing to hire an individual because they can barely speak a word of english would constitute “racism”.
It appears that once again we are at loggerheads.
Just FYI, the vast majority of us do not go to Osgoode, and fortunately the highest courts in this country have affirmed the proposition you suggest (without the parody and hyperbole).
But I agree that this is going nowhere anytime fast. I will add that people like Min. Kenney love, and rely upon, the small handful of anecdotal stories that confirm their viewpoint of the world.
Statistically valid polls and rigorous scientific study seem to indicate otherwise.
Although i am upset at what was said I expect nothing else.
Ahh I see this is a one sided view website obviously as you did not allow my comments. Of course everything is racist right? That is obviously the view since you don’t allow diverse opionions. Ow pathetic you are.
Oh my gosh my view was just published so I will try again. Most people here only want to see the view of many immgrants, immigration lawyers etc. One person here is worried about offending immigrants, care how immigrants communities view Kenney etc. All he is asking is that people respect the OFFICIAL LANGUAGES of the land which for the last many years immigrants have not been doing. Many do not try to speak english in public and think it is no big deal, and put signs up that have little respect for English putting it last, in tiny letters or not at all just like they were still in their home country.
well guess what , finally a Canadian politician is standing up for people like me (who have written him by the way expressing my opinion) who feel sidelined in our own country. A country that had a strong English language culture even in the big cities just 15 o so years ago. Australia has been testing the language ability of new immigrants for some time and the immigrants themselves have been more successful than here in Canada and they have a more balanced and diverse source of immigrants from around the world while in Canada to dominate all you have to do is be from one of the most populous countries. I feel this is unfair to my country which needs a strong dose of English skills thanks very much.
Omar;
I have become more cynical of late. You might not even recognize me since we last saw each other.
Is it cynical to believe that this is a half-hearted attempt by Jason Kenney to throw up a trial balloon and see how many holes get punched in it?
I did a little research. It seems that Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC), a national and fairly successful program started in 1992. After an evaluation in 2005, funding was extended to March 31, 2010.
Is it possible that Jason Kenney intends to eliminate LINC funding in 2010 altogether and he’s just getting everyone prepared for that eventuality?
Or have I become far too cynical?
“Kenney was unable to explain how he learned so much about immigrants and visible minorities who face discrimination while growing up in Saskatchewan.”
I’m going to have to call shenanigans on this, Omar. :P
Kenney may have done many things but he did answer that question. He mentioned that he ran the campaign of the first Muslim-Canadian and first Hindu-Canadian to be elected to Parliament. Also, while he was born in Saskatchewan he is an Albertan (as you mentioned in your question). Alberta does, as he pointed out, have a higher percentage of visible minorities in its legislature then any other in Canada. In addition, Alberta has the third highest percentage of visible minorities of all provinces in Canada (behind BC and Ontario).
The bottom line is that Kenney-bashing (good!) should not turn into Western-bashing (bad!). The 4 Western provinces are more diverse then the rest of the Canada after all.
It’s true, Jacob was present as well, though not as thrilled to see me grilling Min. Kenney as the other 4/5 of the room.
He did not answer the question (which we have recorded), because the activities he mentioned were after he took office and in a different province, not what I specified. I specifically asked about Saskatchewan, where he grew up. He was born in Oakville, Ont.
Unfortunately for him, any measures he cited were well after Min. Kenney defected from the Liberals to the Reform Party of Canada, a group that suggested in their 1990 Bluebook, Principles and Policies, that any immigration that altered the ethnic make-up of Canada should be rejected.
They would have opposed, for example, the substantial immigration of Russian Jews to Canada that occurred around this time because it would alter existing proportions of faith, language, and ethnic composition in our country.
They even opposed the notion of multiculturalism or state-funded bilingualism. All an interesting policy background for someone on an immigration and multiculturalism portfolio, trying to emphasize the importance of our national languages (plural).
Patricia Roy explains some of this background in The Fifth Force: Multiculturalism and the English Canadian Identity:
I understand that to Min. Kenney an exotic sounding name like Alykhan Velshi is sufficient to claim exposure to diverse communities, but most minority communities in Canada would claim otherwise. We know that the individuals he mentioned in Alberta were specifically selected because the Reform Party had been accused consistently of blatantly racist views.
I agree that Western (provinces) bashing is not good, but bashing the intolerant policies presented by the party that currently predominates in that region is very healthy for the interests of diversity and tolerance in Canada.
How you like them shenanigans, Jacob? I chose my words for the question quite carefully and deliberately, and he knew what I was getting at, which is why he immediately invoked the opposition. In spite of this, he still referred to us as civil and reasonable, to his credit.
Deb, with this guy anything might be possible.
Louise: I actually think it’s pretty cool to walk down the streets of a Toronto ethnic neighbourhood — be it Little India, Greek Town, Little Italy, Koreatown, or the many others — and see signs that are reflective of those cultures.
We are all the richer for having a diversity of languages and cultures in this country.
The comments here accusing the Reform Party of racism are laughable considering a Poll taken in the late 1980’s showed that Canadians did not think that Immigration should drastically alter the ethnic makeup of Canada. (Please read a book- “The Trouble with Canada”). The Reform Party simply tried to respresent what most Canadians felt in a democratic country unlike the Liberal Party which jammed the policy of Multiculturalism down the throats of Canadians without any vote on the matter. I wonder what you would think if this happened in a “non-white” country, I think some of you would have a totally different opinion. Other countries protect their national identity and culture and no one faults them for it. Those of you here commenting that think you are anti-racist are in fact people whose attitudes are that a nation, a country has no right to an identity. The United Nations says that Genocide is not just an act of killing but to bring about purposely anything to change or destroy a cultural identity which is what has basically happened already to the English Canadian identity. You all would not be saying the same thing about the Tibetans who fight off the cultural domination of the Chinese. Remember the riots in Tibet where the Tibetans attacked Chinese stores? They were the “brave Tibetans.” When the same thing happened in Vancouver 100 years ago it was called racism. People would object if Beijing was to become predominantly European or if an African city became mostly Asian but if England became Asian so be it, right? Yes Canada as a predominantly European country welcomed others and that is good but no one, when the term “Multicultural” was put in the constitution did anyone think it would mean a total destruction one day of the British and French identity of the country that will happen. Cultural Genocide plain and simple.
And no I have not forgot the native people but 2 wrongs do not make a right and our guilt should be directed to them and need not be directed to the population masses in the rest of the world. The white population in this country is supposed to bear the weight and guilt of everything in this country. Can I remind everyone that the Chinese, Japanese, Indians did not mind landing here on land that wasn’t theirs to begin with either without asking an aboriginal permission.
Actually, Taylor, it is easy to find examples of Western countries that have been faulted for showing exclusive behaviour toward immigrants. Your theory that multiculturalism is destroying Canada’s cultural identity is, however, a bizarre fringe theory that could not be backed up with solid evidence even if you tried.
I don’t think it’s fair to attack the Conservatives of outright, intentional racism. What Kenney and the Cons are exhibiting is a subtle shift in ideology with respect to immigration. It’s not clear, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they’re trying to move away from Canada’s “multiculturalism†model and toward a US-style “melting pot.â€
Kenney’s comments imply that immigrants should be more like “us†(i.e. Anglo-Saxon); he is exhibiting a deep-seated fear of what is popularly referred to as “the other.†To implement this fear in the form of policy would be horribly regressive in an immigration system that, while not perfect, is better than most.
(It’s also safe to say that the Cons are only concerned with protecting English Canada, not with Canada’s rich francophone culture, as they have only tried to buy off Québec with all the finesse of broker peddling a subprime mortgage.)
Dylan,
I have no qualms stating that the Reform Party policies identified above are clearly racist, especially when using the broadest form of the term which includes economic and institutional racism.
Nowhere above do I extend this generality to the current Conservative Party of Canada as a whole.
However, the Minister’s statements at UWO were reminiscent of his former Party’s policies, and thus, deeply disturbing.
Wow… hilarious set of arguments from a couple posters here… really, some of you genuinely think that immigrants speaking or making signage in their native languages in public is offensive? Wow. But in all honesty, it is important that ALL Canadians be able to speak our official languages. Both of them. Maybe some other langauges too. I don’t see it as very much to ask.
As much as the Tories immigration policies stink of racism, it’s really something of “gotcha politics” to take that speech and say “look, that’s racism!”. Let’s take a deep breath and think about how to address those systemic issues of racism in a constructive manner, eh?
I agree 100% with Taylor. There is absolutely no reason why we should bend over backwards trying to to ‘offend’ immigrants by suggesting they speak English or French.
Actually, Ryan your theory that multiculturalism is not destroying Canadian cultural identity is quite bizarre to me. How can a culture remain intact when there are multiple (notice how the root of the word is used in MULTIculturalism) cultures are being added, mixed, and appended to it on an ongoing basis? How could it possibly remain the same?
Language is one the the essential ‘fabrics’ of any country, and to have somebody accused of racism for simply bringing up the issue is completely counter productive, and quite immature really.
You might be more interested in looking into the different types of racism before issuing ad hominem attacks.
And here’s a good reason: it’s the law (subject to limits of reasonableness).
And your point still does not address the issue that the Reform Party was one of the worst opponents to government-back French programs across Canada, and yet the same people now claim to champion our national languages.
Let’s hear it for Kenney. It’s about time we slapped visa restrictions on certain countries of origin. This country has been abused and defrauded by too many bogus refugees. Enough is enough.
WP:
Imposing visa restrictions against visitors from a particular country is completely arbitrary and smacks of racism.
If not a violation of the letter of the Charter, it’s certainly a violation of the spirit.
Section 15(1) reads:
National origin is an immutable characteristic. To say “Mexicans seem to make a lot of bogus refugee claims; let’s just ban all Mexicans” is akin to saying “Jews seem to make a lot of bogus refugee claims; let’s not allow Jews into the country.” Or “let’s not allow gays into the country.” Or “let’s not allow Blacks into the country.” etc. etc.
Does that sound acceptable to you?