Unity: the state of being united or joined as a whole.
Diversification: the action of making or becoming more diverse or varied
While Maxime Bernier’s choice of words may be a little grating in spots (for example, “where do we draw the line….on diversity”) there is truth in his message. It seems MP Bernier is saying “unity is our strength, not diversity”; or, even “unity is our strength, not economic diversification.”
On the other hand, PM Trudeau’s “diversity is our strength” message seems to be interpreted by some immigrant communities as implied consent to treat Canada as a diversified offshore investment to withdraw from and visit. For example, the Canada Border Services Agency laid over 450 charges – in PEI alone – against immigrants fraudulently abusing Canada’s business start up program last week.
PM Trudeau’s “diversity is our strength” argument prioritizes an economic view of Canada: diversify a population for planting around the world to safely invest in Canada’s future financial prosperity.
The other approach, seemingly Maxime Bernier’s, prioritizes a Western democratic freedoms and principals view of Canada. A Canada with heart again. Prosperity will follow if all Canadians regardless of their colour, religion, sex are working to achieve the same goal of a happy, united Canadian future.
It seems that Andrew Scheer and some Conservative Shadow Cabinet members are looking for factual examples of a so-called balkanization or tribalism happening in Canada. Here are just a few examples from my one person view of Canada:
- In British Columbia, within the last year, Canadian national networks reported:
- an Asian cab company in Richmond was refusing to pick up “Westerners”. There were no repercussions.
- An Asian landlord would not rent to “whites” . Again, there were no repercussions.
- An Asian condo owner openly flaunted Canadian the law by renting out her condo as a hostel. She thumbed her nose at her neighbours, the City of North Vancouver, the Civil Rights Tribunal, and the BC Supreme Court. After a period of years, the City is finally taking her to court.
- In the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa:
- CTV News reported, in a carefully crafted way, making it appear to be a nice and needed undertaking, that a Muslim family will only adopt Muslim children. No government authority has spoken out against this discrimination by Muslims against other Canadians in need.
- M103 was approved in our Canadian parliament highlighting and singling out special protections for Muslims. This is contrary to Stats Can evidence that Jewish Canadians and African Canadians are the most discriminated against. This was an endorsement of tribalism although it was crafted to appear otherwise.
- There is at least one Muslim only rental building. Not only are there no repercussions for this discrimination, it is endorsed and subsidized by the Canadian government
Canada is not an offshore bank account that needs to protect itself with economic “diversity.” We need to unite as a country again, and hold everyone, no exceptions, to the principals of Western democratic freedoms.