By Pepper Parr
September 20th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada is in the process of accepting tens of thousands of immigrants.
That is a decision the federal government has made.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeting Syrian refugees at the airport and handing out winter coats for the children.
The Prime Minister has in the past been at the airport with winter coats for people who were not prepared for the cold Canadian winters.
The federal government has argued that we need these immigrants to become part of our work force.
And so they arrive and as Canadians we welcome them.
Well not all of you are welcoming them but they are here and they want to have an impact; they want influence and they have every right to want an impact and have influence.
Shaheryar Mian is seeking the nomination as the Conservative candidate for Burlington.
This short video – less than a minute – has name and his father at a Muslim event. The speaker asks that voters consider Shaheryar Mian as a candidate. He can be seen on the right of the video with his father, a successful Burlington developer on the left.
The fear I have is that I think we are beginning to see new levels of Xenophobia – a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
We have seen this before and it is ugly. We are seeing just this now south of our border.
Tens of thousands? Millions! It’s out of proportion and out of control. It is not xenophobic to observe that or point it out.
In response to Anne and Dave Marsden about anti-semitism in schools and hoping to “nip it in the bud”
Some school boards are complicit.
“On September 18, a disturbing incident occurred when Toronto District School Board (TDSB) educators and students attending a rally, originally designed to shed light on the Indigenous community’s effort to address mercury contamination, were instead exposed to antisemitic chants about Israeli “occupation”.
In the current climate, where rallies regularly descend into hateful rhetoric, faculty should have appropriately vetted the program and understood they were putting students in harm’s way.
Parents rightfully expressed concerns that remained unaddressed in advance of the sanctioned trip. TDSB should have had a plan in place to ensure students were not forced to listen to hateful chants or, in some cases, even march along with those spewing hate.
While we all support the rights of all groups to protest their cause peacefully, educators, schools, and school boards must keep students safe from exposure to toxic ideologies meant to incite hate.
Once again, we find ourselves having to engage with the TDSB on keeping geopolitical issues out of our children’s education.
This issue is not limited solely to the TDSB. The Minister of Education also bears responsibility in this and must ensure all school boards adhere to the inclusivity policy. Failing that, the minister must intervene to restore order and protect the safety and well-being of the school community, including students, educators and staff. ”
We need your help. By submitting an email to the TDSB (tdsb.on.ca) indicating this is not okay.
I would suggest that the vast majority of Burlington residents are not xenophobic and I agree with the sentiments of Blair, Marshall and Daintry.
Surely people can have reasonable reasons why they may be opposed to Mian getting the nomination for the Burlington Conservative riding, or that they instead support a different candidate, and these have nothing to do with race.
It concerns me that anyone would be suggesting that race is the issue. For those who do support Mian, would we suggest that since they therefore aren’t supporting Emily Brown, then they must be sexist? Surely not – that would be unfair and inaccurate.
In this case I believe your fear is unfounded having met the man and a direct comparison to our southern neighbour both uncalled for and unjustifiable.
While this might seem contradictory my view is that Canadians too often holier than thou self-image of our countries psyche is disturbing.
There are many past and current examples of racism from my home province of Quebec as example, however the ongoing cross country “tolerated” hate being demonstrated daily towards our domestic Jewish community stands out. Another example is the long-term systemic indifference from both levels of senior government towards our disadvantaged often challenged citizens is another.
Hear, hear to the sentiments of Ms. Klein! Xenophobia growing in Burlington – I hope not and I sincerely doubt that it is so. After all, we have had candidates from all racial and geographic spectrums in Burlington before and at all government levels. Granted, those who were successful seem to be predominantly of one genetic profile. Still, I remain both doubtful of wrongful intent and hopeful of good intentions.
What I do know, however, is that it is very difficult to express concerns over a candidate that is ‘of race’ or of a different cultural background without waking the righteous wrath of “the woke folk”. Indeed, there is a south-of-the-border resonance here – the McCarthy movement of the 1950’s. I am frankly soul-weary of the inability to judge a person on their merits if they are not white etc. and that judgement is critical in any way. I am equally fatigued by the long-observed tendency to diminish my culture and background in a misguided effort to respect and celebrate the cultures and backgrounds of others! Please, it is Christmas folks – not “the Holidays”. I believe in the intent, dynamics and fundamental decency of the ‘Vertical Mosaic’. It is the foundation of the Canadian identity. I fear that we are losing sight of how powerful and unique that identity has been and should continue to be.
I would suggest that Mr. Mian is not a suitable Conservative candidate based on his previous Mississauga or Brampton residence and support of the Liberal Party as outlined in the Gazette article September 18th. He appears to be switching parties and trying to get into government thinking that he could ride on the potential Conservative sweep. I doubt whether he cares what riding he represents.
To suggest that opposition to him is xenophobia is not fair to the Burlington residents.
May the best candidate for the role win based on their qualifications, experience and commitment to the community of constituents they will serve in public office.