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Dec.5 - Dec.12, 2004 |
Debating validity of multiculturalism
Minister of Immigration Judy Sgro and Heritage Minister Liza Frulla look at Canada's future
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2004-11-21
Canada, land of opportunities for all, but also land of contradictions that, if left unchecked, could bring about serious consequences in this country's social fabric. What is Canada? Who are the Canadians?
These questions become pressing now that cultural diversity, once a mere definition used for electoral purposes, becomes an element of embarrassing debate, touching the neuralgic centres of political and economic power.
Other challenges come from the outside.
New technologies force us to confront new international cultural realities that the obsolete CRTC cannot clumsily contain any longer.
The situation will only grow even more serious due to the increasing need for immigrant labour: without new immigrants, Canada will wilt and be absorbed by the United States. Among so many doubts, this is certain.
However, there are additional questions, two in particular: first, where would these new Canadians come from? Second, after landing in Canada, which culture will they have to confront, conform to or conflict with?
As a consequence, the two most important Ministries for Canada's future are Immigration, i.e. the gate that will let new Canadians in, and Heritage, i.e. the Ministry that will tell us what we Canadians will be like in the coming years.
Canada, we said, is a land of great opportunity, as it is rich in primary resources with a lot of available space, constantly developing economically also thanks to its proximity to the world's largest consumer market, the USA.
Our country has the capability of absorbing fresh labour and the capability, or better yet, the need to increase its population. It is also a land of great contradictions. Despite that need, it cannot make the quota it sets for new arrivals. Many applicants are refused admission, or forced to wait so long that they give up.
At the same time, there are in Canada between 150,000 and 200,000 illegal immigrants, many of whom are integrated in society, working illegally, with no assistance but paying no taxes. Billions of dollars get lost every year. The unions ask for more labour, but people have a hard time coming to Canada, as the point system favours those who speak the official languages and not those who know how to build houses. "As if immigrants come to Canada," said a union official some time ago, "to lecture at universities instead of working, e.g., in construction." In short, our birthrate is low, but population keeps growing.
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