Read the following articles... it shows that Canadian Government promote multiculturalism either on papers or among Canadian Labor force but not in the Canadian Government System… it is a matter of shame for all of us…

Bit long but worth reading and an eye opener..

Thanks and regards.
Biomed

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Our invisible minorities
As politicians feverishly seek out political support from ethnic minorities, it is striking that they fail to seek out these sam


SHARON FERNANDEZ

In his May visit to Canada this year, the Aga Khan commented, "Canada is admirably positioned to share with the developing world her experience in humane governance to support pluralism." Unfortunately, this perspective doesn't stand up to the scrutiny of structural and cultural realities of pluralistic power sharing at home.

As politicians feverishly seek out political support from ethnic minorities in larger cities, it is striking that they fail to seek out these same people to run Canada's boards and commissions. This case in point is the influential area of Cabinet appointments to agencies, boards and commissions.

The visible minority demographic is 13.4 per cent (2001 census). Yet, at this powerful federal leadership level, they are relatively non-existent. Or, you could say governance is non-plural or perennially bicultural.

All the while in several ridings in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, visible minorities make up the majority of constituents.

If we look at a sampling of the approximately 170 federal agencies, boards and commissions, using survey standards of 10 per cent, it would tell a rather exclusive story. In fact, as far as one can tell, the following agencies conspicuously have zero representation of visible minorities.

In culture agencies such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Canadian Museum of Civilization and the National Gallery.

The same goes for commercial agencies such as the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, Copyright Board of Canada, Competition Tribunal and the Industry Task Force on Spamming.

Ditto for the Human Rights Commission, RCMP Senior Commissioners and External Review Committee, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the National Capital Commission.

The Public Policy Forum's February 2004 report on Governor-in-Council Appointments Reform states: "According to the December 2000 report by the Auditor-General of Canada, the government has improved the gender balance and geographic representation on boards of directors but there is no standard process to promote greater diversity in appointments."

The Spence Stuart/Rotman Report found that all boards in Canada have only 1.7 per cent visible minority representation.

Recently, many studies profiled in the media have shown that Canada has as much work to do as the rest of the world in realizing its potential for pluralism.

The subtle tokenism of inclusion when scrutinized by research exposes that while visible minorities accounted for one-third of economic growth in the past 10 years, they earned 11 per cent less than the Canadian average in 1991. This gap grew to 14.5 per cent in 2000 and is predicted to deepen (Conference Board of Canada-2004 report: Making A Visible Difference).

StatsCan's September, 2003, Ethnic Diversity Survey reports that almost one-third of black Canadians say they have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment in the past five years. The report showed blacks earned about $6,000 less on average than other Canadians in 2000.

The 2002-03 Annual Report on Employment Equity in the federal public service indicates that progress is slowest for visible minorities who number some 7.4 per cent of the overall public service. Only 4.2 per cent are in senior management and only one is a deputy minister. The visible minority national labour market availability is 12.7 per cent and in cities where 87 per cent of Canadians live, their presence is between 35 to 50 per cent and growing.

It's not that the federal government cannot do better. There are a few good examples. The Canada Council for the Arts and the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Cities both have about one-third of their membership from visible minority and aboriginal backgrounds.

Visit any hospital, university or high-tech company and you will see legions of highly qualified minorities. Why do successive cabinets have such a hard time finding them for federal agencies?

The Aga Khan is right in stating that embracing pluralism builds security and peace. But I suggest that before we "send our pluralism `experts' around the world," as he recommends, perhaps we could use them in Ottawa so that by 2005 one-third of all appointees to agencies, boards and commissions will be either visible minority or aboriginal "to promote humane governance to support pluralism" at home.

If parties believe that public agencies should be run by boards that reflect the public, they should start working hard toward that goal.

It is not bizarre, as some opinion-makers have said, to want equitable visible minority and aboriginal representation; it is merely democracy in practice.

If a post-election cabinet casts a wider net than it has in the past, it is likely to find even more people who are well-qualified for the positions.

Like any corporate objective, if you do not identify the problem and set targets, nothing will get achieved.
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Give racial minorities a voice
Political leaders are ignoring one-fifth of Canadians By Avvy Go





With less than two weeks to go before the federal election, almost every conceivable issue that is of relevance in this election seems to have been raised by the political parties and covered by the mainstream media.

From health care to taxation, and from abortion to equal marriage, the battlegrounds have been drawn over the parties' positions as to the defining values of our country and our government's obligation to honour these values. Any promise that can be made to improve our way of life seems to have been made by all the candidates.

Conspicuously missing from the litany of pre-election promises is the promise to improve the lives of racial minorities in our country. The omission of this pledge is particularly puzzling given that one out of every five Canadians falls under the "visible minority" category, according to the latest census.

There are those who may suggest the absence of any mention of racial minorities can be explained by the fact that Canada is by definition multicultural, and that Canadians embrace diversity as a fact of life.

As a result, racial minorities need not worry since their needs are well taken care of under the rubric of multiculturalism.

If that were true, however, there would not be so many studies which show that racial minorities continue to experience systemic discrimination in Canada's social, political and economic institutions.

Multiculturalism also seems to have failed to protect African Canadians, Canadians of Arab and South Asian descent and those of Muslim faith from becoming targets of racial profiling. Similarly, diversity is no protective shield for immigrants and refugees who continue to serve as convenient scapegoats for our social woes.

Racial profiling, employment equity, as well as a fair immigration and refugee policy: these are but some issues that affect the racialized and immigrant communities, and yet neither the major political parties nor the media seem to be giving them any air time, let alone addressing these issues head on.

The level of disinterest concerning issues affecting immigrants and refugees is most evident among the two parties leading in the poll. With the exception of the issue of foreign-trained professionals, neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have offered any concrete plan on how to deal with critical issues such as family reunification, settlement programs and language training for newcomers.

If anything, the Conservatives' platform seems to reinforce xenophobia as it proposes to enhance deportation of immigrants as a way of protecting our national security.

Its proposal to let the Parliament — and not the court — interpret the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms also presents a grave danger to all minority groups, who need an independent arbiter to protect them from the tyranny of the majority.

Regrettably, the growing number of racial minorities has yet to lead to a corresponding growth in the political power of these communities in Canada.

The reasons for the relatively low political participation among racialized communities are many; some historical, others contemporary.

Take the Chinese Canadian community as an example. At 1 million strong, it is now the largest "ethnic" community in Canada. Yet the number of elected officials of Chinese descent at the federal level can be counted with one hand. Considering the fact that Chinese immigrants were subject to over six decades of racism as a result of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act, and that Chinese were not allowed to vote in Canada until 1947, it is perhaps understandable why many Chinese Canadians are reluctant to express their political views. Given that the Canadian government has yet to acknowledge the past injustice toward this community, one cannot expect all Chinese Canadians to believe that they have an equal say in the political future of this country.

The under-representation of minority candidates is another reason why many people of colour do not feel welcome in the political process.

As well, the requirement that one must be a Canadian citizen in order to vote automatically disentitles many new immigrants — most of whom are persons of colour — from the process altogether. While there are some legitimate reasons why these requirements are put in place, they do present a barrier to political participation for immigrants and refugees.

Landed immigrants who were British subjects used to have a right to vote in municipal and provincial elections in Canada. That was changed in the '80s for the right reason but with a wrong solution. Instead of extending that right to all landed immigrants, the government simply took away the voting power from the British subjects.

As the countdown to June 28 continues, we cannot expect to find the solution to lift all the barriers to political participation by racial minorities. What we could do, however, is to try to make sure that their issues are not being ignored by our political leaders. The responsibility thus falls on each and everyone of us to challenge all the political parties and their candidates to deliver — not just promise — on a plan to make Canada a place that is truly free from racial discrimination.

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

Don't agree Bio. Of all western nations, Canada is probably one that promotes multiculturalism more than any other.

Yes, there may still be barriers to minorities getting into the political system, but can't expect changes overnight. The fact of the matter is that the political landscape is changing for the better for minorities already and it will change a lot in the future.

Those who live in Canada should be able to see the different colors of the society on the street and the malls itself, I don't agree that this stuff exists only on paper. I've been to many countries, I've never seen so many races live in such harmony, have to give Canada credit for that.

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Orginally posted by BlueLobster

Yes, there may still be barriers to minorities getting into the political system, but can't expect changes overnight. The fact of the matter is that the political landscape is changing for the better for minorities already and it will change a lot in the future.

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

You have to understand that the world in the last millenium and the world today are two very different places. Concepts of immigrant participation in politics was unheard of in the early 1900's, slavery was still rampant. Chinese and Indians 150 years ago didn't arrive as software engineers or doctors, they came as labourers.

Before considering the 150 year mark a starting point, let's not forget that until about 50 years back, Indians could not be politicians even in India.

Any movement needs critical mass to make that huge leap and believe it or not, now is the time of that critical mass as far as immgration goes in Canada. The changes that will come through in the next 10 years will far surpass those that have come through in the last 150 years.

Important to bear that context in mind while focusing on this.

And I don't get what you mean by "implementing multiculturalism". Do you think the govt. should forcibly appoint minority politicians, something like the reservation system we have in India? Would you be proud of a minority leader who got elected because of a quota?

I'd rather immigrants move themselves forward instead of waiting for a push from the govt. And I can see that happening here right now very clearly. Sure, there will be barriers, but they'll make the achievements that much more commendable.

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