Frail Alliances

How inconveniently unfortunate to have a former president of the Liberal Party of Canada write a triumphantly displayed opinion piece on the editorial page of one of Canada's premier national newspapers, denouncing the loser-status of his one-time party, and arguing that it is due for a political drubbing. And how precisely that position reflects the thoughts of many among the voting public.

However, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, blithely shrugs it off, advises his supporters to "ignore" the unsolicited, embarrassing, nuisance opinion of Stephen LeDrew. Well they may, but it will have most certainly accomplished some measure of damage to an already faltering campaign. Which began on an awkward footing with the much-vaunted, now damped-down "Green Shift" and a lawsuit.

The excessive promises lavishly sprinkled here and there by the Liberal Party on the campaign trail, amounting to a truly outlandish expenditure of the public trust has certainly not enhanced the electoral position of the once-natural-governing party of Canada. But where there's life, there's hope, as that tired old saying goes. And Stephane Dion soldiers bravely on.

On the other hand, Mr. Dion exudes confidence in himself in his intellectual capacity, his governing promise, his and his party's sterling platform geared to rescue Canada from the greasy grip of the Conservative Party. He trusts himself, even if his own party insiders now wince at the prospect of his continuing leadership. Challengers position themselves carefully in the background of this election.

And what's the latest promise from Mr. Dion? Why an investiture of time, care and taxpayer funding for the purpose of offering protection to ethnic and religious institutions, synagogues, mosques, temples, community centres and parochial schools. Mr. Dion unveiled his "communities-at-risk" program to great fanfare, the protector of the vulnerable in society.

Bear in mind that it was the Liberal Party of Canada that institutionalized the concept of Multiculturalism, the kind of multiculturalism that ensured ethnic, traditional, cultural, religious separation. That ensured various groups in Canadian society whose allegiance to clan, tribe and religion set them apart from the mainstream, and saw, through government's encouragement, no need to integrate.

Rather than recognize their uniqueness of the past as possibly complementary to full integration into the Canadian social fabric, reflecting the mainstream, they saw official encouragement to remain apart. And in remaining apart in their little respective ghettos of the mind, they ignored the presence of others instead of becoming familiar with and accepting of differences and celebrating multiplicity.

Those same diverse groups, under these circumstances, felt completely free to celebrate their differences, to hold themselves separate and apart, and to import ancient grievances from their countries of origin against other traditions, cultures and religions with whom they now shared citizenship in a new country. Canadian culture, society's values and customs meant little to them.

Settling in Canada, for a great many people, became a choice harbour of safety, another option, in a sea of international uncertainty. There was no need to honour Canada, no need to invest loyalty, to waste emotional pride in it. Citizenship ensured haven, and with dual citizenship passports in hand, many returned to their original homes, returning to Canada temporarily, only to take advantage of the "free" social welfare benefits.

Much has been said of talented and educated professionals coming to Canada under the belief that their professional credentials from abroad will be honoured and they will be able to immediately plunge into practise here without the inconvenience of having to demonstrate professionalism up to Canadian standards. Yet so many of those whose hopes for accreditation languish in despair, have left their countries of origin because of crises that imperilled their well being.

New statistics recently issued reflect the fact that children of immigrants are far more likely to graduate from a Canadian university than their non-immigrant counterparts. Those from South-east Asia are hugely more likely to graduate; those from African and Hispanic-speaking countries, far less likely. It is culturally determined; academic virtues recognized by Asians and Indians, far less valued by Africans.

The desecration of ethnic cemeteries, fire-bombing of religious parochial schools and community centres does not take place in a social vacuum. Create the environment for social-cultural separation, make it official, encourage separation, and the country sees social Balkanization, not coherence.