The Ethnic Vote

Little wonder at the rate that immigration continues into Canada - a half-million temporary and permanent residents yearly - that new immigrants and visible minorities now comprise almost a quarter of the electorate. In areas around Toronto that figure rises as high as 40%. and it will only rise increasingly as time goes on, even if there is a reduction in immigration.

So it follows that politicians take careful note of ethnic groups and their presumed voting blocs. Which can sometimes lead to fairly controversial situations. Immigrants are necessary for the lifeblood of the country, and an increasingly visible phenomenon everywhere in the West, as a result of greater numbers of refugees fleeing their countries of origin, and even greater numbers of people wishing to relocate to advance themselves.

Europe and North America are often equated with aspirational advances in opportunities for better educations and earnings, more relaxed and less repressive political and social/religious situations, attracting the attention of people living in countries where societal advances are constrained by the types of government they live under, and where employment is scarcer, and populations denser.

There are also groups of people fleeing persecution due to ideology, religion or ethnicity. And people invariably bring with them their recollections of misery, their resentments, their biases and their searing memories, along with their customs and expectations for the future. Canada is sometimes used as a base from which to launch opposition abroad in various countries of origin, as an unfortunate result.

So Sikh and Tamil separatists, and Muslim sects with their antipathies to one another and to their perceived enemies bring along their historical and still-simmering problems. Infecting and affecting the larger population within Canada to some degree. In some instances causing problems of internal security as well as causing problems through funding militias and terror groups abroad.

Seeking political advantage by attempting to impress ethnic groups that one party or another is more sympathetic or enabling to their aspirations can be a minefield. When Liberal politicians were supportive of Tamil groups themselves supporting the Tamil Tigers, or Sikh separatist groups who fomented problems abroad and terror at home, and Arab groups seeking to divide Canadian opinion on foreign matters, morals and ethics were soiled.

It was traditionally the Liberal party and to a lesser degree the NDP who were seen as champions of the immigrant population. Increasingly that traditional mutual affinity has begun to dissolve, and the Conservatives are now picking up ethnic votes in various communities. Leading to situations where each political party is now carefully picking apart the scenarios presented when incautious politicians leave themselves open to damning scrutiny.

Which is a shame, actually. Because in fact, in an egalitarian, pluralist society, most particularly one that prides itself on its heritage of immigration, all Canadians should be viewed as equal, none needing special attention to persuade them that a particular political party is more in tune with their needs, since no groups should have 'special' needs to begin with.

Is that too much to hope for?