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Candidate’s Call to Save ‘Canadian Values’? Un-Canadian, Critics Say Candidate’s Call to Save ‘Canadian Values’? Un-Canadian, Critics Say
(about 1 hour later)
To Kellie Leitch, one of more than a dozen candidates vying to lead Canada’s Conservative Party, the most pressing issue today is something that some of her critics consider un-Canadian: the need to preserve what she calls “Canadian values” through a more restrictive immigration policy.To Kellie Leitch, one of more than a dozen candidates vying to lead Canada’s Conservative Party, the most pressing issue today is something that some of her critics consider un-Canadian: the need to preserve what she calls “Canadian values” through a more restrictive immigration policy.
Whether she wins the race or not — the position is to be announced on Saturday — she has set off a debate that is not likely to go away.Whether she wins the race or not — the position is to be announced on Saturday — she has set off a debate that is not likely to go away.
Ms. Leitch has proposed screening would-be immigrants to weed out those who lack the values she says characterize Canadian society — in her words, “equality of men and women, freedom of religion, and equality of all under the law.”Ms. Leitch has proposed screening would-be immigrants to weed out those who lack the values she says characterize Canadian society — in her words, “equality of men and women, freedom of religion, and equality of all under the law.”
While other candidates in the race have also adopted variations or portions of the idea that immigration controls need to be tightened, Ms. Leitch’s views have — fairly or not — drawn comparisons to those of Donald J. Trump and Marine Le Pen, in France.While other candidates in the race have also adopted variations or portions of the idea that immigration controls need to be tightened, Ms. Leitch’s views have — fairly or not — drawn comparisons to those of Donald J. Trump and Marine Le Pen, in France.
“People who do not agree with these values will not be allowed into the country,” Ms. Leitch said in a recent interview. “Some people will be turned away.”“People who do not agree with these values will not be allowed into the country,” Ms. Leitch said in a recent interview. “Some people will be turned away.”
Ms. Leitch says that “at the core, it’s about nation building.” But critics say it is about galvanizing anti-immigrant feelings, and they have accused her of using “dog whistle” politics to do so.Ms. Leitch says that “at the core, it’s about nation building.” But critics say it is about galvanizing anti-immigrant feelings, and they have accused her of using “dog whistle” politics to do so.
“We need to build a modern and inclusive Conservative Party that focuses squarely on pocketbook issues that matter to Canadians, and not on issues that pit one Canadian against another,” said Michael Chong, one of her rivals in the Conservative race, in a statement last year criticizing Ms. Leitch’s Canadian values campaign.“We need to build a modern and inclusive Conservative Party that focuses squarely on pocketbook issues that matter to Canadians, and not on issues that pit one Canadian against another,” said Michael Chong, one of her rivals in the Conservative race, in a statement last year criticizing Ms. Leitch’s Canadian values campaign.
For decades, Canada has embraced immigration as a way help its economy grow and to expand the country’s place in the world. In 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party won on strong support for multicultural immigration policies. For decades, Canada has embraced immigration as a way to help its economy grow and to expand the country’s place in the world. In 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party won on strong support for multicultural immigration policies.
Immigration levels for 2016 were raised to 300,000 from 250,000 and kept there for 2017 without any significant national debate. New arrivals now add more than 1 percent to the country’s population each year, one of the highest rates in the industrialized world.Immigration levels for 2016 were raised to 300,000 from 250,000 and kept there for 2017 without any significant national debate. New arrivals now add more than 1 percent to the country’s population each year, one of the highest rates in the industrialized world.
The immigration policy has been broadly embraced by a majority of Canadians. But social scientists say the views expressed by Ms. Leitch could gain traction as the county’s demographic shift accelerates. Some polls show support for a values test like the one Ms. Leitch proposes.The immigration policy has been broadly embraced by a majority of Canadians. But social scientists say the views expressed by Ms. Leitch could gain traction as the county’s demographic shift accelerates. Some polls show support for a values test like the one Ms. Leitch proposes.
“The media establishment is very quick to say that what she is doing is un-Canadian, even though they know that on the ground there are many, many Canadians — in the case of some polls, the majority of Canadians — who agree with her,” said Ricardo Duchesne, a sociology professor at the University of New Brunswick.“The media establishment is very quick to say that what she is doing is un-Canadian, even though they know that on the ground there are many, many Canadians — in the case of some polls, the majority of Canadians — who agree with her,” said Ricardo Duchesne, a sociology professor at the University of New Brunswick.
Ms. Leitch, 46, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who grew up in Manitoba and now represents an Ontario district in Parliament. She has been active in Conservative Party politics since her teenage years and served in two ministerial posts in the government of the Conservative prime minister who preceded Mr. Trudeau, Stephen Harper.Ms. Leitch, 46, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who grew up in Manitoba and now represents an Ontario district in Parliament. She has been active in Conservative Party politics since her teenage years and served in two ministerial posts in the government of the Conservative prime minister who preceded Mr. Trudeau, Stephen Harper.
Her national profile crystallized during the 2015 federal election campaign, when she became her party’s loudest voice opposing the Liberal Party’s stance on immigration. She promised that if her party won, the government would establish an anonymous hotline for reporting forced and underage marriages and practices that had been made illegal by an act of Parliament. Her argument was that members of conservative immigrant communities are otherwise reluctant to go to the police.Her national profile crystallized during the 2015 federal election campaign, when she became her party’s loudest voice opposing the Liberal Party’s stance on immigration. She promised that if her party won, the government would establish an anonymous hotline for reporting forced and underage marriages and practices that had been made illegal by an act of Parliament. Her argument was that members of conservative immigrant communities are otherwise reluctant to go to the police.
The country was already in a heated national debate about the Conservative Party’s effort to prevent a Muslim woman from wearing a face-covering veil while swearing the oath of citizenship, and the hotline idea was quickly attacked as a clumsy election-year stunt meant to appeal to anti-immigration voters. Many people believe those two issues cost the Conservatives the election, and Ms. Leitch later said she regretted making the hotline promise.The country was already in a heated national debate about the Conservative Party’s effort to prevent a Muslim woman from wearing a face-covering veil while swearing the oath of citizenship, and the hotline idea was quickly attacked as a clumsy election-year stunt meant to appeal to anti-immigration voters. Many people believe those two issues cost the Conservatives the election, and Ms. Leitch later said she regretted making the hotline promise.
She has not abandoned her beliefs, however, and now says she is disturbed by immigration targets that are set regardless of immediate economic need and that do not screen out immigrants whose values conflict with Canadian society. As examples, she cites forced marriages, honor killings, genital cutting and other non-Western practices that have made their way into North America from religiously dominated, closed societies around the world.She has not abandoned her beliefs, however, and now says she is disturbed by immigration targets that are set regardless of immediate economic need and that do not screen out immigrants whose values conflict with Canadian society. As examples, she cites forced marriages, honor killings, genital cutting and other non-Western practices that have made their way into North America from religiously dominated, closed societies around the world.
“In Canadian society, men and women are equal, little girls are not forced into marriages,” Ms. Leitch said.“In Canadian society, men and women are equal, little girls are not forced into marriages,” Ms. Leitch said.
Her solution is for immigration officers to include a discussion of Canadian values in interviews with prospective immigrants. People who do not embrace those values, she says, would be turned away. “People coming here should become part of our value set, not try to change it,” she said.Her solution is for immigration officers to include a discussion of Canadian values in interviews with prospective immigrants. People who do not embrace those values, she says, would be turned away. “People coming here should become part of our value set, not try to change it,” she said.
Critics argue that interviewing everyone would be costly and not effective and point out that the practices Ms. Leitch objects to are rare among Canadian immigrants. They suggest that her platform is a veiled effort to slow non-European immigration to protect the country’s northern European heritage. Some have called her a racist.Critics argue that interviewing everyone would be costly and not effective and point out that the practices Ms. Leitch objects to are rare among Canadian immigrants. They suggest that her platform is a veiled effort to slow non-European immigration to protect the country’s northern European heritage. Some have called her a racist.
Critics also argue that values are a private matter and that, in any case, new immigrants and longtime citizens alike must obey the country’s laws.Critics also argue that values are a private matter and that, in any case, new immigrants and longtime citizens alike must obey the country’s laws.
“Some of the concern is that people with the wrong values will not obey the law,” said Jeffrey G. Reitz, a University of Toronto sociology professor. “But the evidence shows that far from being resistant to change, the attitudes and behaviors of these immigrant groups do move toward the mainstream.”“Some of the concern is that people with the wrong values will not obey the law,” said Jeffrey G. Reitz, a University of Toronto sociology professor. “But the evidence shows that far from being resistant to change, the attitudes and behaviors of these immigrant groups do move toward the mainstream.”
Professor Reitz said that while Ms. Leitch’s proposals might resonate with some people, there are practical difficulties in defining values in concrete terms and actually deciding whether a particular person sufficiently conforms with those values.Professor Reitz said that while Ms. Leitch’s proposals might resonate with some people, there are practical difficulties in defining values in concrete terms and actually deciding whether a particular person sufficiently conforms with those values.
He agreed there should be a debate. But he also said Ms. Leitch and her supporters should produce evidence that a significant number of immigrants harbor un-Canadian values, and give specific examples of those that should be screened out in a test.He agreed there should be a debate. But he also said Ms. Leitch and her supporters should produce evidence that a significant number of immigrants harbor un-Canadian values, and give specific examples of those that should be screened out in a test.