Multicultural Must Read: The Challenge of Diversity

Every day MIREMS consultants are reading, watching and listening to Canada's multilingual and multicultural media. Today we bring you two must-read stories on the challenges facing Canada's multicultural identity.

What is Trudeau doing about the gun laws and refugees escaping from US into our country?

Opinion article in Vancouver's South Asian English Darpan Magazine

Summary: "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined mourners at the funeral for Reese Fallon, the 18-year-old woman who was one of two people killed in a shooting rampage last weekend in Toronto. I would imagine that his personal security was very tight. What about Canadian citizens' security? They are getting shot left and right every day. What is he doing about the gun laws and refugees escaping from the US into our country every day? We need to do things that work on a practical level, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has to look at things from an economic point of view. We need to look at refugees, all prospective immigrants, from a fair, unbiased, non-racist perspective—not like Trudeau is doing right now. I strongly believe the best weapon to fight radicalization in Canada is to fight racism against our Muslim citizens; racism that could isolate this community and create a cohort of disaffected youth who may, as a result, look to more radical elements of the faith," the author says.

Canadian hate crimes against Muslims on the rise

Radio story from Voice of America in Washington

Translated Summary: "Statistics Canada said incidents targeting Muslims drove a rise in hate crimes. Police reports show that hate crimes against Muslims are increasing in an alarming pattern. Each year, hundreds of Muslims suffer hate crimes, according to police data. Many examples can be mentioned, including the Quebec City mosque shooting that left six men dead and injured. Alexander Bissonnette was an unrepentant killer who had carefully planned his attack over weeks as he scoured the internet to feed his resentment of immigrants and Muslims and his fascination with firearms and mass murderers. Bissonnette told a prison social worker that he regretted not having killed more people at the mosque. Many other incidents were the result of rallies and demonstrations organized by far-right groups and white supremacist leaders. The data only covers criminal incidents that are found by police upon investigation to have been motivated by hate against Muslims. This likely leads to an under-reporting of the true extent of hate crime in Canada, as victims aren’t always willing to come forward, or police may not have the expertise or resources to identify the crime. The federal government is trying to curb anti-Muslim sentiment, but there is no national strategy to address the issue."

Thirty years after Canada's Multiculturalism Act, international pressures and internal shifts are straining the harmony of Canada's "cultural mosaic." Is enough being done to preserve this integral part of Canada's identity and ensure diversity empowers Canadians?