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THE new Liberal government of Canada officially went to work last Wednesday after a traditional swearing-in at Rideau Hall, Ottawa. Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet is a mix of seasoned legislators, fresh politicians, ethnic minorities, Native Canadians, the LGBT community and 50pc women as ministers. And they have a daunting ‘to-do’ list.
With a majority in the House, Trudeau’s agenda of change should not be insurmountable. But several tricky issues from the Liberal election platform were promised immediate attention by Trudeau upon election and voters will be calling those in. Muslims — including Canadians of Pakistani origin — will want prompt attention given to the infamous Bills C-51 and C-24 while immigration organisations will be looking at an urgent road map to facilitate and expedite the applications of Syrian refugees to Canada.
Bills C-51 and C-24 were the turning point for several Muslims in Canada to vote Liberal despite inhibitions against the party. Canadian Muslims, including Pakistani Canadians, are not all fans of Liberal governance which smiles benignly on homosexuality and includes gender studies in junior school curriculum. When Bill C-51 — also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2015 — was adopted by the Harper government in January of this year, the greater evil was put in perspective thus prompting a vote shift.
Harper had forgotten that immigrants are Canada’s strength.
Building upon people’s fear after alleged jihadi-inspired attacks on two Canadian soldiers last October, C-51 became a law guised as Harper’s “commitment to protect Canadians from jihadist terrorists”. Facilitating information-sharing among 17 federal institutions, it gives police and Canadian Security Intelligence Services carte blanche to prevent, detain or restrict terror suspects as, when and how, ie any suspicious Muslim could be hauled in for questioning and end up with a criminal record.
Trudeau’s government has plans in place to roll back the powers given to the CSIS on the premise that the bill disrespects the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Liberal party had voted in favour of passing Bill C-51, a move Trudeau defended later, saying that while the bill was flawed, it was in the interest of Canadians’ security.
Cornered into choosing between a secure Canada and his adherence to the Canadian Charter, he had opted for the former with a firm promise that he would make amends as prime minister — a move Muslim voters will be expecting soon.
After C-51 came Bill C-24 and put a seal on Harper’s rule seen as racist by many. Passed in June this year, C-24 made it legal to revoke Canadian citizenship (of dual citizens) without trial if they were convicted of terrorism, espionage or treason. This legislation created two classes of citizens, giving politicians the power to revoke citizenship. For Canadian Muslims there was real fear that under Harper, this would turn into a witch-hunt.
Trudeau took a vociferous stance against Bill C-24, openly condemning Harper’s right-wing policies and asserting that Canadian citizenship wasn’t a gift to be granted or taken away at the whim of a politician.
Multicultural communities which are an integral part of Canada’s past and future, are now depending upon him to protect them from these discriminatory elements infecting the Canadian fabric. But amendments to Bills C-51 and C-24 will need to follow due process and results can’t be expected overnight.
Some things, though, Trudeau can command right away. A quick parliamentary order can bring the CF-18s home from their bombing missions in Iraq and Syria.
The promise made during the campaign to order the jets back was reiterated by Trudeau after his win. Speaking to Obama, he committed to a “responsible engagement” and Canada’s role in the fight against the self-styled Islamic State, but he asserted the combat mission will end.
Trudeau’s election pledge to process sponsorships and bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of the year is the beginning of Canada’s renewed position on the international scene. However the timeline is almost an impossible challenge for the new Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Minister, John McCallum since the process requires much more than the remaining two months to complete.
The immigration and citizenship laws altered under Harper in several objectionable ways are amongst the ‘real change’ promised by the Liberals. Harper’s restrictive policies on immigration snubbing Muslims and screening the countries where immigrants are taken in from, will need sensitive strategising by Minister McCallum if he wants to maintain his voter base.
Harper had forgotten that immigrants are Canada’s strength. By declaring Islamic terrorism as the biggest security threat to Canada along with an Islamophobic agenda and disrespect of women in niqab and men with beards, he had virtually declared war on Muslims.
Impatient to see Trudeau walk the election talk, the immigrant and Muslim communities are eagerly waiting to see a reversal of Harper’s abuse of Canadian civil liberties.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2015
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