SANCTUARY SYMBOLISM
Good for Mayor Naheed Nenshi for expressing reservations about declaring Calgary a so-called sanctuary city. The designation is becoming increasingly popular as civic politicians respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order intended to limit travel to America by citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations.
The idea is that refugees and immigrants are welcomed in the city irrespective of their situation, giving undocumented migrants complete access to city services. It’s a heartfelt gesture, but our leaders should be wary of sending a message to people illegally living in the United States that they’re welcome to come to Canada without any vetting.
It’s not hard to imagine that along with honest, hardworking individuals, a few undesirables would seize upon the opportunity to cross the border, too. The job of responding to foreigners leery of Trump’s determination to strengthen his country’s borders isn’t the concern of mayors and councillors who want to make themselves look good — it’s a federal responsibility.
Not only does the cities’ unauthorized invitation pose a threat to Canadian security, it could lead to undocumented migrants forming unrealistic expectations about the fashion in which they’ll be greeted.
Luckily, Nenshi isn’t rushing to embrace the fad that has swept up decision-makers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, among other cities. “It strikes me as a very symbolic thing to do without a lot of meaning behind it,” Nenshi said earlier this week. “I’m not one for symbolism for the sake of symbolism.”
The mayor’s instincts serve him — and Canadians — well. It isn’t the job of civic politicians to poke their nose into the business of other levels of government. They’ve enough to worry about, given the challenge of balancing affordable taxes with the provision of first-rate municipal services. Besides, Calgary is the epitome of a sanctuary city. From its earliest days, the community has greeted newcomers with trademark warmth and generosity. Its citizens have provided a nurturing home for people struggling to get back on their feet, most recently with the reception of hundreds of Syrian refugees.
We should continue to offer our compassion and resources to those in genuine need, not those of means who simply heed the bleating of civic politicians intent on playing upon the public’s sympathies.
Calgary proves itself to be a sanctuary city in tangible ways, as the mayor suggests, not with mean-nothing titles with unproven results, and which threaten to cause chaos on our border. Let’s continue to step up and help the vulnerable in real ways, not in imaginary ones.