Albas praised Max Bernier

Dear Editor: Dan Albas once gave Maxime Bernier fulsome praise, calling Bernier’s libertarian approach, “a breath of fresh air, the Conservative party needed.”

So, what about Bernier’s, xenophobia? The idea that white people feel unjustly marginalized is exclusive to conservative populism. Is there room for an antiimmigration party in Canada? Polls suggest 43 percent of Conservatives support less immigration. Does Albas also hold such views? There is common ancestry.

Canada’s much-admired immigration point system was in place long before Stephen Harper arrived.

And, when the Conservatives did get to Ottawa, they were eager to re-make Canada into a distinctly conservative Canada.

In practice, Conservatives never considered Anglo Saxon Canadians just another ethnic group.

Former Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney’s speeches, press releases and his rewriting of Canada’s official citizenship handbook; all attempted to redefine Canada with conservative values; by reinventing white Anglo Saxon as Canada’s “old-stock;” the phrase used by Harper.

Conservatives officially identified Canadian values with British traditions and institutions such as the monarchy; portraying a type of pluralistic, British liberal imperial tradition.

Bernier said, “Diversity brings ghettoization.” This is an old-saw in the multicultural debate. It argues ethnicities congregating in communities.

Yet, turn that argument another way and these different ethnic communities become the vibrant social link and cultural colour that lures tourists, young families and urban professionals to live in city centres, reinvigorating the city’s core.

And, much more importantly these communities spawn the children of immigrants, fully Canadianized; their families now populate the suburban areas surrounding Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary.

Diversity broadens the definition of being Canadian, but diversity views Anglo Saxons as just one of Canada’s ethnic groups; to the chagrin of some Conservatives.

Ever since Harper’s “barbaric tip line” and Kellie Leitch’s values test, Conservatives have been working hard to dispel the xenophobic image. Bernier’s motives for stirring them up again are not clear.

But, one thing is clear he is a talented politician that sees opportunity; a viable target demographic, easily aroused by dog-whistle xenophobic messages.

Canada is not immune to the politics of fear that generates anti-immigration sentiment.

Sensible Canadians must hold tight to the centre ground of reason and actively push back, by always insisting Canada remains open. Immigration does make good sense for the future of such a big country with a relatively small population like Canada. Jon Peter Christoff

West Kelowna