A bold move: Kellie Leitch’s strategy could propel her to victory.
It’s popular among many Canadians to dismiss Kellie Leitch’s plan to screen potential immigrants for “anti-Canadian values” as a bad move on her part.
But that’s a big mistake because, in fact, she’s latched on to a strategy that could propel her to victory in the federal Conservative leadership race.
As objectionable as it may be, Leitch is clearly trolling for support among silent Conservative supporters uneasy with widespread immigration, a group that may be much larger than any pollster can measure, especially when it comes to Muslim immigrants.
At the same time, this well-heeled surgeon and federal MP has taken to attacking “self-hating Canadian elites” and “the media and glitterati” who condemn her immigrant screening proposals on such issues as tolerance toward other religions, cultures and sexual orientations.
But it’s not just “elites” and “the media” who are dismayed by Leitch’s plan. Many in her own party are opposed, as are tens of thousands of Canadians helping to sponsor Syrian refugees.
My full realization that Leitch is on a winning roll with her proposal and subsequent assaults on “elites” came during a visit last week to England, which is still reeling in the wake of the Brexit referendum two months ago when voters stunned political pundits and betting shops by opting to leave the European Union.
In Oxford and Portsmouth, welleducated middle-income people, the type of voters I thought would see the advantages of being closely linked with other European nations, talked to me about why they voted to leave the EU.
Their main reason? Too many immigrants in recent years from the continent, many of whom they felt didn’t want to “be British,” who didn’t respect “British culture” and “British traditions,” and who could be potential terrorists.
They also wanted to “send a message” to the political elite in London, who they felt ignored their concerns about immigrants working in jobs that once were filled by old-stock Brits.
An Oxford resident took me to a traditional English tea room staffed entirely with immigrants from eastern Europe. “You wouldn’t see any immigrants working in such shops 20 years ago,” he said, adding that “the place isn’t the same any more.”
Similar anti-immigrant sentiments are rampant across Europe and are altering the political landscape from Greece to Germany, France and on to the United Kingdom.
The same xenophobia is a driving force behind Donald Trump’s campaign for the U.S. presidency, with his rallies fuelled by crowds roaring their approval whenever he vows to build a towering wall along the Mexican border to stop illegal immigrants.
In Europe, countries such as Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria are fed up with other nations demanding they take in more refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria. Greeks are trying to prevent migrant children from attending schools with their sons and daughters and talk about “a different look” now in Greek schools.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is under intense pressure to close the country’s open-door policy. In recent weeks, political parties espousing get-tough policies toward immigrants have fared extremely well in local elections. It’s the same in France.
In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban is stirring up anti-immigrant hatred by championing a referen- dum on Sunday on whether to let the EU set quotas on how many refugees Hungary should accept. He has called immigrants “poison.”
This is the ugly path that Leitch has decided to follow, one of divisiveness and fear.
But don’t be fooled or cavalierly dismiss her plan as appealing only to a fringe group of Canadians.
The lone public poll on Leitch’s proposal found 67 per cent of Canadians, including 87 per cent of Tory voters, like the idea of screening newcomers for “anti-Canadian values.” The Forum Research poll for the Star also found 57 per cent of Liberals and 59 per cent of New Democrats like it.
What many of those surveyed may not have known, though, is that potential immigrants are already heavily screened, their backgrounds checked for security risks, criminal records and those with major health and financial problems.
Still, Leitch has guts and isn’t afraid to play dirty.
This is why fair-minded Canadians, both inside and outside the Conservative party, need to act firmly. They must put forth a convincing counter-argument to Leitch’s crass political pandering, explaining why such “tests” are unnecessary and indeed why they are “anti-Canadian.”
For decades Canada has prided itself on being an inclusive society. If Leitch’s strategy succeeds, our reputation as a tolerant society will be at risk.
For proof, just look at what’s happening now in England, the U.S. and across Europe.