[I am not the only person in Canada who is disappointed to the very edge of despair by the Conservative Government. The legislation Jason Kenney discusses in this email willfully blocks the escape of desperate people from authoritarian regimes, ecological disasters, and poverty. Is it just me or could the tone of the email message below be described as vicious, and snide?]
Hello friends,
As promised our Conservative Government re-introduced legislation last night to combat human smuggling and prevent human smugglers from abusing Canada’s immigration system. With our strong stable national majority Canadians can trust that important legislation like Bill C-4: Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act will not be blocked by out of touch opposition parties. I am proud to be part of a Government that is delivering on its commitments. Please feel free to let me know what you think.
Sincerely,
Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
[My response:
Dear Jason Kenney,
Thank you for requesting my response. I want to be clear that I am very disappointed by the Conservative Government's lack of compassion for refugees. There are in Canada people painted with every colour from the spectrum of racism, but your Government is representing the interests of those from the most bigoted and ignorant terminus of that spectrum. Bill C-4 flows from the confluence of systemic racist privilege and racist panic. It's poison. In my opinion, this fear, which your Government uses to fuel its progress, is delusional and paranoid.
I must assume that your professed pride is a cynical communications tactic, which - among other things, I imagine - makes you seem ignorant to your opponents. Do you imagine it endears you to the working class? Their underestimation of your cunning likely gives you some political leverage. I do not underestimate your cunning. I know you and your colleagues are brutal and want to govern by leaving people helpless and bludgeoning them into humiliated submission. Bill C-4 is one step toward your goal.
How dare you draw upon us as citizens to enable this legislation? How dare you all do this in our names, on this land, to these people? If this continues, you can expect to find more than the power of my voice, but the power of my whole identity, standing in the way of the engines of your supremacy.
I want Canada to be a welcoming and safe sanctuary for people who flee authoritarian government, ecological crises, and poverty elsewhere. It is not a crime to run for your life!
etc.]
