Multiculturalism in Canada
20 November 2010
3 Comments
Canada
Islamophobia may be on the rise in the US, but has Canada set a different example by electing its first Muslim mayor?
Riz Khan
With Islamophobia on the rise in the US and Europe, has Canada set a different example by electing that country’s first ever Muslim mayor?
Thirty-eight-year-old Naheed Nenshi, a Harvard-educated professor of Indian descent, won in the western city of Calgary, considered to be Canada’s conservative bastion.
Many say his victory is a testament to the country’s commitment to multiculturalism that encourages immigrants to both preserve their ethnic roots and embrace their Canadian identity.
But critics say the multicultural model actually makes it tougher – not easier – for new Canadians to integrate into mainstream society.
On Thursday, we will be discussing these issues with Mayor Nenshi as well as writer and activist Tarek Fatah, who believes multiculturalism has been a stumbling block for immigrants in Canada.
You can join the conversation with your questions and comments. Watch the show live on Thursday November 18, at 1630 GMT. Repeats air at 2030 GMT, and the next day at 0130 GMT.
Original post: Multiculturalism in Canada
…Not to be rude, but I believe the US has already elected a few Muslim mayors (the first one was back in the 1990’s, according to this article: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/09/nation/la-na-muslim-mayor-20100910), so I don’t think we can say that electing a Muslim mayor is a sign of multiculturalism or a lack of Islamophobia. Especially since the province of Quebec is currently debating Bill 94, which would “require citizens to uncover their faces when giving or receiving government services, whether in hospitals, schools, day-care centres, universities, social services or government offices,” which as we’ve seen, tends to be aimed at niqab-wearing women (Here’s more about it: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Secularism+treats+faiths+unequally+experts/3859344/story.html). So while electing the first-Muslim mayor is fantastic, I’m not sure it means everything is hunky-dory up in Canada with regards to Islamophobia.
21 November 2010 at 12:53 am