As Canadians, we are a proud
people who hold our values very highly and care about the image we create of
ourselves to the rest of the world.
Because of this, Canadians with influence and fame have a responsibility
to remain accountable for what they say and the ideas that they represent.
David Suzuki, is one such Canadian with influence and fame, and with this comes
people who will listen and follow his example.
David Suzuki’s recent remarks regarding immigration were poorly thought
out and reactionary. David Suzuki makes
the mistake of taking a polarizing stance in order to gain attention and
support. David Suzuki does this without
presenting any evidence, and thus he oversimplifies issues around immigration
in Canada. David Suzuki’s remarks go
against the reality of population growth in Canada today. They also undermine
individual choice, and they undermine our history and Canadian identity.
David Suzuki remarks that Canada
is “full” and that our usable space is drastically reduced. He opposes immigration for the sake of
economic growth, but supports immigration for humanitarian purposes. What Suzuki fails to take into account is that
Canada is a nation that relies heavily on immigration. Birth rates in Canada have dropped
significantly over the past 50 years, to a point where our birthrates do not
reach replacement levels (Employment and Social Development, 2014). On top of
that, we have an aging population, which will soon mean we will have an increased
level of deaths (Statistics Canada, 2011).
This means that without immigration, or population growth rates could
reach 0 (Statistics Canada, 2011).
David Suzuki takes an extreme
stance, but does not check his facts. While Suzuki states that Canada is full,
the opposite may be true. Canada needs a
strong population to create opportunities for future generations. If our population were to stagnate, or begin
to rapidly decline, we would not have as many taxpayers to pay into
infrastructure, healthcare, social security, and various social services. We also must take into account that we have an
ageing cohort in our society. What will happen when these people become senior
citizens, and need more assistance from the public? We need to have a
population large enough to pay into public services and look after the rest of
the population in their old age. Without a strong population, there can be no
such thing as social safety nets. Without immigration, we cannot have a strong
population.
Suzuki also states that we “pillage the countries of the south by depriving them of their future
professionals.” Once again this is an exaggerated statement meant to stir
emotions. Canada has an open immigration policy that welcomes people from all
professions. We could never have an immigration policy that caters to Suzuki’s
point of view. How could we value the worth of one person over another, based
on economic or environmental impact? To
do so would be vague and exclusionary.
What Suzuki does not consider is that a person has a right to mobility,
and immigration is an individual choice.
When a person comes to our country, we consider the factors in our own
country, and we consider the factors in a person’s life. The economy of a person’s home country is
irrelevant. To do so would undermine individual choice and the values of this
country.
Suzuki’s
views are do not take into account how the country we have today was
shaped. As a nation, we embrace
multiculturalism, because we accept that multiculturalism benefits not only our
economy, but our reputation internationally and our quality of life. The
benefits of diversity outweigh any risk.
Throughout Canada’s history, we have benefitted from immigration. We could not have developed western Canada,
if we had not encouraged settlement. We could not have developed industry in
the Canadian north, without immigration. We could not have built railroads and
other infrastructure without immigration.
Canadians
take pride in multiculturalism, tolerance and inclusiveness. If our economy benefits, so be it. The real
pride lies in the many other benefits to multiculturalism that have made Canada
known as a great cultural mosaic. In Canada, people can coexist peacefully
regardless of their differences. Whether people may be different religions,
ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality, it does not
matter because we as a nation have grown and prospered from diversity. We are a nation tolerant, and a nation willing
to make sacrifices for those in need, and we do not do so by being judgmental.
We welcome with open arms anyone who would like the honor of calling themselves
a Canadian. We wear the Canadian badge with pride, and pass it on with pride.
In
response to David Suzuki’s statement, it must be reiterated, that in an age of
social media, Internet, and rapid communication, our world has become smaller,
and our world has become faster. People that exist in the public limelight,
have a responsibility to check their facts before replacing them with their own
opinions. When a person is a role model
for thousands, their words have a bigger impact. As a Canadian, I am disappointed in David
Suzuki’s remarks. But as a Canadian, I will do my part to redeem us from them. As a Canadian, I will lead by example and extend
my hand and my hospitality to those in need.
As a Canadian, I will do so without judgment.
myvisasource.com
Bibliography.
Employemnt
and Social Devolopment Canada. (2014). Canadians in Context
–
Statistics Canada. Census Division. (2011). Population growth in Canada: From 1851 to 2061. Retrieved from: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census- recensement/2011/as-sa/98-310-x/98-310-x2011003_1-eng.pdf
