Question:
Over the past twenty years, we have taken the biggest social asset of the
Lower Mainland and turned it into perhaps the biggest regional long-term
economic liability - namely, multiculturalism.
In the seventies and early eighties, Greater Vancouver was a diverse
INTEGRATED society. Immigrants from a wide variety of regions came to
Canada, bringing their customs and culture with them, and embedding them
into our own cultural fabric. New immigrants were quick to learn the
Canadian culture, customs and languages as such knowledge was required to
survive. Such immigrants became true 'Canadians' enhancing our economic
and cultural diversity by becoming an integral part of our society.
A brief example - My mother and father in-law immigrated from Hong Kong in
the early 70s, arriving to the Lower Mainland with very little English.
However, they soon enrolled in English courses, my father in-law landed a
janitorial job, and they moved into a neighborhood surrounded by
Canadian-born citizens. In the first few years, they found the challenge of
integration quite trying, but they persisted as they knew it was the only
way to thrive in their new homeland. Within a few short years, they soon
became rather well-integrated Canadian citizens. On weekends (even to this
day), they would make the family trip to Chinatown, to enjoy a brief retreat
to their life that they had left behind. Today, they are proud Canadians,
enjoying a circle of friends from a wide variety of cultures and ethinic
diversity. I am personally proud of their accomplishments, and I am proud
to have had the opportunity to learn much about their culture, language and
customs.
However, somewhere along the line in the Lower Mainland, something went
terribly wrong. Immigrants began arriving from only a select few countries.
These immigrants quicky transplanted their cultures into 'closed'
residential communities of singular ethnicities, shuting themselves off from
the rest of the community. But how was this possible? By closing themselve
s off to the rest of Canada, would they not face the many challenges of
trying to communicate with their employers, fellow employees, the clerk at
the local grocery store, and so forth? Well, unfortunately not.
As this trend was developing , so was the immense popularity of political
correctness. Suddenly, local, regional and federal governments alike
decided that the 'proper' way to treat immigrants was to make the transition
for these immigrants as easy as possible...so easy that they would feel like
they were still at home. Street signs started showing up in foreign
languages, gov't services and education were soon provided in foreign
languages, and every single effort was made to ensure that immigrants need
not integrate with Canadian society, but were allowed to SEGREGATE.
Massive, multi-family dwellings arose across the Fraser River, often in
violation of existing by-laws, fire regulations and the like..."but we shall
not impede upon our new citizen's cultural heritage, and besides, they now
hold alot of city council votes", one city councillor was heard whispering
to another.
Businesses soon followed. First it was gas stations, local corner stores,
restaurants and the like whereby service was provided at a higher level to
those of a foreign tongue. Before long, stories of service being refused to
English speaking Canadians were being heard time and time again. On several
occasions, as I walked with my Chinese wife through the Richmond malls,
resounding glares of unapproval surrounded us.
A certain arrogance began to develop within these now established foreign
communities. Hostilities and unspoken racism in the communities have now
began to heighten. And finally, segregated economic and social communities
have emerged.
Could someone please explain to me how it is beneficial to have a segregated
Lower Mainland rather than an integrated one? Why are our immigration
policies not based upon cultural diversity and economic contribution? Why
do we not have the political courage to insist that new immigrants learn to
speak English and respect their new Canadian culture, integrating into their
new society?
Before one lays forward calls of racism or bigotry, remember that my wife is
an integrated immigrant from Hong Kong. I have embraced the Chinese
culture, learning their many traditions and even to speak some Cantonese.
Moreover, my circle of friends includes Canadians from a very wide ethnic
heritage, who equally share these same feelings as I.
Answer:
Large-scale immigration from any one culture or country always, without
exception, leads to immigrant communities that are more or less isolated
and insulated from the larger society. Look at Italians in Toronto (or
Vancouver), Jews in New York, Cubans in Miami, and many, many others.
All it means is that integration takes longer.
The first post-immigration generation to be schooled entirely in the new
country takes a huge step toward integration. The last generation to be
born in the old country will rarely integrate seamlessly.
But with immigration in such numbers as we've had here from China, the
process has to be measured in generations rather than years. Be patient.
Try to avoid a mindset that leads you to demand that immigrants learn
English faster and adopt the host culture more quickly. Otherwise you
risk being overbearing and oppressive.
Remember that while you're adopting elements of Chinese culture, the
immigrants are adopting parts of the host culture. The cultures will
inevitably converge, but they will do so at their own pace. Trying to
force it would be a mistake, IMO
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