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We have a Problem
The Harper government has been bad for Canada with most economic indicators heading south.
It has also been terrible on personal liberties pushing through the draconian C51 bill. In addition,
this government used the most vulnerable parts of the Arab and Muslim communities as a target to
shore up its support among its base. They targeted the handful of Muslim women who wear Niqab –
as if these represent a clear and present danger to Canada and its security. Was it not for the courts,
women wearing the Niqabs would have been denied Canadian citizenship.
Under the Harper reign, Canada stature in the world sank to an unprecedented level. Our partly
contribution to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian refugees has been shameful. Our government
made promises and succeeded in breaking every one of them.
In 2014, Israel launched a devastating assault on Gaza that killed 2,252 Palestinians — the vast
majority of them civilians. This was an assault that was whole-heartedly supported by Harper. To
top this, his government denied an entry visa to 100 badly hurt kids to come for treatment in Canada
even though Doctors, nurses, governments, businesses, unions and countless other Canadians vowed
to lend their time, money and services to get those kids here largely for free.
If that was not enough, the Harper government plays wedge politics within the Arab and Muslim
communities in order to exploit conflicts in the home countries in order to inflame sectarian sentiments
and divide our communities here. This is not unique to Arab and Muslim communities and
they played this wedge politics within other ethnic communities in Canada. It is time to say no to
them and to their politics of division and fear.
Who should we support?
In light of the upcoming elections, a group of national and local Muslim and Arab organizations
sent a letter and questionnaire to all federal party leaders expressing their aspirations and concerns
(More details can be found at www.eccd.ca/elections2015).
Based on the responses, on the track record of each party over the past few years, on the statements
made by party leaders and prominent candidates during this election campaign, and taking into
account the realistic probability of the parties coming into power, they concluded that:
• Canadian Arabs and Muslims have a great responsibility to go out and VOTE in this election. So
much is at stake not only for minorities but for the whole of Canada.
• The NDP appears to be the party that will best serve Canada and the Canadian people and
reverse the negative effects the Harper Conservatives have had over their nine years in power.
They responded positively to all the points raised and have been advocating on the same positions
throughout their time as official opposition.
• The Green Party has advocated many important causes and abides by high moral standards. It
is a strong defender of human rights and minority rights and its influence on the political arena
is important although it is not aiming to form the government or be a part of a ruling coalition.
• The Bloc is a regional marginal party that has espoused xenophobic and anti-Muslim positions
in the past. Their chance to form the government or be a part of a ruling coalition is practically
non-existent.
• While the Liberal Party did not respond to the letter and questionnaire as of the date of publication,they have taken positive positions supporting they have taken positive positions supporting religious freedoms and Canadian citizen abroad. However, they supported Bill C-51 and their positions are close to the Conservatives in many cases especially in foreign policies.
• The Conservative Party has not responded or even acknowledged receiving the letter and questionnaire. Their policies over the years they spent in power had devastating effects on freedoms, liberties and tolerance in Canada.
Their foreign policies negatively affected Canada’s position as a respected peace and human rights defending country.
What steps can you take?
• Today, make sure that you’re on the electoral list by contacting Elections Canada and to learn where to vote (www.elections.ca and 1-800-463-6868). If you do not get your voting card by October 5, call them ASAP.
• Today, talk to people in your life about how important it is to vote strategically. Use your networks, send messages, and make phone calls. Talk to your parents, to your grandparents,to your friends and to your family about their intentions for voting. Print these facts out for them, make sure they’re aware of what Harper has done on their behalf, and that if they don’t vote against him on October 19, that he will continue to represent them. That he will continue to represent Canada.
Election Day
• Go out and vote. Your vote is counted.
• Take your friend and family members andvote.
Arab Democrat Recommends
While we, at the Arab Democrat, respect every individual right to choose, we are supportingthe following candidates in the lower mainland.
While we believe that the majority of conservatives are decent fellow Canadians, the party has been hijacked by an extremist group that abandoned the progressive conservative ideas that were once at its core. The Harper team panders to the worse of people and feeds on fears and prejudice. We urge our communities (Arabs, non-Arabs,
Muslims and non-Muslims) to turn out to vote and reclaim Canada. We hope that one day the conservative party will be able to reclaim its progressive ideals. Until that day arrives, we urge our readers to vote anything but conservative.
We used poll averages compiled by Éric Grenier, a writer specializing in Canadian politics and history (www.threehundredeight.com/p/canada.html) to arrive at our recommendations and since polls are fluid, we recommend our readers visit our page( ArabDemocrat.com/election2015) for updated information
