The legendary Mayor of the City of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, who is going strong at age 91, is right on when she complains about the cash being doled out to multicultural groups which do not integrate into society. See National Post story of today :
Multicultural cash divides us: Mayor
McCallion says grants used to set immigrants apart
Natalie Alcoba, National Post
Published: Thursday, March 06, 2008
Peter J. Thompson, National Post File
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion criticized federal multicultural funding as dividing immigrants instead of uniting them, and called for better integration of newcomers.
"An awful lot of money is spent on multiculturalism and on keeping our immigrants separated rather than integrated," Ms. McCallion said in an interview.
"They've been given all kinds of money over the years to have their own organization, their own programs, and I think there should be more money spent on integration, in other words, encouraging them to get involved in all the organizations within a community like the service clubs and the sports groups."
Ms. McCallion said she knows the value of cultural groups and does not want to "cut off" their funding.
However, she argues in favour of stepping up outreach efforts that help integrate the growing number of new residents who are choosing to live in the cities outside of Toronto.
According to 2006 Census data, Peel and York regions had the highest immigrant population growth in the Greater Toronto Area, with a 32% and 34% increase, respectively, from 2001 to 2006. Toronto, by comparison, had the lowest in the region, with a 2% increase.
Immigrants now make up about half of Toronto's population, 49% of Peel region's and 43% of people living in York.
Ms. McCallion first raised her concern about multicultural funding during a discussion of the Census data at Mississauga council last week.
Experts say that when it comes to managing Canada's diversity, multiculturalism and integration should work in tandem.
"I think the mistake that is often made is that multiculturalism separates people, but in fact it is a policy of integration," said Wsevolod Isajiw, author of
Understanding Diversity.
He said by allowing immigrants to retain their customs and identity, they become more secure in the Canadian system, and a greater part of it.
"Certainly, it's worthwhile to spend some money to invite immigrants of various cultures and identities to participate together, to exchange ideas together," said Mr. Isajiw, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.
Some argue that such a policy of "interculturalism," which works to establish cohesiveness in a rainbow of cultural identities, should be the wave of the future.
"We know that by 2017 visible minorities will actually become a majority here in Canada and that speaks volumes," said Sandeep Agrawal, an expert on multiculturalism and ethnic enclaves from Ryerson University.
While it may develop organically, Mr. Agrawal argues for a systemic approach that encourages groups to engage in a cross cultural dialogue.
Ms. McCallion wants to see more immigrants participating in civic groups, in sports clubs and arts committees.
"We have to go out and invite them to join us," she said. "A lot of them are shy because they've come to this country and they're not accustomed to the service clubs. So we have to go out of our way to make sure that we make an effort to integrate, not just to leave it up to them."
She said more organizations should follow the Mississauga Hockey League's lead, which has a new program to encourage children from different cultural backgrounds to lace up and hit the ice.
"That's what has got to happen in all the sports groups," she said. "[Immigrants] have a major contribution to make to all organizations.
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