09.11.2011 01:07 AM

In today’s Sun: why does Tea Party Tim dislike “foreigners” (now)?

Spot political quiz time: Who said this?

“(We need) practical and affordable measures to help new Canadians find employment and create jobs.”

Here’s another one. Who said this?

“(Immigrants) have great challenges in having their foreign degrees and qualifications recognized by the relevant licensing bodies here in Canada — we all have a role to play in helping new Canadians make the transition into our workplace.”

Weak-kneed lefty politicos? Soft-hearted Liberal premiers like Jean Charest? Christy Clark? Dalton McGuinty? Were those welcoming words uttered by Grit politicians, seeking re-election in Quebec or B.C. or Ontario with the help of so-called “ethnic” communities?

Nope. No, they weren’t.

Those words were voiced by senior Conservatives. They were the words of Ontario Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, in fact, and federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

17 Comments

  1. Attack! says:

    Good column, & good ‘long game’ strategy taking the Sun gig:

    comes in pretty handy, having the pulpit of the space for full, regular columns there, right ’bout now.

    Meanwhile, Kenney’s doubling down back on the curry in a hurry circuit, pushing his v. of ‘barefoot & pregnant’ for newcomers:

    their vision of “equality of opportunity” for immigrants is allowing / forcing everyone to claw their way back up by working day & night as shopkeepers (or cab drivers, or maids), regardless of what qualifications they may have already earned and brought with them:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkCzqvmWZc

  2. Scott Tribe says:

    I’m a tad bemused that PC’ers like Lynn Macleod keep calling this proposal an act to help “foreign workers”, when it clearly states that it’s for new Canadians who’ve been here less then 5 years.

    Either those folks dont count as Canadians for Macleod and other “Progressive” Conservatives, or else it’s a deliberate attempt at obfuscation and attempted dog-whistling. Hopefully the OLP and Mcguinty keep pointing this out (along with the hypocrisy you’ve been mentioning, Warren).

  3. Scott Tribe says:

    (Sorry, I meant Lisa Macleod – MPP for Nepean-Carelton)

  4. JenS says:

    I have a real concern that Hudak has tapped into the latent xenophobia and racism that exists in Ontario. Both that it exists and that it has the potential to help Hudak worry me.

  5. SteveV says:

    You’re in the pocket these days, that’s for sure!

    • The Doctor says:

      A truly shocking development.

      • Cam Prymak says:

        Point taken.

        This is what I think is interesting,

        In a move similar to former Newfoundland premier Danny Williams’ “ABC (Anything but Conservative)” campaign during the 2008 federal election, Lewenza is encouraging the union’s membership to vote strategically. The goal is to support incumbent Liberal and NDP candidates, or go with the person most likely to beat an incumbent Conservative.

        “We’re asking our members to get politically involved,” he told CTVNews.ca in a recent telephone interview. “Look at the campaign and ask yourself… who represents your community and your household the best. I think (people will see) the alternatives are clear. We can’t waste our vote on a third party candidate that could split the vote and allow a Tory to win.”

        • The Doctor says:

          I don’t know that strategic voting is even necessary — the PCs seem to be doing a fabulous job of losing this election all on their own 🙂

  6. Harith says:

    In a recent G&M article, the PC comment squad is in full force. They’re all posting thinly veiled racism but when I called them out on it saying there are white immigrants too (including me), my post gets voted down and removed for being abusive within a short period, whilst all the racism is voted up like mad. And I tried doing so twice, and both times same result.

    Sickening.

    • Dan says:

      You can only hope that it’s not representative of the electorate at large. Maybe intelligent people will see those comments, and recoil from the PCs in horror.

  7. allegra fortissima says:

    “immigrants who weren’t even Canadian citizens”. Nice. I love the word EVEN!

    What are those immigrants who aren’t EVEN Canadian citizens compared to those immigrants who are Canadian citizens? Second class immigrants?

  8. ben burd says:

    This is a most confusing Lib policy. Dalton is reported as saying it is only for çanadian citizens”that means these people have been driving cabs/washing dishes for over five years even before they are allowed to apply for citizenship, if that’s the case then who’s a foreigner and who hadn’t had the motivation to get out of the cab and brush up on the creds’?

  9. Attack! says:

    Here’s another insight into Jason Kenney’s regard for “foreign workers”: go — or stay — home.

    this time for hundreds who have quite literally put their lives at risk to assist the Canadian Forces:

    “More than half of Afghan interpreters seeking refuge in Canada turned away” http://bit.ly/qBJY3h

  10. Terry says:

    What’s the big deal? Mike wanted the fucking Indians out of the park, and Timmy wants the fucking foreigners out of the province. He’s just following in Mr. Harris’ illustrious footprints.

  11. Michael S says:

    i think this line applies: Tim Hudak and his conservatives hate black people and all other foreigners.

Leave a Reply to Iris Mclean Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.