Discover Harper's Canada

The Harper government's new guide for immigrants paints a picture of a country few citizens would recognize.

In November 2009, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced the release of a new study guide to help immigrants prepare for Canadian citizenship. Called, “Discover Canada: the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship,” the new guide replaced a booklet called “A Look at Canada,” first published in 1997 and updated in 2005 under Liberal governments.

I applied to emigrate to Canada in 2003, became a permanent resident in 2005, and applied for citizenship as soon as I was eligible in 2008. Over that time I received both guides in the mail, and I was struck by the divergent visions of Canada they reflect.

A CIC backgrounder to the new booklet highlighted many areas of Canadian history and culture included in the new guide that were absent from the old one. Indeed, “Discover Canada” offers a capsule version of Canadian history not attempted in “A Look at Canada.” But what kind of story does it tell?

A noticeable absence of peace

This paragraph from the old guide –

Canada has a long tradition of welcoming newcomers because they increase the diversity and richness of Canadian society. Canadians are proud of the peaceful and tolerant society they have built.

– is gone from the new, as is this:

Canadian values include freedom, respect for cultural differences and a commitment to social justice. We are proud of the fact that we are a peaceful nation. In fact, Canadians act as peacekeepers in many countries around the world.

The words “social justice” and “peaceful nation” do not appear in “Discover Canada.” The word “peace” appears only once, in a reference to the phrase “Peace, Order and Good Government.”

Recently it was revealed that CIC Minister Jason Kenney took a personal interest in removing all references to Canada’s leadership role in equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens from the new guide. “Discover Canada” never mentions same-sex marriage.

The old guide featured a two-page spread called “Protecting the Environment – Sustainable Development” that listed several ways Canadians can be greener. In the new guide, the environment gets one brief mention, under “Responsibilities.”

Peace, out. Gays, out. Environment, reduced from two pages to one sentence. What’s included in their place?

Rights and responsibilities, contempt, and distrust

“Discover Canada” begins with a section called “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.” After a brief look at Charter rights, the booklet issues a warning:

In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada’s openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, “honour killings,” female genital mutilation or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada’s criminal laws.

The reference to “barbaric cultural practices” leaps from the page. It is language completely out of step with the otherwise bland tone of the text. One might think that, if it weren’t for immigrants, violence against women would have been eradicated from Canadian society.

If only: the Canadian Women’s Foundation estimates that half of all Canadian women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Surely we know that violence against women knows no cultural boundaries.

Responsibility is also mentioned in the old guide, although not as prominently. Towards the back of the book, the old guide lists citizenship responsibilities in this order: voting in elections, helping others in the community, caring for and protecting the environment, obeying the law, expressing opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others, and eliminating discrimination and injustice.

By contrast, the new guide gives this list: obeying the law, taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family (i.e. getting a job), serving on a jury, voting in elections, helping others in the community, protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment.

Social justice, out. Respecting other people’s opinions, also gone. The top two responsibilities are now: obey the law and get a job.

It’s difficult to emigrate to Canada. One needs education, employability, language skills, and quite a bit of money. Immigrants submit to a plethora of background and security checks. To emigrate anywhere requires intelligence, organization, and not a little gumption. Why must prospective citizens be warned about obeying the law and supporting their families?

This must be seen in context of the Harper government’s ongoing attacks on immigrants, refugees, and foreign-born Canadians. Jason Kenney has stated that immigrants who can’t speak English or French “well enough” should be denied citizenship – although he cut funding to the Canadian Arab Federation, a settlement group that teaches English as a second language. Kenney has publicly denigrated “bogus” refugee claimants who he claims are “clogging up the system.” The Conservative government has sharply decreased numbers of refugee claimants admitted to Canada, and its current legislation, Bill C-11, will reduce that further. The government has repeatedly refused to help Canadian citizens – all brown, all Muslim – stranded in other countries, even in prison.

Seen against that backdrop, “Discover Canada” reflects a condescending, paternalistic view of immigrants as people of lawless cultures who come to Canada to “live off the system” – a picture of bigotry, xenophobia, and distrust.

Militarizing the guide

Also on the “Responsibilities” page, under the heading “Defending Canada,” new Canadians are encouraged to join the military. The proud, smiling faces of Canadian troops beam at us, as they exercise a “noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice.”

This theme is carried throughout the book. While the old guide contained no reference to the military, the new guide defines Canada’s history by war: an article in The Tyee found “Discover Canada” contains 55 instances of the word “war.” Under “Canadian Symbols,” the military Victoria Cross occupies more attention than the civilian (and more widely celebrated) Order of Canada.

A monarchy or a democracy?

When you open “Discover Canada,” the first thing you see is the Oath of Citizenship, which all New Canadians are required to recite. (In the old guide, the oath appears at the end of the book.) Along with this conspicuous placement on the inside cover are two photographs: one of Queen Elizabeth II, and another of a cute brown child, smartly dressed, raising his hand, presumably as he recites the oath. If it weren’t for an image of the maple leaf, you might think it was Queen Victoria inspecting one of the jewels in her empire crown.

This, too, heralds a significant theme: an emphasis on Canada’s European heritage and colonial roots. In the summary of the rights of all Canadians, Canada’s own Charter of Rights and Freedoms takes a back seat to the Magna Carta. On the very first page, Canada is described as a constitutional monarchy first, a parliamentary democracy second. The new guide includes three pictures of Queen Elizabeth II and a full 30 references to the monarchy or the Queen. The old guide describes Canada as a democracy first and contains only three references to the Queen.

Stephen Harper’s Canada

So this is Stephen Harper's and the Conservative government’s Canada. A country that does not value peace and tolerance, measures its history and value by armed conflict, does not encourage citizens to work for social justice, is not concerned with protecting the environment, reveres the monarchy, warns immigrants to tame their savage ways, and emphasizes obedience to authority.

This does not reflect the Canada I know. I don’t believe it reflects the Canada that a majority of its citizens would recognize.

The original, longer version of this essay appears here.