Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Jason Kenney

Colloquium on Strengthening Canadian Identity in a Safe and Secure Canada (Circle of Canadians)

Ottawa, Ontario, May 21, 2008

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by saying how pleased I am to be with you today.

As well, I want to take this opportunity to commend the Circle of Canadians for organizing this colloquium. I also want to recognize the important work the Circle does to promote our common identity as Canadians living in one of the most diverse societies in the world.

As you know, I am the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity. Shortly after taking office, my Government established this new position in an effort to underscore the important linkage between these areas.

Canada' s diversity, grounded in a strong Canadian identity, is one of this country' s greatest strengths. Our Government is committed to promoting the intercultural understanding that is such an important part of an integrated, balanced society.

Each year, Canada welcomes more than 200,000 people from every corner of the world. They embrace our core Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. And at the same time, our newcomers add to our sense of who we are.

These women, men, and children bring with them their energy, their talents, their hopes and their dreams. Some people have come to Canada looking for peace and freedom, and many have come here because it is viewed as a land of opportunity.

Whatever the reason that brings us together, we can be proud to live in a country that enjoys the benefits of diverse peoples who are committed to cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that historically in Canada, the accommodation of minorities – whether regional, ethnic, or linguistic – has been critical to our overall health as a country.

That being said, the process has not always been easy. We often experienced growing pains and we continue to face challenges.

One good example is in the economic arena. Statistics tell us that while 80% of immigrants find full-time work in Canada within 2 years, only 42% find work in their field. There are a few reasons for this:

  • Lack of Canadian work experience;
  • Non-recognition of credentials;
  • Insufficient language proficiency; and
  • Discrimination.

I am pleased to say that last year, Canada' s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced the creation of a Foreign Credentials Referral Office to expedite foreign assessment and recognition processes and use their talents in the fields for which they have been trained. I feel this is a step in the right direction in terms of helping newcomers integrate into our society.

Another challenge, and one that this colloquium is focused on, comes from living in a time of heightened security. I believe that enhancing the security of all citizens is important to fostering a sense of belonging, and we continue to work to ensure that measures taken in this regard do not disproportionately affect one community over another.

There is also concern about increasing disengagement of youth, both here in Canada and around the world. We are putting in place initiatives to provide young people with opportunities to participate constructively in Canadian society. We know there are no easy answers, but the need for both research and more action is compelling.

Our Government is fully cognizant of the need to have policies and programs that reflect our changing population.

As society evolves, Canada' s multiculturalism policy continues to evolve and respond to emerging challenges.

In particular, a recent adjustment of the Multiculturalism Program' s priorities has put the spotlight on integration challenges faced by youth at-risk, whom we hope to assist with strategic mentorship, volunteerism, leadership, and civic education initiatives.

Similarly, a new focus is the promotion of intercultural understanding and our shared Canadian values of democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law at the community level, which we expect will also go some way to countering integration challenges.

In all of our efforts, we are emphasizing the importance of promoting integration by emphasizing those things that bring us together as Canadians, as opposed to those that make us different.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Circle of Canadians for your ongoing involvement in theses issues, which are not only at the heart of my mandate, but also close to my heart.

I feel your work dovetails nicely with our Government' s commitment to promoting integration and social cohesion.

We both want to nurture the values of an inclusive society and focus on the common characteristics that bring people together in a shared national identity.

In closing, I look forward to hearing your views and working with you to strengthen Canadian identity in a safe and secure Canada.

Thank you.