Rebuilding a commitment to Diversity in Community

Canada's diversity seems to be getting more complicated and our commitments to diversity also seem to be challenged more frequently.

In a globalized world everything from our economy, to our cultural sector, to our care for the environment and even to our religious lives are reshaped by things that occur in other parts of the globe. The dominance of ideologies such as "material progress and prosperity" and "guaranteed security" are challenging Canadians' commitments to environmental stewardship and welcoming the stranger. Technology has provided many new possibilities for exploiting the environment, for curing disease, for communicating with people around the world and for trading currencies that shape other nations' economies.

Addressing the implications of and responding to each of these significant changes requires drawing upon core values – core values such as our understanding of the purpose of life, the importance of community versus prosperity, whether the environment is a resource or something to be fully preserved. And these core values have become more diverse – both among those who have a long history in Canada and among the many diverse newcomers.

Close to 300,000 newcomers enter Canada every year. Of these, about 30,000 are refugees who come because they have no choice other than to accept Canada's protection, hospitality and a chance for a new beginning. Others come for the prospect of a better life and the possibilities of fulfilling careers. The people who come to Canada today are unlike those who were permitted to come during and before the turn of the twentieth century. The range of ethnicities, religions, economic and political experiences among newcomers today has risen dramatically. And we are unable to make any easy assumptions about a person's religion (or lack thereof) or their political approach based on their ethnicity or country of origin.

With this rising diversity comes increasing challenges such as social integration (how all of us live and interact with each other), pluralism (the acknowledgement of diversity), nation building (what is the changing nature of Canada and who is a citizen), identity (dual citizenship, being a hyphenated Canadian), and the place of faith perspective in the public sphere.

Public debates on diversity

These challenges are being discussed in the public arena. Throughout the fall, Québec witnessed hearings by the Bouchard-Taylor Commission, named by Jean Charest in February 2007 to make "recommendations to the government to ensure that accommodation practices conform to the values of Québec society as a pluralistic, democratic, egalitarian society." These hearings seemed to be a flashpoint for much deeper questions of tolerance and acceptance of diversity. Recent briefings provided by federal officials to the Conservative government warn that there is potential for the Québec debate to spread across the country.1

The very unfortunate "faith based schools" debate in the recent Ontario election and the not so long ago Sharia law debate also seem to represent a deeper issue: the question of how Ontarians will live together in a future of increasing religious and cultural diversity.

Debates and discussions about professional accreditation of newcomers and of temporary foreign workers bring questions of diversity and community to the midst of economic and social decision making as well. Newcomers are some of the hardest hit by poverty, inadequate housing, and growth in non-standard and precarious work.

Rebuilding a commitment to diversity in community

In our public debates, the challenges of globalism, of ideologies and of increasing diversity often make us retreat to fear the "other" or to focus on selfish interests. When our commitment to diversity in community is challenged, we have a difficult time engaging these debates respectfully.

However, as responsible citizens and residents in Canada we need to engage in debate about our common public life. We must respectfully engage each other in the public square to shape public policies and programs that guide our life together. If we are going to contribute to the common good through these policies and programs, we will have to find ways of entering this dialogue respectfully, acknowledging our diversity and seeking community.

From this respectful dialogue we can influence the shaping of public values that can be the basis of policies contributing to the well-being of all and the integrity of creation. An open and respectful wrestling around diverse core values in community needs to be the hallmark of Canadian life. It is this dynamic that will help to shape a politics of hopeful citizenship.

1. 1. Bill Curry, "'Them' and 'us' split spreading nationwide, federal officials warn," Globe and Mail, October 19, 2007.