Gary Pieters, B.A.(Hons.), B.Ed.
07/07/00.
For Whom is Canada the Best Place in the World to Live? You be the Judge
The United Nations has for the 7th time classified  Canada as the best place to live, with a twist.  
Canada is seen as the best place to live --- for men only. What does this mean. It effectively excludes fifty percent of the population who are women. What about Canada's racial minorities and Aboriginal peoples and where do they fit into this UN back patting exercise?

I urge you to hold your praise. Here's why?

A recent report states that in Canada, poverty is based on race to a disturbing level. The implications are that Canadians who are racial minorities are poorer than their non-racial minority counterparts and not enjoying a comparable quality of life. 

At a forum on 'Brain Drain, Brain Gain,' I told the participants that while it is a fact that for every one Canadian who leaves for the U.S., four immigrants migrate to Canada; the migrant to the U.S. is able to fast track a career at a faster, more successful rate than the four immigrants coming here. Canadian experience is one barrier among many which the four immigrants coming here face. Thus the 1:4 ratio on brain drain does not tell the whole story.  It does not disclose the sorry fact that a Canadian of African descent can be born here or immigrate here at a very early age, receive their education here, have all their work experience here, only to be constantly be bombarded with the question "where are you from?" This rude and intrusive line of questioning is an encounter that is also endured by many Canadians of racial minority backgrounds.

As well, many young black males [14-35 years old] are unwarrantedly criminalized. They are unwarrantedly criminalized in schools both as students and educators, they are denied opportunity in the workplace, they are stereotyped, stigmatized and isolated. A recent article in the Toronto Star states that racial minority students experience  racism in schools from teachers and staff who are supposed to be helping them to discover their talents and achieve their full potential. An article in the Share Newspaper dated July 6, 2000, written by a parent, educator and anti-racism and ethnocultural equity consultant in the Toronto District School Board laments that we are in a state of 'war for our kids'. The article relates how black students become casualties of an educational system where they are unserved and underserved. However, the article did not go far enough. It failed to note that black and racial minority teachers and administrators are also being pushed out of the teaching profession at a disproportionately high rate. 

My own experience as an  educator in Canada and the U.S. as well as the experiences of countless other black teachers and administrators who I interact with on a frequent basis, confirm that black teachers and administrators are not given the same level of support, mentoring and opportunity that is accorded to non-racial minority teachers and administrators. They are left to 'paddle their own canoe,' 'swim or sink.' An investigative report pubished  by BBC states that teachers from the ethnic minorities will face racism in the classroom and the staffroom. Another report from the same media outlet points out that racism in schools is being left unaddressed because teachers are not reporting incidents of racism. As an educator, I have taken a great risk in my career and filed a human rights complaint regarding  my work environment as a teacher. The recommendations which emerged following the investigation supported my position. However, there are far too many teachers who are not taking action against racism in the school environment. This inaction comes at the detriment to the quality of education students receive and at the detriment of the teacher's job satisfaction.

Without a good education, students of African descent cannot compete for the best programs in high school and university, they cannot compete for the best jobs, they cannot have a good quality of life, they cannot have 'the Canadian dream', they cannot feel a sense of success, and they cannot feel empowered within a society that have done themlasting injustice.

The United Nations rankings does not take any of these factors into account. 

It does not take into account that a black person is asked to show 'ID' more frequently than a non-racial minority person of similarly situated position. It does not take into account, that to get a taxi in the city of Toronto a black male has to hold his money in a visible position so the taxi can see that he is able to pay his fare --- before the taxi decides to take him to his destination. It doesn't take into account that all the policies and initiatives that give Canada a great image around the world are selectively applied and enforced. In most cases it is blacks who benefit the least, and bear the most burden of the selective application amounting to negative differential treatment.

There is no place on earth that is perfect, but it is hypocritical of us to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that all is well. All is not well and since we do not have the voting numbers to influence policy and positive change, our voices are for the most part unheard by the powers that be. 

Now that I have finished my 'I am Canadian Rant,' its over to you.

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/6174/letsfaceit.html