March 10, 2010
"I don’t see race, but I do see people who don’t look Canadian,” U.S. satirist Stephen Colbert told Ujjal Dosanjh during an Olympics-oriented local taping of The Colbert Report last month. Always the devil’s advocate, Colbert, whose character is that of an American right-wing talk-show host, was trying to ruffle Dosanjh’s feathers. But the former NDP MLA and B.C. Premier, and current federal Liberal MP for Vancouver South, took it all in stride. As Canada’s first Indo-Canadian provincial leader, Dosanjh has no doubt traded ethnic barbs in far more serious settings.
Even though Dosanjh later told media that the Colbert interview —which included remarks about his Indian caste membership — was funny, it’s not easy for everyone to shrug off such comments as jokes.
Many members of Vancouver’s various ethnic communities were incensed by the lack of diversity showcased during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games. With that in mind, COPE councillor Ellen Woodsworth brought forward a motion last week (March 4) calling for the City of Vancouver to join Canada’s Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD). The Coalition is part of the International Coalition of Cities Against Racism Initiative, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In Canada, 27 municipalities are part of CMARD, including Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax.
Supporters of Woodsworth’s motion pointed out that Vancouver is the only major Canadian city that isn’t part of CMARD. But the Vision Vancouver majority on council voted to refer the motion to the City’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, thereby putting a hold on approving the motion until they collect more information.
“We would be absolutely negligent, absolutely disrespectful, by not taking the views of the Multicultural Advisory Committee into consideration,” Vision councillor Kerry Jang told council. “Racism is a tough issue... What is the root for cause of discrimination? For me, in my experience, it’s being passed over; it’s not being included in the discussion. It’s being passed over and having other people tell me what’s right.”
Woodsworth pointed out that city council — not advisory committees — has the final say on which organizations it chooses to join. “A committee cannot direct council; it’s council’s responsibility to make policy,” she told WE after the meeting adjourned. “I’m very concerned that this reduces any multicultural work or anti-racism work until it goes to a committee that only meets every four months. I think every department in [the City of Vancouver], and every level of City, including council, needs to be taking active, strong statements dealing with policy, and measurable plans to address racism and multiculturalism in this city.”
A number of anti-racism advocates who spoke in favour of Woodsworth’s motion left the meeting disappointed. “It’s time to support this coalition. March 21 [the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination] is coming up, and just in the aftermath of what happened at the Olympics, I think it’s important that Vancouver take a stand,” says Lindsay Marsh, coordinator of the national Safe Harbour Program, part of the Multicultural Society and Service Agencies of B.C.
“With this issue, there is no budgetary requirement. We can express our support, essentially, for free, but it costs taxpayers nothing,” says Edmond Wong, a Vancouver scientist and entrepreneur who spoke in support of the motion. “If there was any politicking going on, it’s not the right issue to choose to play politics with.”
While the Vision majority voted against the motion, Woodsworth, fellow COPE councillor David Cadman, and lone NPA councillor Suzanne Anton voted to approve it. “I don’t think that the average Vancouverite really cares what party it comes from,” says Wong. “When it comes to something so straightforward as simply giving Vancouver’s support to a coalition that is against racism and discrimination, I think there’s no question about whether it’s right or wrong. Our inaction is a statement in itself, and it’s a very negative and a very serious statement."
