Fear of and for diverse communities.

Ideological or values tests imposed on minorities by government raise fears that are often connected to historical experience of oppression by majority groups.

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.3764426.1516236127!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg

Two political events in recent Canadian history have revived concern among minorities in this country.

Tory leadership candidate Kellie Leitch proposed requiring applicants for immigration to Canada to affirm Canadian values to immigration personnel. Government Labour Minister Patty Hajdu, supported by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are requiring that groups seeking funds for student summer employment attest that the group’s core mandate respects human rights, including reproductive rights.

Source: https://i.cbc.ca/1.4004105.1488852741!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/conservative-leadership-debate-20170228.jpg

CTV news reported in January that an applicant must affirm that both the job description and the group's core mandate respect human rights, including reproductive rights.

The CBC reported that Tory leadership candidate Kellie Leitch wants immigrants to be asked: 'Are men and women equal?

If one Conservative leadership candidate has her way, immigrants hoping to start a new life in Canada will be pressed for their views on women's equality, the use of violence and how to provide for their families.
In a sponsored email sent to subscribers of the conservative website TheRebel.media, Kellie Leitch promises that if she becomes Conservative leader, and then prime minister, she would require each immigrant to Canada to be screened for Canadian values

Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins has joined more than 80 religious leaders asking government to drop Summer Jobs attestation.

Source: https://catholicregister.org/media/k2/items/cache/400ca734b2b08335065d1ae9693c684d_XL.jpg

Collins is convinced the government didn’t intend to upset such a wide swath of religious Canadians.
“If the government has a problem with a particular group doing something they disagree with, they should talk to those groups,” Collins said. “The handing out of graphic anti-abortion material is very troubling, I know.

"To have a wide open ideological test for everybody, which we cannot in conscience sign, that's just not fair.”

Representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities are very concerned about the application of ideological tests by government.

 Rabbi Chaim Strauchler emphasized how troubling it is for Jews to see the government impose an ideological or values test on any minority.
“We have been a minority throughout history. We are very sensitive to the possibility of the majority trying to impose values, even if we agree with those values… (forcing people) to believe or to act in a certain way not in accord with their basic values,” Strauchler said.

 “We’re worried about the future, not just now,” said Imam Refaat Mohamed of the Canadian Council of Imams.
Ideological tests, if allowed, could be used in other ways if it is permitted for this issue, said Mohamed.
“We love the differences we have in Canada. We are very proud of who we are. We are really proud of who we are. And we should always respect those with different beliefs,” Mohamed said.

The Conservative Party did not choose candidate Leitch as leader. The removal of the attestation requirement from the Liberal summer jobs program will be another step to reduce the anxiety of minority groups in Canada about values testing.

References

(2018, January 31). Anti-abortion group loses initial court bid over summer jobs program .... Retrieved February 2, 2018, from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/anti-abortion-group-loses-initial-court-bid-over-summer-jobs-program-1.3783302

(n.d.). Tory leadership candidate Kellie Leitch wants immigrants to be asked .... Retrieved February 5, 2018, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/leitch-immigrants-canadian-values-1.4012764

(n.d.). Cardinal Collins joins more than 80 religious leaders asking .... Retrieved February 5, 2018, from https://www.catholicregister.org/item/26711-more-than-80-religious-leaders-ask-government-to-drop-attestation-for-summer-jobs-funding