Filed under: Issues | Tags: asian canadian, discrimination, ethnic, fishing, harassment, Ontario, violence
So, north of Toronto there have been instances of racism against Asian Canadians. It’s unfortunate that, hear in Ontario, this issue has not had a lot of press in the media. We like to assume only happens in the United States of America. Racism is something we must face and deal with. As far as I am concerned there is no excuse for targeting any ethnic community. We are all Canadian, and the accounts of racism are greatly disturbing and must be taken seriously at all levels. Fishing is not a right only to be bestowed upon certain Canadians. Asian Canadians should be able to enjoy fishing like everyone else, without fear of discrimination, harassment or violence.
Filed under: Issues | Tags: anti-Semitic, asian, Asian Canadian anglers, B'nai Brith Canada, canadian, Chinese Canadian National Council, Georgina, homophobic, Lake Simcoe, Ontario, racism, vandalism
Mayor apologizes for assaults on Asian Canadian anglers, anti-Semitic and homophobic vandalism. The mayor of Georgina has denounced recent attacks on Asian Canadian fishermen, as well as anti-Semitic and homophobic vandalism, and has apologized on behalf of his community.
“The people that I have the privilege of representing are shamed and embarrassed that this would have happened in our community,” Robert Grossi said yesterday after meeting with leaders of B’nai Brith Canada and the Chinese Canadian National Council.
Grossi’s comments came after swastikas and anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs were painted on nine vehicles in Keswick, while York Region police investigate a series of attacks on Asian Canadian anglers at Lake Simcoe.
“From what we’ve heard so far, they’re isolated incidents,” said the mayor of the lakeshore community of 40,000 north of Toronto.
Grossi was praised for meeting with local faith groups and educators about the attacks.
“We see leadership from the mayor on this,” said Victor Wong, executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council. “We’re quite appreciative of it.”
Grossi noted that police are investigating the attacks, and have stepped up patrols around the lake.
“York Regional Police have been very responsive, very respectful.”
Immediately after reports of the incidents last week, Grossi’s office issued a public statement saying that “broad-stroke painting of our community as a place that is unwelcoming to some groups or nationalities is unjustified.”
Yesterday, he said he still considers his community to be tolerant.
“We are a very welcoming community,” Grossi said.
In one of the recent incidents, a man was left in a coma after a violent confrontation between anglers and community members.
In other recent incidents, a man and a boy were pushed into the water while fishing.
Two related cases are before the courts, including one involving a high-speed chase that began when youths approached anglers fishing off a pier, and demanded to see their fishing licences.
The youths began shouting racial slurs and then chased the anglers as they fled, ramming their car from behind with a pickup truck.
Meanwhile, in the town of Westport on Big Rideau Lake, police are investigating at least two incidents in which locals have allegedly attacked Asian-Canadian anglers in the past two months.
In one incident, a man who was fishing with his 73-year-old father-in-law on a bridge at midnight was beaten up and thrown off the bridge by a group of young men.
In another incident, men wielding baseball bats and an axe forced some Asian-Canadians to give up their fishing spot on a local bridge.
In both cases, the victims were said to be from Toronto.
Residents of this hamlet say while they are fed up with people poaching fish from local reservoirs, they deny the incidents have anything to do with racism.
“People are really angry and I’m afraid sooner or later someone is going to get seriously hurt,” said Charlie Jones, who heads a local group of conservationists.
Filed under: Issues | Tags: black, canada, ethnic, fear, intolerance, racism
Fear and intolerance, in some ways, is still true today in Canada. We are not as tolerance as we think? We claim that we are tolerant; however I bet that we are actually driven by fear. Let’s not get bent out of shape now! We get so ‘defensive’ when someone says “you are ignorant” or maybe “intolerant”. However, maybe we should just ask “are you scared”? We are a great multicultural society that tolerates all backgrounds. What we really see is a community, like many others, that is changing. People tend to fear change. We label what we ‘think’ we know and actually know nothing about it. Canada is a free and democratic country, but “are we afraid”? There is no shame in it. At least it’s a start to the discussion. If we value freedom, then let’s talk. However, if we value ‘fear’ then by all means only allow everything that only looks and feel like Canada, whatever that might be.
We do not have to look too far back to a time when African-Canadians were looked upon as a ‘lower classes’ or even ‘in-human’, to some. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true! How about how Canadian Sikhs and the discrimination they faced? How about Chinese-Canadians and their treatment in Canadian society, from our past? How about the Irish? And let’s not forget Jewish Canadians, along with others who have and still face discrimination today. We must endeavour to not be ignorant of other cultures that come to enrich Canada. On the same foot, immigrants must try to assimilate to Canadian society. Personally I never really liked the various enclaves of ethnic groups in the G.T.A; however, that problem is more linked to multiculturalism. We will leave that talk for another day, because there are pros and cons to this type of setup. I believe in integration and education, so that no one group is marginalized.
If we continue down this path I fear that we will tear apart, as a country. Just because someone, who does not look like us, moves into a community, it does not mean we have to move out. We are Canadians of many colours. We can learn from one another and discuss our opinions freely; not in fear.
By: Torontomatic
Filed under: Issues | Tags: Afro-Canadian, American, canada, Chinese-Canadian, ethnic, GTA, racism, South-Asian, Toronto
I think I am still lamenting over the fact that Ontario, or shall I say the outskirts of Toronto, is a bit more prejudice then I thought. What am I referring to you ask? Well, it’s the comments I have heard lately and from others during this provincial election. It seems that the faith-based funding issue and the amount of “ethnic” candidates are bringing out the worst in people. Or should I say that it really has always been there? Imagine why would an Afro-Canadian, Chinese-Canadian, South-Asian or any other so called ethnic minority even think that they are allowed to run for office. This is not my Canada and it does not look like me. Our for-fathers built….Shall I go on? I have always thought that Canada is a bit more racist and intolerant then we like to believe. We like to say that Canada is not like the American experience, however I wonder who is more racist, prejudice and intolerant?
My parents are immigrants, but I grew up in Canada from birth. So am I Canadian? I think so, just as much as the person who somehow believes that it is theirs. In my experience ignorant and bigoted individuals in Toronto tend to “smile” with you and say that they like you. They may even pat you on the back and say “you are so great, you are a good person”. They would never say a mean thing to you directly; however behind your back they say some of the most awful things. I cannot use that language on this blog, but in such a diverse area such as Toronto, I am sure you can imagine it. I have even heard of individuals not voting for particular candidates because of their colour or ethnic background. So how tolerant are we? As tolerant as the peameal bacon on our plate for breakfast! I guess we are tolerant because we do not hang people from trees. So that makes us so much better then everyone else, especially American right? We can hold our heads high and say “everyone should be like us”. But I wonder are the people that make racist and ignorant remarks simply afraid? Do they now feel “threatened” because they are now considered the minority? Ironic isn’t it!
We are all shaped by our environment. Hatred is something that we learn and it is only education that can change and reshape us into a better society. We need to learn about other cultures, if we are to become a better Canada. We are all not born racists. However, when a group of people feel that they are better then others, what happens? I guess over the years these individuals have become so used to their ways that they cannot see out of the box. They feel that the immigrant should somehow conform to the Canadian way, whatever that is. We are Canadians of many colours and we can learn from one another. Maybe we can spread a little Canada to the rest of the world? “Canada does not only belong to those who sailed here first. It actually belongs to those who were here first”. Better yet, I think colorless cans of paint are on sale this weekend. We should all pick up some!
By: Torontomatic
Filed under: Issues | Tags: development, greenbelt, growth, GTA, Hazel, McCallion, Miller, Mississauga, roads, Sprawl, Toronto
All my life I have lived in the GTA and not much has changed, in terms of urban planning. I am not an expert by any means. But can someone tell me what the experts have done? Sure, probably a whole lot for the city of Toronto and beyond. I am just the average GTA resident that has to live with those wonderful decisions. Please don’t tell me that I should simply “consume less” and live downtown in an 800 sq. ft. condo for half a million (I’m exaggerating here). Not that anything is wrong with a smaller condo. I used to live in one, but that’s not the point. With our patchwork of cities and “Band-Aid” solutions it’s a miracle that I can get from point A to point B in 1 1/2 hours. But I digress! We still continue to build without true planning amongst GTA towns and cities. We still continue to think that we have a lot of time to solve our urban issues. It’s another example of much “precious little time” we have for the GTA.
In some ways I wonder if the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) is a victim of its own design. We essentially have one large city surrounded by a lot of “wanna-be” cities. Okay, I’m just kidding! I’m not against these towns and cities, since I live in one of them. We have Pickering, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Brampton and many others. No, I did not forget “THE blessed state of Mississauga“, run by her worship Hazel McCallion. Also, less we forget all of the other wonderful towns and cities that spread from the city of Toronto, like weeds! However I wonder, is this a great layout? Is this the way it should be?
We cannot change anything now, unless someone decides that it is a good idea to “amalgamate” again. Now that was a great idea? Toronto city council is still complaining about a lack of funds and money. In some ways I cannot blame the “little rulers of their kingdoms”. By design, we zone more land for development, which of course brings in more “TAXES” to the coffers of municipal governments. More people, more cars, small vision and more problems. We are our own victims! Years ago people should have demanded proper planning, however little was done to prevent sprawl. Some would say that sprawl is fine, as long as public transit goes along with it. However, lets be practical here, this is not the case. Especially for all of those people stuck on the 401 trying to get to work and pay their bills.
The Government of Ontario has come up with the “Greenbelt”, which it hopes over the next few decades will curb our urban sprawl. But they continue to loose the point on transit, which should be a precursor to development anyway. I have to spend an entire article on the Greenbelt alone, at a later date. The “Town of Markham” has come up with the idea of a “mixed-used” development called the new Downtown Markham. But I have to wonder? Is it too little to late? Only time will tell!
Filed under: Issues | Tags: Bio-fuels, canadian, CO2, Coal, electricity, emissions, Gas, Geothermal, greenhouse, Solar, Wind
Electricity is obviously fundamental to the well-being of Canadian society and industry. We feed on it and it encompasses every part of our society. However, we now have to face basic questions to ask. With increasing demand and dwindling energy sources, will there be enough electricity to supply our needs? Can our future electricity be generated without harmful effects to human health and Global Warming? There is now near “universal agreement that climate change is by far the most severe environmental problem facing the world” and that CO2 emissions is the leader among greenhouse gas driving it. Since nuclear power plants (in theory) have zero or little carbon dioxide emissions, some foremost environmentalists also appear to have lost there way in opposition to nuclear power. Albeit, the production and extraction of Uranium still delivers carbon to the atmosphere.
Even with improved safety, such a large number of reactors would entail the risk of periodic disastrous mishaps. All reactor designs now installed have the risk of accidents on the same scale as Chernobyl. I guess having Toronto so close to two of them was not such a smart idea? The probability of catastrophes is very hard to guess. However the costs for such an accident are quite severe. Do the dangers outweigh the benefits? Many have not considered nuclear waste and the costs of storage and maintenance. Yes, there is a cost! You cannot simply bury and hope it goes away.
In Ontario we have some serious questions that must be answered. Dalton McGuinty, Liberal Party of Ontario, originally promised to close all coal-burning plants by 2007. This of course that was an illogical and not well thought out promise. Or it was a way to get people to vote for them, but that is not the point. The power has to come from somewhere! No one likes coal-burning power plants and the Nanticoke Coal Plant is still one of North America’s largest polluters. The Clean Air Alliance has recently released press information in regards to the effects of the Nanticoke plant to the Green House effect (http://www.cleanair.web.net/media/press.html). In Paris, intellectuals and scientists all agree that we are warming the planet. There are some arguments against it, however it would be hard pressed to find anyone who is willing to place the face over a coal-burning plant and breathe in to clear their lungs. There are other health affects that cannot be ignored. An about face must be made now and it is not as bad as some would let us to believe.
So what are the options being thrown around?
• Clean-Coal
• Bio-fuels
• Wind
• Solar
• Geothermal
• Others
We must start to think about future generations and not just ours. Protecting the environment is not a bad thing. We should be good stewards of what has been given to us, unless you believe the earth will end in the next few years. By definition, renewable energy is clean and generates little or no hazardous pollutants. So how we could move our electric industry away from nuclear and fossil fuels and toward renewable energy and energy efficiency, all while greatly reducing the quantity of greenhouse gasses from electricity. The nuclear power industry will continue to have a future as long as politicians cover nuclear costs. Undoubtedly, the policies that favor this dangerous technology should be transformed in favor of energy efficiency and renewable technologies. But remember, no energy technology is without risks, environmental effect or economic turmoil. Governments must continue to educate the public about conservation methods and the benefits of renewable energy sources, indicating how future generations will be affected if changes are not made now.
By: Torontomatic
Torontomatic 