Calling for a Secular Democratic Canada

Racism is a polluted river overflowing its banks, fed by many streams of hate

The clarion call for our time is to end systemic racism honour diversity but is that possible if we deny the root causes of bias and discrimination in Canada?

Of course, we must speak out when anyone is attacked, being a bystander is to be accessory to a crime. Failure to act allows our communities and the country we proudly call home to be unsafe for people not fully included for reasons of colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or mental or physical disability.

It’s heartening that some of us have realized that none of us can live in peace and equality if any of us are denied equal rights but action is another matter. Rallies against anti-Asian racism during COVID and the current explosion of anti-Jewish hate are usually overwhelming attended by the targeted. That’s not good enough!

To uproot systemic discrimination, we must go much further and more of us must get involved. Our schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, governments, faith, community and cultural groups must practice and teach equality, respect and inclusivity.  As a society we must recognize that Canada, despite its rich and growing diversity, remains dominated by Euro-Christian culture and symbols. In a democratic country there must be fairness and equality.

Attend a local high school band concert and the music is dominated by European music, seldom including other cultures. Look at our flags, medals, awards and monarchy which is crowned in Christian ceremony and symbolism. The only statutory holidays that are faith based are Christian, adherents to other faiths must take unpaid leave, which may not be approved. Even the RCMP logo includes a cross.

Our streets and public places are rarely named for Indigenous, Chinese, Jewish, or Black Canadians who contributed to building Canada or exceptional people not of European ancestry who chose Canada more recently. People from all of these communities served and died for Canada in the World Wars and yet our memorials do little to make Canadians aware of their sacrifices. Regrettably, while some progress has been made, some places remain named for Canadians who participated in discrimination and persecution. Such blatant unfairness and insensitivity is indefensible even on a historic basis.

I haven’t written to embarrass, denounce or condemn but rather to ask all of us to think thoughtfully about these issues. If we Canadians are ready to fully embrace our diversity and ensure that everyone enjoys full equality then we must transform all of our institutions and practices. Otherwise, we are just giving lip service to good intentions while the hegemony of the majority continues to impose two-tiered us v. them citizenship on everyone else and that is the very definition of systemic racism.

Michael Bloomfield
Victoria, BC 
June 14, 2024