Is Canada ready to support its first non-white party leader?
ItB次元官网网址檚 a question that dominated much of the conversation Tuesday when former New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen met with residents and Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke NDP incumbent Randall Garrison, at the Stick in the Mud Coffee House in Sooke.
Cullen is completing a Building a Healthier Future tour where heB次元官网网址檚 touted his belief that only the NDP will stop Conservative Leader Andrew Sheer from forming the next federal government.
The conversation soon turned from political alliances to race as Cullen acknowledged that his party has faced challenges after embracing Jagmeet Singh as its leader in 2017.
B次元官网网址淲hen we picture a national leader itB次元官网网址檚 someone who looks like you and me,B次元官网网址� said Cullen, gesturing at his own face.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people expect a male, white guy of a certain age and background. Yet the country isnB次元官网网址檛 a 60-year-old straight white guy and its disturbing that some people havenB次元官网网址檛 realized it yet.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a reality thatB次元官网网址檚 been demonstrated several times since Singh became party leader.
Singh in recent months was forced to abandon press conferences when belligerent protesters interrupted the proceedings. On another occasion, a woman accused Singh of supporting Sharia law.
Sharia Law is an Islamic religious tradition and Singh is Sikh.
Cullen said many of these concerns could have been addressed if Singh had the opportunity to enter the House of Commons earlier.
B次元官网网址淎t first, he wasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed into the House because there were no byelections, and they (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) wouldnB次元官网网址檛 call a byelection,B次元官网网址� Cullen said.
B次元官网网址淚t had an impact since it makes a huge difference when you actually hear him (Singh) instead of hearing people talk about him.B次元官网网址�
Cullen said that after Singh won a byelection in late February, the NDP was left with a short window of opportunity to let people know who their leader was and what he stood for.
B次元官网网址淣ow, the more I hear him and see him in action, the more and more IB次元官网网址檓 impressed with him,B次元官网网址� said Randall Garrison, the NDP incumbent for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke electoral district, who was also present for TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 informal gathering.
B次元官网网址淚 watched the leaderB次元官网网址檚 debate, and I was so impressed. You had the Liberals and Conservatives bickering and there was Jagmeet, off on the side, saying, B次元官网网址極K, how does this help solve the price of medication, or housing, or the opioid crisis?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Cullen also said the rhetoric of some other politicians does little to advance the debate about race and diversity.
B次元官网网址淭he Bloc (Qu茅b茅cois) leader told voters in Quebec to only support candidates that B次元官网网址榣ooked like them.B次元官网网址� Then (PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Party of Canada Leader Maxime) Bernier repeated it,B次元官网网址� Cullen said.
B次元官网网址淭hese arenB次元官网网址檛 just racial dog whistles, they are outright whistles. ItB次元官网网址檚 important that we watch for that and stand up against it.B次元官网网址�
CullenB次元官网网址檚 comments were met with agreement from the Sooke residents in the group.
Johanna Sholton said sheB次元官网网址檇 come to listen to what Cullen had to say and agreed with his assessment of SinghB次元官网网址檚 performance as the NDP leader.
At one point in the discussion, she said that itB次元官网网址檚 too bad that we even have to talk about (SinghB次元官网网址檚) ethnicity, but itB次元官网网址檚 something we have to face and educate people about.
mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
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