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【加拿大共生国际传媒讯】
WE ARE ALL CANADIANS
An Open Letter in Support of the Chinese Canadian Community
More than two hundred years ago, the first settlers from China arrived in Canada. This was followed by a wave of immigration that started in 1858. First, it was for the gold rush and afterwards, from 1881 to 1885, for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway where, as a result of poor working conditions, hundreds of Chinese immigrants died.
Throughout the years, we worked hard for a better future in a country that was not always welcoming towards immigrants. We only have to mention the discriminatory head tax in 1885, and the Chinese Immigration Act in 1923, together restricting Chinese immigration for more than 60 years. In 2006, the Chinese Canadian community accepted the long-awaited apology from the Canadian government. We believe that this should not have happened and indeed should not happen again.
We came to Canada, seeking a better life, and to participate in building a country that is one of the strongest and most stable democracies in the world. We wanted our children to enjoy the freedoms and equality rights that are constitutionally protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We wanted to build a society where everyone feels safe and at home.
Today, Chinese Canadians represent one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Jointly with our fellow Canadians, we are proud of what we have achieved. We are also proud of our contribution. One can mention the Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson, Patrick Chan, Margaret Gee, the Honorable Norman L. Kwong, former senator Vivienne Poy and many others. They are part of our history.
Until a few years ago, we were comfortable as Chinese Canadians living in Canada. This is changing. There has been increasing pressure on our community and its people. It seems that the differences and tensions between the governments of Canada and China now have direct repercussions on us. It started perhaps with the American extradition request regarding Meng Wanzhou and the arrest of the two Michaels in China. There was also COVID-19 and, most recently, what was called the “spy balloon”, the allegations about the “Chinese” election interference and the alleged “police stationsfrom China” that are now under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). If we add the media coverage of these stories, sometimes sensational and unsubstantiated, and the RCMP increasingly asking questions to community members, mostly because of their ethnicity, one can easily understand the increasing pressure we are facing. All that has drastically changed the social environment we live in across Canada and the way we are being perceived by our follow citizens. We feel that what makes Canada a land of freedom is being tested as our community live in fear.
Like all Canadians, we believe that our institutions are fundamental pillars of our democracy. We support every initiative that can make them stronger. We welcome the media and the law enforcement authorities to do their work. But in doing so, please avoid creating stigma and discrimination against the Chinese Canadians. As mentioned in the opinion entitled “Why I blew the whistle on Chinese interference on Canada’s election”, written by a national security official and published in the Globe and Mail on March 17, 2023:
“With that said, we must all recognize that this is not a partisan issue. Nor is this a China issue. Your fellow progressive Canadians, your fellow conservative Canadians, and your fellow Chinese Canadians are all just that: Canadians. In having this conversation, we must resist the reflex to reduce the challenge that faces us to one of us versus them. We must recognize that protecting our civic values should not, need not and cannot come at the cost of abandoning our commitment to diversity and multiculturalism. We must come together as a national community and ask ourselves how we can do better – this time, the next time, and all the times that follow.”
This is precisely what we stand for and what we hope and expect from our country. We have in the past lived in fear. We collectively must not allow this to occur again. March/April 2023
Signed by the following organizations from Chinese communities across Canada (in random order)
1. 大蒙特利尔华人社区发展委员会 Greater Montreal Chinese Community Development Committee
2. 多伦多福清商会 Toronto Fuqing Chamber of Commerce
3. 多伦多华人团体联合会 CTCCO
4. 枫叶学院 Centre de culture d’art Fengye
5. 加拿大促进中国和平统一联盟 Canadian Alliance for the Peaceful Reunification of China
6. 加拿大福建社团联合会 Canadian Federation of Fujian Associations
7. 加拿大广西同乡会 Association of Guangxi Origins in Canada
8. 加拿大华侨华人团体联合会 Federation of Overseas Chinese Organizations in Canada
9. 加拿大华文学校联合总会 Federation of Canadian Chinese Schools
10. 加拿大徽商总会 Canadian Anhui Merchants Association
11. 加拿大科技文化商会 Canadian Science& Technology& Culture Commerce Association
12. 加拿大魁北克四川商会 Canada Quebec Sichuan Chamber de commerce
13. 加拿大魁北克四川同乡会 Canada Quebec du Sichuan Association
14. 加拿大魁省潮州會館 Chao Chow Association of Quebec / Association Chao Chow du Québec
15. 加拿大魁省柬華協會 Cambodia Chinese Association of Québec (Canada) / Association des Chinois du Cambodge au Québec (Canada)
16. 加 拿 大 满地 可（ 蒙 特利 尔 ）华 人联 合 总会 Montreal Chinese Community United Centre/MCCUC
17. 加拿大蒙特利尔华侨华人促进中国和平统一联盟 Canadian Alliance for the Peaceful Reunification of China (Montreal Chapter)
18. 加拿大蒙特利尔华星艺术团 Ecole des Arts Phoenix
19. 加拿大闽南总商会 Canadian Hokkien General Chamber of Commerce
20. 加拿大三佳国际教育学院 TAC College
21. 加拿大山东商会 Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Shandong
22. 加拿大云南同乡会 Canada Yunnan Association
23. 加拿大中国文化艺术协会 L’Association de la Culture et des Arts Chinois du Canada
24. 加中农业协会：Canada China Agriculture Association Inc. (萨省/Saskatchewan）
25. 加中友谊促进会 CCFPA
26. 加 中 文 化 交 流 协 会 ： Canada China Cultural Exchange Association Inc. （萨省 /Saskatchewan ）
27. 九鼎俱乐部 JiuDing Club
28. 魁北克省安徽同乡会 Anhui Association of Quebec
29. 魁北克北京同乡会 Association des Pékinois du Québec
30. 魁北克福建龙舟俱乐部 Club de Bateau Dragon Fujian
31. 魁北克格瑞斯多元文化协会 Quebec Grace Multicultural Association
32. 魁北克河南商会 Chambre de Commerce de Henan au Canada
33. 魁北克河南同乡会 Association Citadine Henan du Quebec
34. 魁北克湖北同乡会 Association Hubei du Quebec
35. 魁北克华人同乡会联合总会-Alliance Of Quebec Chinese Associations
36. 魁北克山东同乡会 Quebec Shandong Association
37. 魁北克山西同乡会 Shanxi Association of Quebec
38. 魁北克天津同乡会 L'association de Tianjin du Québec
39. 魁北克云南商会 Quebec Yunnan Chamber of Commerce
40. 魁省台山寧陽會館Hoy Sun Ning Yung Association of Quebec, Canada
41. 雄鷹体育會 Hung Ying Athletic Association of Montreal, Canada
42. 滿地可陳穎川堂 Montreal Chin Wing Chun Tong Association
43. 滿地可至孝堂 Montreal Gee How Tong Association
44. 蒙特利尔凤凰艺术团 La Troupe Artisitique de Phoenix
45. 蒙特利尔海南同乡会 Hainanese association of Montreal
46. 蒙特利尔花都同乡会 Hua Du Association of Montreal
47. 蒙特利尔华商会 Montreal Chinese Chamber of Commerce
48. 蒙特利尔中华文化艺术基金会 Montreal Chinese Culture and Arts Foundation (MCCAF)
49. 中加华商联合会 Sino-canadien Chambre de Commerce-unis
50. 中加艺术科技联盟 CCAT
Editor：Xian Hu
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