Canada has become a very multicultural country, due to its general acceptance of refugees and immigrants.
But, a Canadian MP, who almost became the leader of the Conservative Party, obviously isn’t happy with what he sees happening in Canada.
MP Maxime Bernier went on a massive Twitter rant recently about how diversity will “destroy what has made us such a great country.”
@hon.maximebernierembedded via
In the first part of his six part rant, the MP said that, “diversity is part of us and should be celebrated. But where do we draw the line?”
1/ Trudeau keeps pushing his “diversity is our strength” slogan. Yes, Canada is a huge and diverse country. This diversity is part of us and should be celebrated. But where do we draw the line?Diversity is what makes Canada strong: Trudeau https://t.co/dZmCffRBFY
In part two, he expresses the idea that he doens't think that Canada should do something like shut down its borders, saying “Canada is today one of the countries where people have the most freedom to express their identity.”
2/ Ethnic, religious, linguistic, sexual and other minorities were unjustly repressed in the past. We’ve done a lot to redress those injustices and give everyone equal rights. Canada is today one of the countries where people have the most freedom to express their identity.
But in part three, he says he isn’t sure why Canada should “promote ever more diversity,” going on to say that, “if anything and everything is Canadian, does being Canadian mean something?"
"Shouldn’t we emphasize our cultural traditions, what we have built and have in common, what makes us different from other cultures and societies?”
3/ But why should we promote ever more diversity? If anything and everything is Canadian, does being Canadian mean something? Shouldn’t we emphasize our cultural traditions, what we have built and have in common, what makes us different from other cultures and societies?
He wrote in part four that he worries that “having people live among us who reject basic Western values such as freedom, equality, tolerance and openness doesn’t make us strong.”
4/ Having people live among us who reject basic Western values such as freedom, equality, tolerance and openness doesn’t make us strong. People who refuse to integrate into our society and want to live apart in their ghetto don’t make our society strong.
In part five, he begins to blame the Prime Minister for actually dividing Canadians by promoting diversity. "Trudeau’s extreme multiculturalism and cult of diversity will divide us into little tribes that have less and less in common, apart from their dependence on government in Ottawa," he writes
5/ Trudeau’s extreme multiculturalism and cult of diversity will divide us into little tribes that have less and less in common, apart from their dependence on government in Ottawa. These tribes become political clienteles to be bought with taxpayers $ and special privileges.
He finishes his rant with a powerful sentence - “it’s time we reverse this trend before the situation gets worse. More diversity will not be our strength, it will destroy what has made us such a great country.”
6/ Cultural balkanisation brings distrust, social conflict, and potentially violence, as we are seeing everywhere. It’s time we reverse this trend before the situation gets worse. More diversity will not be our strength, it will destroy what has made us such a great country.
Many people in the comments are very angry with Bernier and his strongly worded rant.
"...repressed in the past"Holy shit, did we solve racism/homophobia/transphobia/xenophobia etc.? Why didnt anyone tell me!
I still face hate & discrimination because of my sexual orientation. I am afraid to show any affection to my boyfriend in public-too dangerous. People steal & deface #LGBT symbols. Homophobic political leaders. Marriage rights did not end all problems. #cdnpoli
You do know that Canada is a cultural Mosaic and not a melting pot, right?
Dear @MaximeBernier - one never stops working on diversity because it’s too easy to roll back equal rights for all and to stop seeing the humanity in each person. Just look at the travesties unfolding in the US.#cdnpoli
Bernier has tried to clarify his tweets today, saying he doesn't hate diversity but "there is a difference between recognizing diversity and pushing for ever more of it. Something infinitely diverse has no core identity and ceases to exist."
2/ Canada has always been a diverse country and this is part of who we are. I love this Canada. But there is a difference between recognizing diversity and pushing for ever more of it. Something infinitely diverse has no core identity and ceases to exist.