CANADA

Statement by

Hedy Fry, P. C., M. P.
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)

On thé occasion of thé UN World Conférence Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Durban, South Africa, September 1, 2001


Madame President, Ministers, Excellencies, mesdames et messieurs, senors y senores - good evening.

On behalf of Canada, I want to thank thé government and thé people of South Africa for thé dedication and hard work that went into putting together this important and timely meeting - and for thé warm hospitality of thé people of Durban. It is fitting that such a historic conférence should be held here in South Africa, not only in memory of thé bitter but heroic struggle of its people to rid themselves of thé virulent legacy of apartheid - but also in tribute to a remarkable new democracy. A democracy rooted in thé belief that diverse peoples can, through truth, forgiveness and reconciliation leave behind a tormented past and achieve, respect and peace.

I can think of no greater aspiration or inspiration than that. Surely this is why we have all come here - to build such a world for all our children.
Canadians are proud that we are today a bilingual, multicultural nation, whose diverse people enjoy a remarkable level of prosperity, tolerance and social cohesion, sharing common values of compassion and fairness. Nevertheless Canadians would acknowledge that our history has not always been one of inclusion and respect.

For a long time thé Aboriginal peoples of Canada faced displacement and assimilation, which eroded their social, economic and governance structures. We recognize that this has had a long term effect on Aboriginal peoples. Many immigrants came to Canada to escape discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion. Others faced these challenges on arrival. Perhaps it is because of their experiences, thé mistakes we made and thé lessons we have learned, that Canadians developed a strong vision of a just, tolerant and accommodating society - a vision that has begun to be realized in our time. This vision has led us to take our own path - to create a mosaic that honours and respects thé diversity of our citizens. Our approach has been that equality cannot be achieved by treating everyone thé same. For us, equality can only be achieved through specific and appropriate solutions that address thé barriers faced by individuals and groups: barriers created by discrimination based on race, language, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation. As a result, Canada's framework for equality is rooted in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This document entrenches in our constitution a fundamental recognition of thé equality of individuals. It forms thé backdrop for legislation such as thé Canadian Human Rights Act, and thé Multiculturalism and Employment Equity Acts. However, we have learned in Canada that legislation does not necessarily guarantee change. It must be supplemented by programs and policies that make it possible for all Canadians to participate in thé social, political, economic and cultural life of our country. Those programs and policies must be developed in partnership with civil society.
In preparation for this conférence, we consulted broadly with civil society to understand thé scope of racism and discrimination in Canada and develop thé responses required. We consulted with youth, women, communities, NGOs and indigenous peoples. We heard of their experiences of subtle and not so subtle racism and discrimination often because of multiple factors such as race, religion, ethnicity, language, gender, colour, disability, sexual orientation, and social or economic status. We also heard that multiple grounds of discrimination compound racism, and particularly affect those communities who identify themselves within a unique, complex interplay of religion, ethnicity and other factors.

Issues affecting aboriginal peoples were a particular focus of thé consultations. And while thé quality of life in Aboriginal communities is improving we remain concerned that living conditions are still well below those of other Canadians. The Government is committed to working with Aboriginal peoples as they strive to build a better future for themselves and their communities. We recognize this commitment extends to a range of issues from resolving land claims to addressing housing and health issues, to strengthening self-sufficiency and economic development.
Canada's relationship with Aboriginal peoples will continue to evolve, to respond to changing realities. We cannot afford to remain entrenched in old ways of thinking, but rather, we must be guided by a mutual desire to see Aboriginal peoples share fully in thé social, and economic opportunities of Canadian society.

We also heard that visible minorities, in particular African Canadians, still face barriers to full participation in thé economic life of Canada. Problems with acceptance of foreign credentials by certain trades and professions may constitute a compounding factor.
We realize that although Canada today has achieved remarkable success as a tolerant and inclusive society, we still have work to do to achieve our goals - of a diverse and democratic society - a society that can and must move beyond tolerance to respect.
This is thé challenge that we face as Canadians.

Madame Chair, our présence at this World Conférence is proof of our willingness to work with our fellow member states to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance. This conférence is a beginning - but it would be tragic if it should lose its way.
Bitterness and anger, blame and recrimination narrow our vision and blind us to thé greater goal, which is to leave our children a legacy of hope.
This Conférence is an opportunity for national and global introspection. This conférence is an opportunity to develop effective, appropriate, universal strategies to eradicate root causes of conflict. We are here - because we believe that dialogue is thé key to understanding - and understanding is thé first step to finding common ground that will lead to mutual respect and peaceful co-existence.
We haard from Canadians that they want thé outcomes of this conférence to be forward looking, action orientated and dedicated to developing practical effective strategies to combat racism.

Madame Chair, there are many common issues on which we all can agrée. We know that new technology, emerging patterns of migration and global trade are changing thé way people interact. In particular, new communications technologies such as thé internet are being used to promote hatred. Our challenge is to eradicate messages of hate while preserving thé fundamental right to freedom of expression and freedom of association.
As well, globalization is having a profound effect on how we relate to one another. It could help us to understand each other better or divide us further. The choice is ours. Developing concrete, forward looking measures to address all of these issues will take cooperation and partnership. We thé governments of thé world cannot do it alone. We need thé strength and wisdom of civil society to guide us so we can
understand thé reality of their lives and to find effective solutions to our common problems.

Youth are a key component of civil society. They view racism through a différent lens. I heard earlier this week at thé youth summit that Governments need to stop speaking to youth and start listening to them. They are thé unes on thé front lines of thé struggle against discrimination. They live and breathe thé challenges that people from our generation have still not been able to solve. Governments need to recognize thé rightful place of youth in thé dialogue so that we - together across generations - will be able to tackle these difficult issues.
Madame Chair, let us resolve to move beyond exclusion to inclusion, beyond blame to réconciliation. - beyond singling out any one nation and acknowledging that human rights abuses and discrimination plague us all. To allow any one issue to dominate at thé expense of all others is to silence thé voice of thé many who are here to testify to their suffering. And it sidelines thé UN at thé very moment when thé disaffected are counting on it most. And let me emphasize, that this Conference will not meet its crucial goals if we allow thé current situation in thé Middle East to monopolize our discussions. It is clear that thé parties themselves must take thé necessary steps to regain thé impetus towards a negotiated peace. This conférence must avoid, and Canada will not endorse, any language that does not serve this basic objective.
Madame Chair, slavery is a pernicious form of racism. Past or present it is morally repugnant and an indelible stain on thé fabric of history. Tragically, it is still being practised today.

This conférence challenges us to promote thé values that unite us rather than divide us - to search for our common humanity as
peoples of a rainbow world. To acknowledge the past, but not be prisoner to it. To recognize that our present and our future are ours to make.
Let us, as leaders, accept our responsibilities. Let us leave to our children a legacy of freedom - not oppression. Of openness - not prejudice. Of generosity, tolerance and respect for one another.
Madame Chair, as we meet here in the country of Nelson Mandela, the province of Chief Luthuli and the City of Mahatma Gandhi, let us re-dedicate ourselves to the vision they defended so valiantly - the vision of peace, dignity and reconciliation. Let this, not division, be the legacy of Durban.