Canada's "renewed" Multiculturalism Program raises doubts about reassurances offered by Secretary Fry (04/27/97)

Canada's "renewed" Multiculturalism Program raises doubts about reassurances offered by Secretary Fry

by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj
Toronto Press Bureau

TORONTO - Canada's secretary of state for multiculturalism, Dr. Hedy Fry, unveiled the federal government's "renewed Multiculturalism Program" on April 15.

According to a press release issued that day by her office, the program "consists of new funding criteria and clear objectives [that] will focus on such areas as fighting racism; encouraging the full and active participation of all Canadians; and helping public institutions respond to cultural diversity by breaking down barriers and supporting the involvement of communities in public decision-making."

The official statement also suggests that "program objectives are linked to three policy goals: social justice, civic participation and identity."

Secretary Fry is quoted as saying "The updated program will be more effective, efficient and results-oriented. New program directions will ensure that we continue to respond to the evolving needs of Canadians as our society becomes more culturally diverse."

The Multiculturalism Secretariat, the Department of Multiculturalism and the Canadian Heritage Ministry have faced mounting criticism from Canada's ethnocultural communities in recent months.

Their concern became particularly acute after the government's official review of the policy resulted in a draft document titled "Multiculturalism: Renewed Program Design. Public Document for Discussion with Stakeholders" that was released to community leaders in December 1996.

Meeting with community leaders

To address such concerns, on March 1 Dr. Fry met in Regina, Saskatchewan, with ethnocultural community leaders of the province, and reaffirmed the federal government's commitment to multiculturalism and offered personal assurances that funding for existing projects would not be jeopardized by the program review initiated last year.

Dr. Fry addressed representatives of the German, Polish, Ukrainian and Native communities, as well as senior executive, of general heritage language, immigrant women's and ethnocultural affairs groups, at the Multicultural Forum held at the Hotel Saskatchewan.

That day, the British Columbia-based junior Cabinet member also met separately with UCC's Government Relations Committee members Adrian Boyko (also president of UCC's Saskatchewan Provincial Council) and Dr. Bohdan Kordan, as well as Orest Warenyca, president, and Wade Luzny, executive director, of Saskatchewan's Multicultural Council (MCS).

At the latter meeting, UCC officials communicated their concern about the impact of funding cuts on program delivery, and their displeasure that the "program redesign" proposals being circulated by senior Department of Multiculturalism bureaucrats were clear departures from policy as defined in the Multiculturalism Act.

In a March 7 UCC press release, Mr. Boyko was quoted as saying that Ukrainian Canadians are "concerned that the department is exercising greater latitude in interpreting the policy and the act. We raised this with the minister so that there could be no misinterpretation."

Mr. Boyko related to The Weekly on March 24 that Dr. Fry was told recent contacts with civil servants concerning the policy amounted to "non-consultative consultations."

"Three times we met with [government officials] and each time they came back with the same document, which diluted the government mandate," Mr. Boyko said.

Soft-pedalling of policy?

On March 27, Dr. Kordan told The Weekly that the state secretary was asked point blank: "Who's in charge here? You, or the bureaucracy?" The Saskatoon-based political science professor said the Ukrainian community was tired of the soft-pedalling of an official policy enshrined in the country's Constitution and set out in formal legislation.

"We are being faced with a redefinition of multiculturalism that is producing a policy departure both in terms of funding and government consultation on matters that concern us as Canadian citizens, voters and taxpayers," Dr. Kordan said.

Susan Scotti, the Multiculturalism Department's director general, has been the focus of wide-ranging criticism in this regard.

"The Liberal government wants the appearance of endorsing multiculturalism, but all the while the civil servants gut the policy and the MPs mark time to the next election," Dr. Kordan added combatively.

Mr. Boyko told The Weekly that, when pressed at the March 1 meeting, Dr. Fry assured the gathering that special Ukrainian projects would not be threatened by new "cross-cultural" requirements drawn up by civil servants, which stipulate that more than one community benefit from any projects funded by the government.

According to the March 7 press release, "Minister Fry ... reassured members of the delegation that the aim of the [redesign] program was not to undermine the existing [multiculturalism funding] program but rather strengthen it."

Mr. Boyko is quoted as saying "We are pleased with the minister's reassurance that funding for multiculturalism will continue ... The government of Canada is given clear direction by the act, and the policy should conform to the letter and spirit of both. We expect this to be the case and have been reassured by the minister that the program redesign will in no way depart from the existing policy."

Mr. Luzny, the MCS's executive director, concurred in with the UCC's concerns as expressed by Mr. Boyko, echoing a position outlined in the March 7 press release contending that "the government of Canada has a duty and an obligation to preserve the common heritage of Canadians."

A less conciliatory stance

However, as confirmed by a number of those present at the Regina meeting, Dr. Fry's executive assistant, Artur Wilczynski, assumed a less conciliatory stance after the minister had left to catch a flight.

Mr. Wilczynski allegedly pulled out a list of projects the federal government had funded in the past, and reiterated that the new "cross-cultural program guidelines" proposed by bureaucrats would have to be followed if funding was to continue.

Contacted in Ottawa on April 16, Mr. Wilczynski said "Regarding the list of projects, it's not that they will automatically qualify, or that they will be automatically disqualified."

"If the project is specific to the community, and yet ensures the participation of its members in Canadian society as citizens of a multicultural society, then there is no reason suppose that it would be turned down. But it does have to meet the new criteria," Dr. Fry's assistant said.

Asked to comment on the UCC's March 7 press release, Mr. Wilczynski replied, "To say that the new policy will in no way depart [from the existing policy] may have been a bit strong - there are three new directions: social justice, civic participation and identity - but we do agree that multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society, and the renewed policy will reflect this."

Mr. Wilczynski also said the new guidelines "do not say that you have to make ["cross-cultural"] partnerships," but they do encourage them. "The aim of the multiculturalism policy is to facilitate participation in every aspect of Canadian life," he said, "if an individual community makes a strong case that its project will accomplish this, according to the new criteria, then that will work."

In March and early April, Dr. Fry could not accommodate several Weekly requests for interviews because of illness and a busy schedule, according to officials at her office, but Mr. Wilczynski pointed out that the minister would be attending the Canadian Ethnic Studies Chairholders Conference at the University of Toronto on April 18.

In the April 15 Canadian Heritage press release, Dr. Fry is quoted as saying, "The renewed Multiculturalism Program is based on goals of the multiculturalism policy and the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, and is the result of the first comprehensive review in 25 years."

A shift of focus

Asked to elaborate on the UCC's position, Dr. Kordan said the government is increasingly shifting focus away from traditional issues of multiculturalism, toward issues of social justice, combating racism and discriminatory practices, claiming that Ukrainians do not face hurdles in this area and thus do not need governmental support.

"Officials now are talking about tolerance, the sense of justice that animates Canadian society - these are unquestionable positive characteristics, but the government is presenting them as if they don't exist within a specific cultural context," Dr. Kordan said.

"We're getting the message that 'you have to do more cross-cultural work, work with aboriginal groups, you strengthen your identity by helping others,' - that's not just paternalism, it's social engineering. It's an assimilationist idea. We're being told, 'You have to strip off your cultural baggage and help these new arrivals become Canadian,' " the political scientist added.

Dr. Kordan said the Ukrainian community needs to be vigilant against this tendency. "Either it's an error of neglect or ignorance, or it's a calculated strategy. Either way it's an attack on the basic law of the land and an assault on the [multiculturalism] policy."

"If you're departing from the policy, say so," the UCC spokesman added. "It's an election year, you're going to face us at the polls, and we [Canada's ethnocultural communities] represent 42 percent of the electorate."

Mr. Wilczynski said ethnocultural communities' concerns will be addressed. "We're in a three-year transition period, beginning in 1997, so it's not like there is a cut-off for existing programs. This year, there will be no change, and we've communicated that to various groups," he said.

Demise of program funding

Mr. Luzny said the government's approach signals the demise of program funding, the traditional approach since the policy's inception, as opposed to project funding.

"The two- to three-year transition period applies only to projects," the MCS official said, "and program funding is essentially terminated." Mr. Luzny added, "you have to reinvent areas of activity instead of continuing to work on long-term programs that have worked in the past - things like heritage language programs."

Raising doubts about the efficiency of the government's approach, Mr. Luzny said, "This way involves a lot more paperwork; a lot more time is expended on administrative matters, filling in applications and so on."

According to the government's April 15 press release, information concerning the multiculturalism program is available through the Canadian Heritage Ministry's regional offices, can be obtained by calling (819) 994-6625, or by accessing the ministry's website at http://www.pch.cg.ca under "What's New."

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