NEWS AND VIEWS

The Canadian Issues Roundtable: the future of Canadian diversity

by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

For some time the Ukrainian community in Canada and others have recognized the need for a revitalization of the multicultural policy and programs. In particular, we see a need to re-examine the legislative underpinnings that guarantee human rights and access for all to government programs and services, as well as to re-examine the impact of specific multiculturalism programs and establish their relevance to the Ukrainian community in, let's say, the next 10 years.

There is a general view that assimilation is a desirable Canadian value. If that were a universal virtue, Canada would not be making monumental efforts to protect its French minority in the sea of British distinctiveness.

The Canadian Issues Roundtable organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation (UCPBF) might wish to explore the following issues:

• What are the consequences of special treatment of some groups and not others?
  
  
• How much assimilation does it take to become Canadian?
  
  
• What is Canada's aim: assimilation to extinction or assimilation with distinction?

In recent months the Canadian government has issued several documents that deal with equality, inclusivity and access. The Liberal Task Force on French Language in Western Canada, the Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) review of broadcasting; and the Treasury Board's Task Force on Visible Minorities, among others, deal with these issues. In the main, however, they do not provide the perspective of the Ukrainian and other European communities that are not of the Anglo-Celtic or French cultures. This is a large well-established and influential part of the Canadian society and its views need to be heard.

The Ukrainian community had been in the forefront of Canada's multicultural policy since its inception; it wishes to be a key player at the present time as well. The UCPBF, as one of the leading Canada-wide organizations, is convening a roundtable to sort things out. This is the rationale.

The other key issue on the agenda is Canada-Ukraine relations, with a focus on strategies that work. After nearly 10 years of cooperation and considerable millions of dollars being spent, the key question is: Are we getting the most bang for the buck, as the saying goes?

Canada has considerable strategic, economic and cultural interests in Ukraine. Ukrainian Canadians in particular, have a keen interest to have the government of Canada reflect this in its policies and practices vis-à-vis Ukraine.

Ukraine's transformation to a state "more like us," i.e., a market economy, has been most difficult. Its strategic importance, however, makes this an issue for the entire Western world: all need to assist Ukraine during its period of transition.

The Ukrainian community in Canada wishes to work very closely with the government to deliver a Canadian position that will be a rallying point for other Western countries in their attempts to assist Ukraine.

Here are a few ideas on how that might be done:

• Enlarge Canada's current "special" relationship with Ukraine along the best practices of the British Commonwealth.
  
  
• Enlarge the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) technical assistance budget to more favorably reflect the tax base of some 1 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent.
  
  
• Provide tax credits to families that support family members in Ukraine (and others).
  
  
• Provide credits to Ukrainian charities along the lines of the Canada-Israel and Israel-U.S. bonds arrangement.
  
  
• Involve Canadians of Ukrainian descent with meritorious expertise and language skills, who are uniquely suited to deal with Canada-Ukraine relations, at the highest levels.
  
  
• Fund a study and develop a non-Russocentric operational paradigm for policy development vis-à-vis Ukraine.
  
  
• Establish a world-class policy and study center on Ukraine in Canada.
  
  
• Organize a visit to Canada by the president of Ukraine on the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, recognizing the fact that Canada was the first country to grant diplomatic recognition to independent Ukraine.

Hopefully these points will add to the debate that is already taking place among thinking Canadians and will be elaborated upon at the Canadian Issues Roundtable in Ottawa on September 16-17.

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is president of the Ukrainian Canadian Business and Professional Federation.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 17, 2000, No. 38, Vol. LXVIII

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