https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/niagara-readers-opinion-letters-insight-comment/article_628d75ef-0ce0-5058-949f-57b47625dbc3.html
Opinion | Niagara letters June 25: Immigrants are not the problem
Newcomers are being targeted by some to score political points when the real problems can be found elsewhere, says a reader.
What’s responsible when it comes to immigration policy is for Canada to respect its international legal treaty obligations to accept refugees, writes Saleh Waziruddin.
A real awkward truth
Re: Awkward truth, Niagara letters, June 20
The letter from a former Niagara Region councillor and provincial candidate is baffling in misunderstanding the opinion column about cheering a Team Canada of immigrants while falling for anti-immigrant propaganda. The letter even calls for “reasonable accommodation” in immigration, as if those born here need protection from immigrants.
The letter says the case for refugees was used for “reckless and irresponsible” immigration. What’s responsible is Canada respecting its international legal treaty obligations to accept refugees, which comes from what happened when Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany were turned away by Canada and the U.S.
This responsibility is already violated by “safe third country” agreements which turn away refugees at the U.S. border.
The reason so many Canadians become anti-immigrant is not because of immigrants but how immigrants are blamed to score political points. This is both from below — white supremacist groups calling for mass deportations — and from above — governments actually carrying out record deportations.
Immigrants are blamed for housing shortages when that’s controlled by for-profit corporate landlords. Studies show when immigrants are deported, roughly as many citizens lose jobs because these jobs are complementary, not competing.
Immigrants should be seen as part of the solution, not the problem. The problem isn’t “reckless and irresponsible” immigration, but reckless and irresponsible racism that scapegoats immigrants and stokes fears using the conspiracy theory whites are being replaced by racialized immigrants.
The awkward truth is many fear Canada becoming a more Black and brown country.
Saleh Waziruddin, Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association, executive committee member
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