Filipiniana News -
Rhyme or Reason
April 2011
According to many surveys, the vast
majority of Canadian citizens do not plan to vote this coming federal
elections. If you are reading this
article before May 2, 2011, I hope that this article will convince you not to
waste your right to vote for the reasons explained below.
A Citizen’s
Right and Privilege
One of the most important distinctions
between permanent residents and citizens is the latter’s right to vote. It is as much a right as it is a
privilege. More than that, it is also a
civic duty and should therefore not be taken for granted. For many of us who are naturalized citizens, it
is a concrete and wonderful opportunity to participate in the decision-making
process of the country which we have chosen to call our own.
Environmental
Degradation
Recent natural disasters worldwide remind
us of our extreme vulnerability vis-à-vis our natural habitat. Therefore, the government’s plans and
policies concerning the environment should be a top priority. We need to remember that we are but stewards
of the earth and should be acting responsibly, instead of wantonly destroying
the very sources of our survival.
If we wish to allow the future generations
to continue enjoying the quality of life that we have now, we should pay
careful attention to how the environmental issue is being treated by those who
are seeking our votes. The importance of
this very issue is so vital in that if the environment continues to deteriorate
at its present rate, then all other issues will not even matter as our mother
nature and its creatures (including human beings) will eventually cease to
exist.
If the politicians seeking to govern our
country are therefore sweeping this issue under the rug or are prioritizing
corporate profits over environmental sustainability, then we should be very
wary. They are not really promoting our
interests but are simply looking at the short-term benefits of the mighty
dollar and are obviously kowtowing to pressure from those with economic power.
Immigration and
Human Rights
It is trite to say that Canada is a country
of immigrants. As such, immigration
objectives and human rights values should lie at the very core of government
laws and decision-making. Immigration
policies and practices which reflect utmost fairness for those seeking
admission, and genuine compassion for
those displaced from their countries of origin by unfortunate circumstances,
should be another absolute priority.
Although it is clear that human rights
values should pervade every aspect of government policy and decision-making,
immigration issues make it even more imperative to pay closer attention to how
these values are actually enforced. A
political party or candidate who simply mouths empty rhetoric without making
concrete proposals for reform or whose track record is clearly inconsistent
with these values, should not get our vote.
We should also be critical of short-sighted
policies which fail to consider long-term social impact.
These include programs which simply facilitate the entry of temporary
foreign workers without providing adequate safeguards against worker
exploitation (not only by employers but also by recruiters, consultants, etc.),
prolonged family separation, settlement difficulties and even disqualification
from permanent residency. These are the
very same issues which continue to plague the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
where the vast majority of participants are from the Philippines. While we are grateful for the recent changes
which have already benefited many caregivers and their families, much more
needs to be done towards resolving the many other issues which continue to
plague the LCP.
Health and
Social Welfare
Among the reasons that Canada has become a
desirable place to live in is its generous health and social welfare
system. However, it is also well-known
that the system has been fast deteriorating.
From a severe shortage of healthcare providers, to huge cuts in
government spending, to frustrating bureaucratic delays – this area of
governance is clearly in urgent need of drastic and effective reforms.
Instead of dismissing those who advocate
for these programs as communists or alarmists, we must question the allocation
of government resources, and determine if the priorities are properly placed on
human well-being, rather than corporate interests.
Economic
Security
For many, this issue should be on top of
the priority list as the state of the economy determines government budget allocation,
taxation and other related matters.
Yes, this issue is extremely important but it is equally important not
to simply boil everything down to dollars and cents. Human lives and dignity are priceless. And the world’s wealth are not meant to be
hoarded by a select few. I strongly
believe that there is enough wealth in the world to eliminate poverty and
hunger, prevent illnesses and provide respectable homes to everyone. If the leadership will lead the way and apply
true values of fairness and compassion, as well as genuine commitment to public
service, then economic security will eventually be achieved, not just by a
handful, but by the rest of the long-deprived majority.
These are but some of the extremely
important general issues which I believe the politicians should clearly address
in this election campaign. There will of
course be other issues, more specific or less contentious, that are equally
calling for attention.
It is therefore vital that we should not
vote solely on the basis of charisma, oratorical skills, grandstanding, empty
promises or worse, petty mudslinging, which sadly pervade election
campaigns. Instead, we should carefully
listen to what these politicians are really saying, probe into their motives
and decide which party or candidate we believe, in good conscience, will work
towards promoting our interests and those of future generations.
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