Welcome to Extra N.A. Online! Tuesday September 7, 2010 Homepage    |    News    |    Archives    |    Advertise    |    Contact Us    |    News Email to a Friend > PM supports diversity Wednesday, September 24, 2008 PM Harper By Neil Armstrong TORONTO, Canada: Weeks before Canada’s October 14, elections, PM Stephen Harper is looking to mend fences in the black and ethnic community. Last week, members of the groups had pressed for widespread insititutional changes, especially in employment, representation and education. But, speaking in a roundtable discussion for media from ethnic communities at a hotel in Toronto recently, the Harper promised change over time in the makeup of the public service to reflect the varied ethnic groups, and eventual recognition of foreign credentials of newcomers to the country, in what he says will be even greater attempts at including minority groups. “We want them to become successful Canadians.” newcomers The prime minister said Canada has welcomed over 600,000 newcomers in the two-and-a-half years since the Conservatives have been in office. “We have done things to improve the lives of newcomers, cutting the Right of Landing fee introduced by the previous government, cut it in half from $1,000 to $500. We have invested in settlement programmes, introduced the Canadian Experience Programme in 2007, the first time that foreign students can apply.” He said his government is trying to modernize the immigration system to deal with the problem the government inherited. In addition Harper says his government is “doing everything to address the issue of racism.” The topic of racism, especially for black minority job seekers in Canada, had been thrown into the mix, by Delores Lawrence, chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, as one of several election demands. In responding to ExtraNA queries on the issue, Harper said Jason Kenney, secretary of state multiculturalism and Canadian identity, and Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the minister of labour, have met with members of the community regarding some of these concerns. Outlining his party’s record on inclusion, Harper noted that the first Chinese Canadian MP was Douglas Young who ran in Vancouver in 1957 and that the first black Canadian MP was Lincoln Alexander who was the first black lieutenant-governor of Ontario. Send your comments about this Note. Include your name and location at the bottom of your comments. 1000 characters left. Change Image Write the Validation Code from the image above >>Read More News Stories © 2006-2010, Gleaner Extra NA, All Rights Reserved.