carepov

As I said off the top - yes we are doing pretty well! We are not perfect and therefore there is room for improvement, right? Do you agree that fewer children living in poverty would be an improvement?

Just because less civilized behaviours take place in other countries does not excuse barbarism here.

What is more significant than the odd person with disagreeable beliefs is to have an immigrations system that is fair and tolerant, and to do our part in helping refugees. This greatly benefits Canada's reputation internationally. Making the world a better place is also a benefit to Canada.

IMO, allowing people with unacceptable beliefs about human rights in the numbers that we do today has no significant negative impact on Canadian society. It does however have a major positive impact on the individuals and families that do immigrate, and therefore a positive impact towards making the world more civilized. When small in number as they are now in Canada, it is not beliefs that matter, it is behaviour. For every person supporting FGM that immigrates to Canada, how many fewer actual cases of FGM are there in the world?

You are not understanding my position -I never claimed that Scandinavian countries wwere some utopian socialist paradise. My response was to jbg that asked "are there any countries without a significant underclass?" If it makes you feel better, you can continue to believe that Canada sell weapons to only the "good guys". Sorry, I mistakenly lumped you in with another poster. I brought up fighting in hockey in response to "Canada, a land cold in climate, warm in contributions to humanity and the civilized world.". Canada would be more civilized if there were fewer bare-knuckled blows to the head in our national sport.

This is an interesting study, thank you, I will look more into it, but I must correct you: in the above poll 14% of those Muslims that believe that there is a struggle between moderate Muslims and extremist Muslims self-identify as extremists. That would put the figure at 56,000. The Toronto 18 group question was also a subsample but a larger one. Is it a concern: yes. Is it reason to panic: IMO, no. A recurring theme throughout the report is that the more education a person has and the more frequent the contact with cultures, the more likely that person is tolerant of other cultures.

You misunderstood. The topic is Aboriginal child poverty in Canada. Are you proud of Canada's record in this realm? Don't you think that there may be ways for Canada to improve? Are you are OK with shipping arms that will be used to violate human rights? Exactly. Lots is different about Rwanda and every country is unique. Can you spot the contradiction? On the one hand, we agree: every country is unique. On the other hand you say: foreign aid can't work anywhere. You are wrong. Outside money did help turn things around in Rwanda and in many other places too. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/29/paul-farmers-graph-of-the-year-rwandas-plummeting-child-mortality-rate/ If it is not worth discussing, then don't discuss it. If you had a 19 year-old son just drafted into the NHL would you feel the same way?

It is not practical to accurately determine the beliefs of an individual. And if it were practical to determine their beliefs I still think that Canada should not refuse entry to individuals that believe that women should wear burqas. Please do not mistake my acceptance of these people into Canada as an acceptance of this belief. Also, please do not try to suggest that I favour opening the borders to millions of these people. I am basically supporting the status quo, with a gradual, moderate increase in the number of refugees and immigrants. IMO, one of Canada's top strengths is our acceptance of all cultures and our ability to successfully integrate all cultures. This benefits us Canadians by giving us a good reputation and other advantages in a globalized world; but is also a benefit to the world as we are a model of tolerance and we also have a positive influence on other cultures.

The first source concludes that foreign aid has a "mixed impact" with as many positive outcomes as negative. If this is true, then it's simply a matter of learning from the types of foreign aid that work - and keep doing it; and what types don't work and stop or modify. Here is an excellent source: http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/ that debunks the myths presented in the second source.

We both agree that Canada is very good and not perfect. Therefore there is room for improvement. Perhaps the Scandinavian countries and places like Holland would be something to aspire to? Canada should sign the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). People are needlessly dying because of our policy. No. But Rwanda (1994-2014) is a huge foreign aid success that can be used as a model for other countries. None. Canada is lagging behind other countries in helping Syrian refugees and it is lagging behind our own historical performance. On the bright side, (contrary to your claim) Canada's sucess in welcoming and integrating refugees is something to be very proud of! I did not say zero-waste. Japan and EU countries waste much less than we do. Knowing what we know in 2014, allowing or even encouraging bare-knuckled blows to the head is uncivilized.

Foreign aid to Rwanda in the last 20 years has been very effective.

For the most part yes, especially by modelling a society of tolerance and protection of minorities. However, in 2014, the following stain our reputation: -The abhorrent poverty faced by too many aboriginal children -The export of weapons and small arms to questionable regimes -The export of asbestos -The relatively low levels of foreign aid -The relatively low levels of refugee admittance -Excessive waste of food, energy and other resources -Fighting in hockey -Excessive and arrogant patriotism

I thought that WestCoastRunner stood up earlier in favour of a burqa ban. The answer in no - mainly because it is not practical to do so.

In the worlds of prostitution, pornography, and extreme Muslim households there are certainly cases of abuse, let's also add modelling. The world would certainly be much better off without any of these. My argument is that banning burqas is as useless as banning prostitution or pornography.

By the time we get to the citizenship ceremony its way too late.

You cannot accurately judge a persons attitudes based on what a person wears. Anarchist values are also at odds with Canadian values - probably more so than the typical burqa wearing womann that just want to live her own life and not spread her values to others. And again, what diference does it really make to our society if the person becomes a Citizen or remains a permanent resident?

Yes, I would call it slavery - this description is one one the worst violations of human rights and must be stopped. However banning the burqa in citizenship ceremonies does nothing to prootect these women.

There is no such thing as ``voluntary slavery``, by definition slavery is not voluntary. If you want to join a travelling circus and get paid room and board only, no one is stopping you. You can also join a variety of religions or cults where you are part of a commune.

Surely many of Saria laws are mis-interpreations or purposely warped interprétations of ancient texts. I am no apologist - there is no excuse (religious, cultural, etc...) for violating human rights.

I agree with you, however this ideology is nowhere near «taking root» in any western country and therefore there is no justification for government intervention. I would probably be in favour of a complete ban on the burka in Saudia Arabia.

Do you also think that banning pornographgy and banning prostitution would make tremendous progress for women`s rights?

Should we also deport anyone that has a tatoo of the «anarchist» symbol? How about anyone over 5 piercings goes home?

This is a good move by the MCC as it will gain favour by the vast majority of Canadians. Yes Canada should do everything it can to protect human rights - IMO banning Burkas does not make any progress.

IMO, unless there is a good reason (eg. security or public safety) the government has no business telling people what they can or can`t wear. Besides, what difference does it make if this person (or the potentially dozens like her) become citizens or remain permanent résidents?

No. Whether religious or not most people generally lead their lives according to their own wishes and beliefs. Again, not religion. Some people use religious arguments to oppose equal rights. Critisize the arguments - yes. Critisize the specific people making these aguments - yes. Smear all religious people - no.