White, black, brown, yellow, male, female, Canadian or not, to me it doesn't matter. What SHOULD matter is qualifications, dedication and what you have to offer, - regardless of what job we're talking about. To push for anything different just isn't right as far as I'm concerned.
A native of Pakistan, Naveed Anwar, ventured to Saskatchewan (via Montreal) to follow the "boom." He ran for the NDP in the last provincial election but was defeated. Today he's among those pressing for change in the electoral system saying there isn't adequate cultural representation in politics - particularly in Saskatchewan where he says there has never been a (non-Aboriginal) visible minority elected to provincial or federal office. Joe Garcea, a political studies professor at the University of Saskatchewan agrees with Anwar and says there is a "representation deficit" that includes not just visible minorities but also "women, non-Europeans, Aboriginals, non-Christians and all those born outside Canada."
Hmmm... I have to beg to differ. Not that these men aren't correct with their statistics but with the fact that we really should have to be keeping count.
I have to agree with the many who commented online saying, "Why create a perceived problem when there isn't one? Run if you want, its your right in this country. Whether or not you get elected is beside the point. It's not a democracy if we are forced to elect anyone based on colour, creed, or religion. Please don't claim discrimination if you aren't elected..."
To me if you're dynamic, if you have good ideas and you draw the people in, you have a good chance to become elected, regardless of your nationality or sex. It's more likely the political stance you're taking that will hold you back over anything else. From what I read about Anwar's circumstance, his opponent was simply more connected with the community and more qualified, nothing more. Just because you're among the "perceived minority" doesn't mean you should be the "shoo in to win." It also doesn't mean you're more deserving. To me, no matter what career you're pursuing, whether you make it or not should be based solely on whether you can do the job better than the next guy, or at least as well. That's it, that's all. If we start filling up positions based on quotas, how will that be fair to those who work their way to the top?
We're all supposed to act as ONE in Canada, if we keep pointing out the differences, how can that ever happen?
