20110402

Jason Kenney: Just Visiting

Commercial Spot. Queue ominous music:

“Why is Jason Kenney in Canada after being away for three days? Does he have a plan to integrate new Canadians into our culture? No. Instead his party is running attack ads to hide the fact that they are cutting investment in language training for new arrivals to Canada. With no long term vision for Canada, he’s not in it for the New Canadians, he’s just in it for his Canadians. [Run shot of Kenney going down escalator]. It’s the only reason he’s back.”
 
In his time as Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Kenney has been sent abroad as the face of the Canadian government for functions such as funerals and conferences that are of importance to new Canadian voters. But the question remains: why did he come back?
 
Educated in San Francisco (seriously), Kenney couldn’t possibly be in touch with the interests of Canadians. In his work inside Canada as Minister of Multiculturalism, he has been exposed to all sorts of ideas, languages and foods that are foreign to “good” Canadians like you and me. Sure the new Canadians provide a vital shot in the arm to our economy and define us as the most inclusive, multicultural nation on our green earth, but we all know from the Conservative Party that anyone who has spent any considerable amount of time outside of Canada cannot be trusted.
 
Well, that’s not exactly correct. They can be trusted to vote for the Conservative Party, but they can’t be trusted to be Prime Minister of the Country.
 
And don’t think we here at Barpolitics have forgot about San Francisco - oh no, we never forget San Francisco. It is clear that anyone who has more than one degree from one university is tainted by the bias resulting from an inherent link between education and Liberal values.
 
Part and parcel of the Canadian dream that drives the new Canadians is the hope that their children will go to University - perhaps to be a doctor, perhaps to be a lawyer, or perhaps to be both happy and successful. But luckily the Conservative party knows that when you spend too much time in university, you become suspect.
 
Oh wait, what’s that phrase? Not suspect... “out of touch” - that’s the one. Again, the conservative party wants new Canadians to follow their dreams - just so long as their children don’t try to run for Prime Minister.
 
It is clear that the Conservative Party has a plan for new Canadians - one of Jason Kenney’s staffers was kind enough to deliver it to the opposition in a Conservative election fund raising request written out on House of Commons stationary.

 
This was spun off by Kenney as a mistake by an overenthusiastic, inexperienced staffer. The staffer, Kasra Nejatian, was dismissed, but it is worth looking at why such a gaffe was possible in the first place. A lot of it has to do with the Conservative Party’s aversion to academia.
 
Although he has a law degree, Nejatian has little experience in politics, and there is a reason for that. Other than the Conservative Party’s hostility towards the academic community, there are laws that exist that bar public servants from operating as registered lobbyists for five years after they leave their posts. [1]
 
Few who have both the experience required for effective public service and an inclination towards Conservative politics would give up the lucrative opportunities available to an Ottawa lobbyist. There are no Turner/ Pelletier/ Marchand powerhouses in the Conservative Party. They are lucky to attract half a Stanfield and a Clarke.
 
It is because of their shallow depth that the Conservative Party, and the Prime Minister’s Office specifically, must exert its iron fisted control over every aspect of the government’s operations. If they don’t, they know that some green staffer will sell the farm for a bag of beans, as happened in the case of Kasra Nejatian.
 
So the message to new Canadians is clear: You can be successful enough to vote Conservative, but not too successful. Your children can be educated, but not so educated that they begin to question Harpergov’s machine. Your experience outside of Canada is valued, but not if that experience makes you question the Conservative party. Otherwise, to Stephen Harper, you are Just Visiting.

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