Don’t know if I should laugh or cry.
I love Indians (the “East” kind is what I’m referring to here) and their food—I have relatives of Indian heritage, and I even had an “east” Indian girlfriend once. They all understand us perfectly well.
But over in India, despite their humongous numbers here in Canada—they haven’t quite figured us out yet. Least not the Conservative Party part of us. Maybe the Conservative Party is entirely irrelevant to them. I don’t doubt they have several Liberal Party MP’s phone numbers on their Blackberries.
I don’t read the “newkerala” web site much. OK, never. (And no, I do not comprehend that URL). I don’t even know what it newkerala means. But they don’t know much about us conservatives either, so we’re even. To wit:
Indo-Canadians being wooed on same-sex marriage issue:
World News: Toronto, Feb 12 : Canada’s main opposition Progressive Conservative party (PC) is going all out to woo the Indo-Canadian community to its side on the same sex marriage issue – an issue that divides Canadians in a big way and is on way to becoming a federal law.
The PC, which failed to wrest power from the ruling Liberal party in the 2004 elections, has been making inroads into the community, traditionally considered a solid vote bank of the Liberal party.
Same-sex marriage, already permitted in several provinces, would be enshrined in federal law if the bill in this regard introduced in parliament a few days ago is passed.
Political observers here feel the reason for the PC’s efforts to build bridges with the community are driven by its long cherished desire to make a dent into the Liberal party’s unflinching support among the Indo-Canadian community.
The Indo-Canadian community, in a dilemma over the question of same sex marriages, suddenly finds itself in a spotlight. That the party has seized the opportunity to woo the community is now official with party president Stephen Harper agreeing that his party takes this issue in that context.
On his recent visit to the city [
what city?—ed
] Harper told the South Asian Observer: “We look at this issue from this angle. We don’t think there is any harm if we are trying to win over the community on the issue.” [
He said that? —ed
]
Mincing no words he said further, “We don’t think that the Liberal party has monopoly over the community. In fact, our party shares many values that are very dear to the community. [
Wow. That’s the very epitome of ‘mincing no words’ —ed
]
“We have been saying this from a long time – our party wants to strengthen family values that are very much precious for the religious minorities of Canada.” [
the vast majority of Canadians describe themselves as belonging to a religion according to latest census—yet Harper said ‘religious minorites’? And he said “from a long time”? And “very much precious”? D’oh! Bit of a slip-up! —ed
]
Responding to a question whether on this issue his party’s stand is not an effort to woo religious minorities, he categorically said, “Yes, we see this opportunity to win over the community to our side.”
The support of the South Asian community is considered very crucial in Canadian politics.
Even in the last federal elections it was the support of the new Canadians that put a spanner into the PC’s chances to form a government. Political analysts said that this factor played a crucial role in the Liberal party’s win.
That the PC party is keen to make inroads into the community is obvious from some of the recent developments.
The Sikh community, which is politically most active and an effective component of the South Asian community, is being targeted most by the party. The importance the party attaches to the community was reflected in the fact that Stephen Harper himself came to address a small meeting called by the Ontario Gurdwara Council. [
The what? —ed
]
Not only Harper but his party’s two Sikh MPs – Gurmant Grewal and his wife Neena Grewal – and deputy of the party in parliament Jason Kenney attended the meeting. [
There’s only two Sikh CPC MPs? —ed
]
Stephen Harper’s attending the meeting was not an isolated case. [
Ooh! —ed
]
Last week Jason Kenney contacted the management of North America’s largest gurdwara, Khalsa Darbar, Dixie Road, seeking their support on the issue. However, his request was not entertained.
—-[Blast! Maybe a gift of taxpayer cash, Liberal-style, would help next time! —ed
]
—Indo-Asian News Service
And you though the Americans knew nothing about us.
(My bolding. Duh.)
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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