Senator Donald Oliver

An Address

By

The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.,
Senator, The Senate of Canada

At
Audrey Walters’ Black History Month Event
At the Destiny Banquet Hall

Woodbridge, Ontario
February 26th, 2010

 
ANGELA DAVIS
Angela Davis was in Canada recently.  Indeed, a month ago, she gave a powerful address in Ottawa as part of the University of Ottawa’s Black History Month celebrations. 

Angela Davis is known to all of us as a Black American political activist and retired university professor.  Her research interests include African American studies and social consciousness.  You will recall she was a vocal activist during the American Civil Rights Movement and was once arrested, tried and acquitted of suspected involvement in the August 1970 abduction and murder of a Californian judge.  She’s quite a woman.

In Ottawa, she asked the assembled crowd “what is the meaning of Black history” and “why do we single out Black people for this month?”  And why do we, in Canada, celebrate February as Black History Month?

Angela explained that the popularity of Black history is related to the fact that it’s the history of the struggle for freedom – a struggle that goes beyond famous faces.  It’s her view that Black history is too often celebrated as a narrative about individuals.

She insisted on the collective character of celebrating Black success stories.  She said:

“I am not saying, for instance, that we must not celebrate the achievements of individual participants of the Civil Rights movement.  Rather, we should remember this movement within a greater context, one where thousands of people shared the same passion for liberty.” 

She added: “We tend to think of movements as movements of individuals: Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Rose Parks, Viola Desmond”, but it is much more than that.  It goes beyond the impact of one person, it’s about people creating a sense of community and giving individuals an opportunity to re-envision their lives.

And that’s why I am here tonight – to talk about Audrey – yes – but to challenge everyone here to join this collective movement.

But first a few words about Audrey Walters.

AUDREY WALTERS
Audrey works in the tourism industry. She created a consulting firm that blends tourism with international trade and development.  As a community volunteer, she is the immediate past President of the Black Business Professional Association.  More recently, I have had the privilege to work closely with her on a new project that would see the creation of a National Black Business association.  This new entity would facilitate opportunities for the Visible Minority communities across Canada to be more fully integrated into the national economy, and to contribute more substantially to its growth.

I believe Audrey can play an active role in shaping our country and in making a difference in the lives of Canadians.   She has already been doing that here in the GTA for many years. Just last year, Audrey was asked to address the graduating class at Seneca College’s York gate campus.  In her remarks, she said to the new graduates: (quote)

“Please keep in mind the power and privilege of Diversity in that, your ethnicity is a powerful asset to an organization.  The privilege comes when forward-thinking and astute company officials have the foresight to hire a diverse workforce who will help them to effectively develop and market its products and services.” (unquote)

It is my view that Audrey’s vast experience will be an important asset to Canada’s Parliament and to our Party.  It is my hope that the people of York West will recognize Audrey’s full potential as a Black community leader who can bring a wealth of knowledge to Ottawa and help Parliamentarians effectively develop laws and programs that will benefit all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

I think Angela Davis’ message is one that Canadians, and more specifically the people of York West, need to keep in mind when Election Day comes around. 

Collectively, the people of this riding need to be part of a different movement; one that will elect an influential Black businesswoman under the Conservative banner.  And one that will bring change to York West.

During her address in Ottawa, Angela Davis referred to the collective movement behind President Obama’s campaign.  What made Barack Obama so invigorating?  His mass-appeal was fuelled by his message of “hope” and “change”. His message motivated millions of Americans.  There were over 13 million email addresses on Obama’s mailing list, thousands of volunteers campaigned for him, people were blogging online, donating money… his name was on everybody’s lips.  Obama reached out to everybody and was at the centre of a real grassroots movement that advocated change.  And he achieved it.

But why were there so many people in the United States, and indeed around the world, that celebrated his victory?  Because, as Angela Davis would say, there was a “collective consciousness” among the masses.  People understood and recognized that individuals, together, as part of a bigger picture, could make change happen.

And tonight will mark the beginning of something great in Toronto – a landmark.  It is the first step towards a change in this community.  We are promoting the election of a socially active Black woman to the Parliament of Canada.

Naturally, I am honoured to be here tonight to lend my support to Audrey Walters, a good friend of mine.  When Audrey first hinted that she was considering the Conservative Candidacy for the riding of York West, I was ecstatic.  So that’s why I am here.

Audrey believes in change and making a difference.  In fact, as she puts it, she is running for public office (quote) “to inspire young people to know that they can be anything they want – banker, lawyer, MP, even Prime Minister.”  She wants “to be your voice in Parliament so that your hopes and dreams are heard at the highest levels of public office.”  (unquote)
 
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
It is appropriate that we are gathered here to support Audrey during Black History Month.  It was in 1926 that American historian Carter G. Woodson founded “Negro History Week” during the second week of February.  He chose this date because it marked the birthdays of two famous Americans who played leading roles in improving the social conditions of Blacks: former President Abraham Lincoln and former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

This month-long celebration reminds us that African-Canadians have a glorious history – and one that deserves recognition.  For more than 400 years, Blacks have been an integral part of the warp and weave of this great country.  Yet, the stories of Canada’s Black communities are too often forgotten – and more often not told or written about at all.

But we all know there are many African-Canadians who have overcome racism and adversity.  And who have successfully contributed to the creation of our country in major ways.  Many of which were an integral part of a vast movement that sought greater Equality.  Let’s take a few moments to remember some of these outstanding Canadians.

BLACK HEROES
Let us begin with some Black Canadian politicians who went above and beyond the glass ceiling in politics:

- Lincoln Alexander, Canada’s first Black MP in 1968 and a member of the Conservative Party.  He was also the first Black cabinet Minister.  He was the first Black man to be the Queen’s representative as Lieutenant Governor in Canada’s largest province;
- Leonard Braithwaite was the first Black Canadian to be elected to a provincial legislature. He served at Queen’s Park from 1963 to 1975.  He is a member of both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.
- Toronto’s Jean Augustine.  She was Canada’s first African Canadian woman elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1993 and subsequently the first Black woman in a federal Cabinet;
- Daureen Lewis became North America’s first female Black mayor when the people of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia elected her in 1984;
- Almost ten years later, on May 25th, 1993, Nova Scotians elected their first Black member of the Legislative Assembly:  Mr. Wayne Adams.  He also became the province’s first member of cabinet.  Today, Mr. Adams is a member of the Order of Canada;

This list would be incomplete without:

- Michaëlle Jean, Canada’s first Black woman to serve as Canada’s Governor General; and
- Mayann E. Francis who became the first African Nova Scotian, and only the second woman to hold the position of Lieutenant Governor in that province.

Many other African-Canadians have contributed to making our country more inclusive.  I also think of:

- William Hall, a Black Nova Scotian who was the second Canadian and the first person of African descent to receive the Victoria Cross in 1859 for his bravery while on duty in India with the Royal Navy.  The Victoria Cross was the highest Medal of Honor in the British Empire.  This month the Government of Canada issued a stamp in his name;
- Viola Desmond was a Civil Rights activist. She is Canada’s “Rosa Park”.  In 1946, she refused to sit in the balcony designated for Blacks in a theatre in Nova Scotia.  Rather, she sat on the ground floor where only Whites were allowed.  The publicity generated from her case brought to light racial discrimination.
- Portia White, my aunt and world-renowned vocalist.  She sold out concert-halls around the world and captivated audiences with her magnificent contralto voice.  Her popularity helped open previously closed doors for talented blacks who followed;
- Oscar Peterson, Canadian jazz pianist and composer, a member of jazz royalty and a multi Grammy and Juno award winner; and
- Willie O’Ree, the first Black man to play in the National Hockey League back in January 1958 in the old Montreal Forum;

These Black men and women, like hundreds of others like them, and many in this room tonight, have left an enduring mark on our nation.  Through the sheer force of character and a never satisfied appetite for change, they helped transform Canada.  They helped pave the way for the icons and trailblazers of today who continue to define Canada.  People like Audrey Walters.

But as Angela Davis reminds:

“I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.”

In other words, Audrey can’t go to Ottawa without you.  Together, with your help and support, she can bring change to York West, to its citizens and to a greater extend, to Parliament Hill and Canada as a whole.  She can be your voice on the Hill.

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE
I have been as a Senator for twenty years now.  To serve the people of Canada in this capacity gives me a powerful sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.  As Parliamentarians, we are empowered to create and promote public policies that help Canadians; policies that make this country even greater and safer.  The Harper Government understands this special privilege, and for the last four years, has acted accordingly.

In the 1940’s and 50’s when I was growing up in Nova Scotia, my parents taught me to always give back to our community and to society.  This continues to be my mantra today.  Every day, I try to make a difference in the lives of Canadians from coast to coast by representing their interests in Ottawa and defending their rights and freedoms in the Senate of Canada.
 
And I know that Audrey Walters shares that same vision.

And she has chosen the Conservative Party of Canada.  She believes in our Party’s platform and in our Prime Minister.  She knows that the Conservative Party is, and will be Canada’s governing party for years to come.  Like Audrey, I feel that our Party has been actively and successfully reaching out to cultural communities across the nation.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY RECORD
In fact, the Harper Government has made it a priority to reach out to Canadians and Canada’s cultural communities by engaging in open dialogue through community roundtables and town halls.  For instance, I chaired such a meeting with local businessmen and women from Halifax for Prime Minister Harper last year.  And last summer, I joined Minister Fletcher in Winnipeg for a roundtable with representatives and leaders of the African community to discuss the establishment of an African cultural centre.

Further proof of our Party’s commitment was when Prime Minister Harper reached out to me, Canada’s first Black Senator, to accompany him to Washington for pre G-20 talks with Barack Obama, the United States first Black President.  I meet President Obama in the Oval Office of the White House.  We had a memorable photo opportunity and we discussed the work I have been doing in the Black community for the last 40-plus years.

Conservatives also have a distinguished record of reflecting Canada’s Diversity and can proudly claim a number of “firsts”.  In many ways, it is Conservatives who have added Diversity and colour to the House of Commons.  Our party was the first to elect a Muslim to the Lower Chamber, the first Hindu, Chinese-Canadian, Indo-Canadian, Croatian-Canadian and Greek-Canadian.  Our Party was also the first to nominate cabinet ministers from the Japanese-Canadian and the Czech-Canadian communities.

And of course, as I stated earlier, we elected the first Black man in 1968 who also became the first Black cabinet minister: Lincoln Alexander.  Prime Minister Harper recently appointed the first Canadian of Korean descent in the Senate.  And I was the first Black man in Canadian history appointed to the Upper Chamber in September 1990.

The Conservative Party has a long history of initiating and embracing change.  Senator Paul Yuzyk was one of the earliest proponents of Multiculturalism and played a key role in the development and implementation of Canada’s Multiculturalism policy.  It was also a Conservative Government that introduced the Bill of Rights in 1960 and the first Multiculturalism Act in 1988, under the leadership of Brian Mulroney.

As you know, today’s Conservative Party is the natural home for new Canadians and cultural communities.  Our goal is to represent all Canadians and to advance public policy that favors a better Canada where all are treated equally.

In fact, the 2008 Election results is proof that more and more ethnic groups relate to the Conservative Party.  More than half a dozen ridings with large concentrations of different ethnic groups became Tory Blue.  According to a Canwest News Service report another dozen or so ridings in the suburbs encircling Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are close enough to become Conservative next time around – less than 10 points away.  This would improve our Party’s chances for a majority government.  York West, led by Audrey Walters, is one of those seats. 

Linda Gerber, a sociologist at the University of Guelph who specializes in ethnic voting trends, explained that (quote) “the hold or appeal of the Liberal party once had for immigrants has weakened over time, and the Conservatives are clearly benefitting.” (unquote)  These remarkable results are due to our Prime Minister’s leadership and Minister Jason Kenney’s outreach to cultural communities.

As you know, Canada is one of the most diversified countries in the world.  Multiculturalism has become “a bona fide Canadian value.”  The 2006 Census shows us that Visible Minorities represent 16% or our population.  It is my belief that they currently account for nearly one-fifth of our population.   And there are more than 200 ethnic groups in Canada.  Conservatives recognize Canada’s changing demographics.  And as Minister Kenney points out, “we are becoming very competitive as the first-choice party amongst first generation Canadians and new immigrants to this country.” 

Conservatives are appealing to these groups for many reasons.  For instance, we have modernized the immigration system by passing amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.  These changes are helping more immigrants get the jobs they need to succeed, while ensuring that the immigration system is more responsive to Canada’s labour markets.  More specifically, these amendments to the Act ensure that the Government has “the tools in place to strengthen our system so that people with the skills for the jobs available can be brought to Canada more quickly.” (Minister Diane Finley)

Furthermore, in February 2009, the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced a $1 million investment on behalf of the Government of Canada for the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre in York West.  This money helped offer immigrant youth greater access to more settlement services and programs that enable them to better integrate our society.

The Liberal Party of Canada was once considered to be the home of minorities and new Canadians, but this reality is rapidly changing.  Linda Gerber believes that the Liberals appear to be continuing a pattern of taking the vote of immigrants and their offspring for granted.  As Prime Minister Harper said in January 2007:

“Accomplished people (like Mark Persaud) are recognizing that all Canadians have a home and a future in the Conservative Party.”

Mark Persaud is the former National Chair of the Liberal Party’s Standing Committee on Multiculturalism.  In 2007, he crossed the floor to the Conservative Party because he recognized that (quote) “the federal Conservatives have delivered where the federal Liberals failed.”  In a 2008 Hill Times article, Mr. Persaud wrote: “The federal Conservative government has demonstrated better leadership on many issues” that matter to ethno-cultural communities across Canada.  He believes that “the new Conservatives exemplify the entrepreneurial and pro-community values of New Canadians and quite frankly they’ve delivered.” (unquote)

WOMEN AND VISIBLE MINORITIES IN PARLIAMENT
Like many Canadians, Audrey Walters recognizes our Party’s commitment to making our country more diverse.  And we need more strong women of colour like her on the Hill. 

It’s a fact: the representation of women in public office remains considerably lower than that of men.  Both Visible Minorities and women are underrepresented in the House of Commons and in the Senate.  For instance, there are currently only 6 Visible Minority Senators.  This represents only 5.7% of the Chamber.  In the House of Commons, women represent only 22% of all MPs, while there are more women than men in Canada.  We are ranked 49th out of 189 countries in the world for the representation of women in National Parliaments.

The United Nations says that a critical mass of at least 30% of women is needed before legislatures produce public policy representing women’s concerns and before political institutions begin to change the way they do business.  Thus, if we are able to elect Audrey Walters, this would help create this new world order, or sense of community, that Angela Davis’ refers to; one where change is possible because, collectively, we seek change and we expect change. 

SENATOR OLIVER’S CONTRIBUTIONS
I am proud to be a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.  I have been active in political affairs with the Party for more than 50 years.  Prior to becoming a Senator, I served as Director of Legal Affairs in six General Election Campaigns in 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, and 1988.  I gave 300 hours a year free of charge to the Conservative Party as legal counsel– 300 hours each year as volunteer from 1972 to 1988.

I worked closely with three Conservative leaders during this period: Robert Stanfield, Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney. I also served terms as National Vice-President Atlantic Region and was Director of the P.C. Canada Fund and several other executive positions with the P.C. Party of Nova Scotia.  As you can see, I have been a Conservative all my life.

I have dedicated most of my life to the promotion of Diversity, Equality and Human Rights.  Every year, I give dozens of speeches to government departments and agencies, think-tanks, various not-for-profit organizations, businesses, universities and schools where I speak about the urgency of embracing Diversity and promoting equal opportunities for others.  As a Senator, as a social activist and as a community volunteer, I have been committed to making Canada a safe, culturally vibrant and economically prosperous nation.  And I have always felt, and continue to believe that the Conservative Party is the one federal party that can achieve this.

CONCLUSION
Your presence here this evening speaks volume about your confidence in our Party and in Audrey Walters.  Audrey will need your help in the months to come, and up to and including Election Day.  York West has been in Liberal hands for much too long.  It’s time this riding became Conservative blue.  And I believe that Audrey Walters is the person that can make it happen. Together, with friends and family, neighbours and colleagues, you can be part of a great movement.  Tonight is only the beginning.

And as Angela Davis said in January 2007:

 “Segregation was not disestablished because presidents, or legislators or judges, one day had epiphanies about the injustices and immoralities of racial segregation.”

Rather, “it was disestablished because ordinary people became collectively aware of themselves as potential agents of social change, as holding within their collective hands the power to create a new world. Ordinary people learned how to adopt a critical stance in the way they perceived their relationship to reality.”

I agree with Angela Davis.  You hold the power to create a new world; you can choose to elect a bright young Black woman to the House of Commons.  We are all potential agents of social and political change.  We must act.

And as President Obama said on November 4th, 2008 when he was chosen as the 44th President of the United States:

“This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.”

Thank you.  Enjoy the rest of the evening.