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News in ReviewResource GuideMay 2010

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CreditsResource Guide Writers: Sean Dolan, Peter Flaherty, Jim L’Abbé, Jennifer WattCopy Editor and Desktop Publisher: Susan RosenthalResource Guide Graphics: Laraine Bone Production Assistant: Carolyn McCarthyResource Guide Editor: Jill ColyerSupervising Manager: Karen BowerHost: Carla RobinsonSenior Producer: Nigel GibsonProducer: Lou Kovacs Video Writers: Nigel GibsonDirector: Douglas SyrotaGraphic Artist: Mark W. HarveyEditor: Stanley Iwanski

News in Review, May 20101. Parliament and the Detainee Issue (Length: 15:09)2. How Canadians Are Helping Haiti (Length: 15:58)3. How Tolerant Are Canadians? (Length: 15:41)4. K’naan: A Canadian Sings for the World (Length: 15:25)

CBC News in Review • May 2010 • Page 3

ContentsIn This Issue . . . ......................................................................................... 4

PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUE ............................... 6Introduction ..............................................................................................................6Video Review ...........................................................................................................7The Issue ................................................................................................................10Considering the Evidence ......................................................................................13A Constitutional Crisis? .........................................................................................16Activity: Pick Your Corner ....................................................................................19

HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITI ................................ 20Introduction ............................................................................................................20Video Review .........................................................................................................21Aid to Haiti ............................................................................................................24Raising and Tracking Money .................................................................................27Personal Stories ......................................................................................................30Activity: Non-Governmental Organizations ..........................................................32

HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS? ..................................... 33Introduction ............................................................................................................33Video Review ........................................................................................................34A Sensitive Subject ................................................................................................36Perspectives on Racism ..........................................................................................39Evidence of Intolerance in Canada ........................................................................42Weighing the Evidence ..........................................................................................44Activity: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights .............................................45

K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLD .................. 46Introduction ............................................................................................................46Video Review .........................................................................................................47Who is K’naan? ......................................................................................................49A Brief History of Hip Hop ...................................................................................52K’naan the Poet ......................................................................................................54Activity: Write an Album Review ..........................................................................56

News in Review Index ............................................................................ 57


NiR Study ModulesUsing print and video material from archival issues of News in Review, teachers and students can create thematic modules for independent assignments, and small group study.

Related CBC VideosFlora’s Afghan Mission: Politician to

HumanitarianRay of LightVolunteerism in Canada: Random Acts of

Kindness

Related CBC VideosOther videos available from CBC Learning; see the back cover for contact details.

HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITI (Length: 15:58)In January, the Caribbean country of Haiti was devastated by a powerful earthquake. More than 200 000 people were killed and more than a million were left homeless. Canadians reacted generously to the calls for help by raising millions of dollars for Haiti relief. In this News in Review story we’ll look at how some of those dollars are helping Haitians and why most of the money still hasn’t been spent.

In This Issue . . .

NiR Study ModulesA Deadly Earthquake Devastates Haiti

March 2010Kashmir Quake: Disaster in South Asia

November 2005Tsunami: The Indian Ocean Disaster

February 2005City of Death: Iran’s Killer Quake

February 2004Earthquakes: The West Coast Threat

April 2001

PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUE (Length: 15:09)In March, opposition members of Parliament tabled an explosive motion in the House of Commons. They asked the Speaker of the House to rule that the Conservative government was violating parliamentary privilege by withholding documents on the treatment of Afghan detainees. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the Afghan detainee issue and how it could trigger a constitutional crisis and a federal election.

NiR Study ModulesRichard Colvin and the Afghan Detainees

February 2010Afghanistan’s Troubled Election

October 2009Guantanamo Bay and Omar Khadr

March 2009Omar Khadr: Canadian in Guantanamo

September 2007

Related CBC VideosAfghanada (audio)Afghanistan: Between Hope and FearIran’s Young RebelsUS vs Omar Khadr


Sections marked with this symbol contain content suitable for younger viewers.

K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLD (Length: 15:25)He was born in the war-ravaged African country of Somalia. As a teenager he survived some mean streets in Toronto. Now K’naan is a global singing sensation, and one of his songs is the official song of this summer’s world soccer championship in South Africa. In this News in Review story we’ll go on the road with K’naan and ask him how his turbulent life has influenced his music and his message.

NiR Study ModulesPeace Radio: Canadian Voices in Somalia

May 2004Remy Shand: Canadian Soulman

May 2002

HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS? (Length: 15:41)Canada is a multicultural country where people of many races and backgrounds live in harmony. Most of us are proud of our diversity and like to think we live in a country where prejudice isn’t a problem. But how tolerant are we? In this News in Review story we’ll look at how a racist incident shocked a community and ask pollsters and ordinary Canadians whether we should be doing more to fight intolerance.

NiR Study ModulesCanada’s Residential School Apology

September 2008Changing Canada’s Immigration Rules

May 2008Quebec’s Reasonable Accommodation

Debate, December 2007The Act that Made Us Canadian

October 2007Policing and Race in Canada

December 2002Racism: Then and Now, October 2001

Related CBC VideosExpulsion: The Story of AcadiaLittle Mosque on the PrairiePolice Diversity: To Serve and ProtectReds, Whites and the BluesTrouble with Tolerance (audio)


FocusOn April 27, 2010, the Speaker of the House of Commons ruled on a long-standing dispute between the Conservative government and opposition parties in Parliament over the release of documents on the treatment of Afghan detainees. In this story, we look at the roots and development of that dispute as well as the meaning and potential impact of the Speaker’s ruling.

Download the mp3 of this Introduction at newsinreview.cbclearning.ca.

Quote“Is it possible for the two sides, working together in the best interest of the Canadians they serve, to devise a means where both their concerns are met? Surely that’s not too much to hope for.” — House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken (The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2010)

PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUE IntroductionThe House of Commons Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan has been investigating serious allegations about the treatment of Afghan detainees in the Afghanistan war zone. Several witnesses have testified that, between 2005 and 2007, the Canadian military turned over captured Afghan nationals to Afghan authorities, fully aware that these Afghan prisoners were likely to be tortured by the local authorities. This action is contrary to international law; individuals who turn over prisoners who are likely to be tortured can be tried for war crimes.

Other witnesses, including members of the military, diplomats, and members of government, deny these allegations. They insist that the military had no knowledge that torture was being used on the detainees they surrendered, and that once they received information that torture was perhaps being used, a new agreement was signed that provided for supervision of the detainees following their transfer.

To resolve the disparity in testimony, the Special Committee has tried to obtain hundreds of documents from the government dealing with what has come to be called the Afghan detainee question. The government has refused to provide much of what the committee wants. Any documents it has released have been heavily censored. That is, much of the information has been

blacked out. The government argues that much of the requested information cannot be released because it is a matter of national security and would jeopardize Canada’s Afghan mission.

In December, the scene was set for a major confrontation when the Commons passed a motion demanding that the government release its documents uncensored and unedited to the House. Failure to comply would result in a motion of privilege—a request that Peter Milliken, the Speaker of the House, rule that the government had failed to respect the rights, powers, and privileges of Parliament. In other words, he would be asked to determine which institution is the supreme authority in Canada: the government or Parliament itself.

In March the opposition parties passed that motion, and on April 27 the Speaker ruled that the documents must be turned over. As the next day’s headline in The Globe and Mail reported, “Parliament Has the Power.” But the Speaker also insisted that protecting national security was an obligation for both parties, and a negotiated compromise solution was the only solution that would truly benefit the country.

As this News in Review story is being written, the four political parties are negotiating to find such a solution. A failure to do so could have devastating consequences, including a bitter election fight than no one really wants.

To ConsiderOne of the problems that must be resolved if a compromise is to be reached is how the Special Committee members can guarantee that national security will not be compromised if they view uncensored documents. According to many observers, parliamentary committees are notorious as sources of leaked information. What measures might the committee take to ensure that leaks of classified information do not occur?


PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUEVideo Review

Pre-viewing ActivityWith a partner or in a small group discuss the following questions and write your responses in the spaces provided.

1. Should prisoners of war or those detained in a war zone have the same rights as other citizens?

2. If the military really believes that a prisoner knows information that might be able to save a Canadian soldier or help to put troops out of harm’s way is it acceptable to use torture to obtain that information?

3. If Canada allows human rights abuses during war time, does that threaten the very core values of our country?

4. If a government is aware that torture is occurring and they do nothing to stop it, is it guilty of a war crime?

Video QuestionsAs you watch the video respond to the questions in the spaces provided.

1. What is the issue at the heart of this parliamentary crisis?

2. What was the government’s initial response to the charges?

3. What did Richard Colvin say about the matter?

Quote“The people who are elected are the ones whose job it is to determine what’s the public’s interest.” — NDP MP Jack Harris (Toronto Star, March 14, 2010)

Quote“Make no mistake, the methods of the NDS are well known. It’s electric shocks, it’s pulling out toenails, it’s beating people with chains, it’s hanging them for days.” — Paul Champ, lawyer for Amnesty International (CBC News, April 6, 2010)


4. a) Why did Prime Minister Harper say that he was proroguing Parliament at the end of December?

b) What reasons did his critics give for prorogation?

5. Why were the opposition parties upset that Frank Iacobucci had been asked to review the Afghan detainee documents?

6. What did the opposition parties ask Speaker of the House Peter Milliken to do instead?

7. What was the government’s response to the opposition request of the Speaker?

8. What lie was the government caught in about the release of detainees?

9. What claim did Malgarai Ahmadshah make about the Afghan detainee issue on April 14, 2010?

10. What did British documents about the treatment of Afghan detainees reveal?

11. a) What was Speaker Peter Milliken’s ruling?

b ) In what way did he give the government a bit of a reprieve?


Post-viewing Activities 1. Now that you’ve watched the video, revisit your responses to the Pre-

viewing Activity questions. Have your opinions changed in any way? Explain.

2. Why is it important that people like Richard Colvin and Malgarai Ahmadshah be protected from persecution after coming forward with testimony critical of the government?

3. Does the information in the video affect your attitude about Canada’s role in the war in Afghanistan? Explain.

4. What else do you need to know to answer the question “Has the Canadian government committed a war crime in relation to the treatment of Afghan detainees?”


Did you know . . .The Military Police Complaints Commission was established as an independent civilian agency to examine complaints arising from either the conduct of military police members in the exercise of policing duties or functions or from interference in or obstruction of their police investigations.

PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUEThe Issue“The matter at the heart of the dispute should not be forgotten. The treatment of Afghan detainees relates to Canada at war, Canada’s relations with other countries, Canada’s respect for human rights. Parliament has a duty to hold the government to account for its conduct of the war.” (The Globe and Mail, Editorial, April 28, 2010)

The issue that threatens to bring an end to the 40th Parliament of Canada was first brought to Canadians’ attention by The Globe and Mail.

In April 2007 the newspaper obtained a 2006 report prepared by the Canadian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. It warned the Canadian government that Afghans captured by Canadian forces were being handed over to Afghan authorities who were quite likely torturing them. At first, the government denied this report existed. Later it released the report, but much of the evidence was redacted, or blacked out.

The Canadian Military Police Complaints CommissionTwo months earlier, in February 2007, the Canadian Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) had begun a formal investigation of the transfer of Afghan detainees by Canadian military police to Afghan authorities. The investigation was a result of a complaint filed by Amnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. It argued that the military police had on at least 18 occasions transferred detainees to Afghan authorities, even though they knew it was likely the transferred prisoners would be tortured. Such transfers are contrary to international law and could result in war crimes charges

against those who ordered the transfers.From the beginning, the government

tried to prevent the MPCC from having access to the information it required to carry out its work. As early as July 2007, the office of the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, refused all requests made under Canada’s Access to Information Act that related to Afghan detainees. The reason given was that public disclosure of any such information could endanger our forces in Afghanistan.

Over the next two years, the battle continued between the MPCC and the government. In March 2008, frustrated by his attempts to obtain the documents that the commission requested, Chairman Peter Tinsley decided to order public hearings on the detainee issue. The government’s response was to go to court and try to shut down the hearings indefinitely. In April 2009 a federal court ruled against the government, denying its request for an indefinite stay of the MPCC hearings. Finally, in May 2009, hearings began.

MPCC hearings continue, and the commission continues to struggle with the government to obtain both documents and witness testimony. In October 2009, the commission summoned diplomat Richard Colvin to testify. The Department of Justice responded by attempting to have the summons set aside.

The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in AfghanistanBut Richard Colvin did have his say—and created a furor—when he appeared before the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in November 2009.

Further ResearchInformation on the struggle to hold investigative proceedings is available on the MPCC Web site at www.mpcc-cppm.gc.ca/300/afghan/index-eng.aspx.

http://www.mpcc-cppm.gc.ca/300/afghan/index-eng.aspx





Quote“As I learned more about our detainee practices, I came to a conclusion they were contrary to Canada’s values, contrary to Canada’s interests, contrary to Canada’s official policies, and also contrary to international law. That is, they were un-Canadian, counterproductive, and probably illegal.” — Richard Colvin, quoted on CBC News at www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/18/diplomat-afghan-detainees.html

Colvin testified that during his posting in Afghanistan it was routine to hand over prisoners detained by Canada to Afghan interrogators. No procedures were in place to follow up on their treatment. He noted that it might take days, weeks, or months for Canada to notify the Red Cross, the one group that might have monitored the detainees’ conditions.

“During these crucial first days, what happened to our detainees? According to a number of reliable sources, they were tortured. The most common forms of torture were beatings, whipping with power cables, and the use of electricity. Also common was sleep deprivation, use of temperature extremes, use of knives and open flames, and sexual abuse, that is, rape. Torture might be limited to the first days or it could go on for months.

“According to our information, the likelihood is that all the Afghans we handed over were tortured. For interrogators in Kandahar, it was standard operating procedure.” (Colvin’s full testimony before the Special Committee is available on the Fair Web site at http://fairwhistleblower.ca/content/richard-colvins-testimony.)

The government was quick to dispute Colvin’s testimony. General Hillier (now retired), Defence Minister Peter MacKay, and Prime Minister Harper all accused Colvin of providing false information and believing Taliban propaganda. Those who accepted the validity of Colvin’s testimony were accused of undermining the work of Canada’s forces in Afghanistan.

The government had dug in its heels. Despite growing evidence—including testimony by members of the armed forces—that rumours of torture of detainees were widespread, the government did its best to slow down and interfere with the work of both the MPCC and the Special Committee.

Many documents were withheld; those that were provided were heavily edited and censored.

Frustrated, the opposition parties joined to pass a motion on December 10 ordering the government to release to the special committee confidential records on the transfer of detainees. Failure to provide these could lead to the Commons holding the ministers who withheld them to be found in contempt. The government continued to argue that it could not release the documents because of concerns about national security.

Prorogation and BeyondIn what most observers felt was an attempt to defuse the controversy—but what the government described as a recalibrating of its legislative program—Prime Minister Harper prorogued Parliament before Christmas. Rather than meet again in January, the House of Commons recessed until March.

The opposition, however, was not prepared to let the issue slide. Liberal MP Derek Lee, an expert on Parliamentary power, prepared to move that the government’s refusal to provide the documents place it in contempt of Parliament. He planned to raise a point of privilege with the Speaker of the House, Peter Milliken.

But the government had another idea, which postponed Lee’s motion. It appointed retired Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci to look at the requested documents and determine if the changes proposed by the government before their release were necessary to protect national security.

However, by March 18, the opposition had had enough. On that date they asked the Speaker to rule whether or not their parliamentary privileges had been breached. If the Speaker ruled in their favour, and the government continue to resist releasing the documents,

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/18/diplomat-afghan-detainees.html




http://fairwhistleblower.ca/content/richard-colvins-testimony

http://fairwhistleblower.ca/content/richard-colvins-testimony


opposition members said they would be prepared to propose motions censuring the government.

In a surprise tactic, the government suddenly released 2 600 pages of documents and quickly followed this

up with another 6 200 pages. But these were heavily edited and hardly what the Special Committee had requested.

On April 27 the Speaker ruled in favour of the release of all documents.

For Review 1. What alleged actions by the military precipitated the enquiry into the

Afghan detainee question?

2. What organizations are actively involved in the Afghan detainee investigation?

3. How has the government responded to requests for assistance with the investigation? Why have they responded this way? Make sure you include what the government’s answer would be and what the critics would say.


PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUEConsidering the EvidenceAt the crux of the dispute between Parliament and the government is the question of whether a parliamentary committee has the right to review uncensored documents dealing with national security. Members of the House of Commons, government ministers, constitutional experts, and media commentators have all waded into the discussion. Here is a collage of some of their opinions leading up to the Speaker’s ruling on April 27. This collage helps to demonstrate the complexity of the issue.

Did the military fail to follow up on detainee transfers?• As late as March 26, the government

was arguing that the committee really had nothing to investigate. “Every time the Canadian Forces have received a credible allegation of detainee mistreatment they have acted.”— Jay Paxton, spokesman for the defence ministry (The Globe and Mail, March 26, 2010)

• While there may have been problems in the early days of the Canadian action in Afghanistan, these problems, according to the military, have been fully resolved. “The 2007 Supplementary Arrangement confirms that the government of Canada has full and unrestricted access to detention facilities where detainees transferred by Canadian Forces are held. It also requires that the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has the same unrestricted access, as the AIHRC has an important monitoring and investigative role. Since the Supplementary Arrangement was signed in May 2007, there have been more than 200 visits by Canadian

officials to Afghan detention facilities in Kandahar and Kabul.”— Vice-Admiral Denis Rouleau, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Toronto Star, February 28, 2010)

• The leaders of Canada’s military had been warned of their responsibility to protect detainees. “Military commanders who know, or are criminally negligent in failing to know, that a transferred detainee would be subjected to such abuse have the obligation to take all necessary and reasonable measures within their power to prevent or repress the commission of such abuse. They may also be subject to criminal liability for failing to submit the matter to competent authorities for investigation and prosecution.” — Brigadier General Ken Watkin, the military’s top lawyer (Toronto Star, February 25, 2010)

• Denials of widespread torture in Afghan prisons by the government seemed especially hollow in the light of the U.S. State Department’s Annual Report on Human Rights for 2009, which states: “Human rights organizations report local authorities tortured and abused detainees. Torture and abuse methods included . . . beating by stick, scorching bar or iron bar, flogging by cable, battering by rod, electric shock, deprivation of sleep, water and food, abusive language, sexual humiliation and rape.” — Toronto Star, March 12, 2010

• Many commentators have pointed out that, no matter what Canada’s current policy and methods may be, for at least two years detainee transfers were problematic. “It was this country’s aversion to Guantanamo Bay methods


that spiked the preferred military option of handing Canada’s Afghan prisoners directly to Americans. Instead, the military drafted, and General Rick Hillier signed, a 2005 agreement . . . considered weak, and Afghanistan warned would lead to trouble in their primitive, overburdened, notoriously brutal prisons.” — James Travers (Toronto Star, March 13, 2010)

Does national security trump the power of Parliament?• The Special Committee of Parliament

is especially keen on determining what was happening between 2005, when Canada first began handing detainees over to Afghan authorities, and 2007, when the supplementary arrangement was confirmed. So is the Canadian Military Police Complaints Commission. But getting at the truth has not been easy. “Ever since human rights groups and the media first drew attention to detainee abuse, the Conservative government has been downplaying its significance, refusing to call a clearly needed public inquiry. “The government thwarted an investigation by the Military Police Complaints Commission by refusing to hand over documents on ‘national security’ grounds—even though the commission has full national security clearance. When chair Peter Tinsley, a 28-year military veteran, kept pressuring for the documents, the government refused to renew his term, effectively shutting down his probe.” — Linda McQuaig (Toronto Star, January 12, 2010)

• The government has insisted that national security also takes precedence over Parliament’s “need to know.” Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has repeatedly argued that MPs do not have an unlimited right to see materials considered secret for national security

reasons: “Our parliamentary privileges are not indefinite and not unlimited. The exact scope of those privileges have been a matter of debate since Confederation.” — The Globe and Mail, April 1, 2010

• Some commentators believe that Nicholson’s argument has merit. “The government has a point on the need for some confidentiality. For example, releasing everything might identify, and compromise the safety of, Afghan informants who told the International Committee of the Red Cross about the abuse of prisoners. It might also release confidential information passed to Canada by other governments. The opposition says committee members can review all the documents privately and decide what to release. But there are no agreed rules for how to do this. Nor have there been any negotiations among the parties about how to approach the task. Some in Ottawa question whether members of the committee from the separatist Bloc Quebecois can be counted on, even if sworn to secrecy.” — The Economist, April 3, 2010

• But for the opposition, the issue comes down to one question: “Is Parliament the sovereign or isn’t it? That’s a question that every Canadian can understand. The Prime Minister is not sovereign. That’s what the issue is.” — Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff (The Globe and Mail, March 2, 2010)

Should an outsider review the documents?• Rather than bow to the will of

Parliament, the government decided to appoint a former Supreme Court justice, Frank Iacobucci, to examine the documents the Special Committee was seeking and to determine which ones could be released without compromising national security.


“The government acknowledges that it is appropriate that decisions on the disclosure of information in these circumstances be reviewed independently from government. We have enlisted the help of Mr. Justice Iacobucci. The man is beyond reproach. He is held in eminent esteem by Canadians. He will give advice with respect to those documents.” — Justice Minister Rob Nicholson (Toronto Star, March 6, 2010)

• It was not a response well-received by opposition critics. “What we’re seeing here is contempt and a denial of the truth to Canadians about torture. And that’s fundamentally wrong, especially when the House of Commons has requested formally that the documents be released. Mr. Iacobucci is a fine individual, but appointing a fine individual to then go off and do what Parliament should be doing is wrong.” — NDP Leader Jack Layton (Toronto Star, March 6, 2010)

• Some of the media were suspicious of the government’s motives. “Harper could have bowed to Parliament’s demand for the files, and thus blunted increasingly loud demands for a full public inquiry. MPs could have studied the files behind closed doors, if need be, to protect our troops and ties with allies. Instead, Harper stonewalled,

tried to discredit critics, and obstructed any meaningful inquiry. Now he is looking to a judge to extricate him from a crisis he created.” — Editorial, Toronto Star, March 9, 2010

• Constitutional experts were also concerned. “Iacobucci has accepted a task which neither he nor any other person of however high repute and qualifications has any business doing. Not the Prime Minister, nor the justice minister, nor a Supreme Court judge, can be the appropriate arbiter of what papers Parliament can order, and enforce release, from the executive.” — Reg Whitaker, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, York University (Toronto Star, March 19, 2010)

• Andrew Coyne of Maclean’s summed up the opinion of many observers. “There is only one way to resolve this question, and that is for the appropriate authority to have a look at the documents. The appropriate authority in this case is Parliament, ‘the grand inquest of the nation.’ MPs needn’t speculate about the contents of the documents; they have the power to demand them, if only they will use it. If they are serious, they will do so, with whatever special arrangements are needed to allay national security concerns.” — Andrew Coyne, Maclean’s, March 22, 2010

For DiscussionConsider the following quotation from columnist Jeffrey Simpson: “Those who dissent or put spokes in the government’s wheels—from diplomat Richard Colvin over Afghan detainees to the parliamentary budget officer to the Military Police Complaints Commission to the former head of the nuclear safety agency to opposition party leaders and so on—are blunted, get ignored, or become subject to attack ads on television. It is the politics of constant warfare, as political scientist Tom Flanagan, a former Conservative campaign adviser and Harper confidant, wrote so perceptively in these pages earlier this week” (The Globe and Mail, January 9, 2010).

Do you believe this is a fair description of the government’s regular approach to thorny political questions? Why or why not? Are there significant advantages and disadvantages to treating politics as “constant warfare”? What are they?


PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUEA Constitutional Crisis?

A Question of Privilege “If a member feels that his or her rights have been infringed upon or that a contempt against the House has been committed, he or she will rise on a question of privilege to voice a complaint and propose some action to correct the problem. In presenting a case the member is claiming that the breach he or she is complaining of is of such importance that it demands priority over all other House business. The member must convince the Speaker that his or her concern is prima facie (on the first impression or at first glance), a matter that should take priority over all others” (www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/speaker/rulings/ruling_3_1_e.html).

In December 2009, the House of Commons passed a motion ordering the government to release unredacted (unedited) documents to the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan, which was looking into the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities by Canadian forces. When the government refused to release the documents, the opposition parties joined together to ask the Speaker to rule that the government had violated collective parliamentary privilege. The Speaker is limited to ruling that a breach of privilege has occurred. Any punishment, or the bringing of contempt charges against those ministers withholding the information, is to be determined by the entire House.

Columnist Chantal Hebert summed up the choices facing Speaker Peter Milliken: “If he rules that the government is within its rights to ignore a House order to hand over the documents until they have been

vetted by an outside party of its choice, Milliken will have clipped the wings of Parliament in a way that stands to accelerate its current decline into irrelevancy.

“The executive powers of the government will have been reinforced for all time at the expense of Parliament.

“But if he rules in favour of the opposition and orders the government to find a process that allows parliamentarians to be the judges of the balance between national security and accountability, the Speaker could set the ground for a spring election” (Toronto Star, March 24, 2010).

The Speaker’s RulingThe Speaker’s ruling was clear. Parliament does have the authority to require the government to produce any and all information it requires to do its business.

“It is the view of the chair that accepting an unconditional authority of the executive to censor the information provided to Parliament would in fact jeopardize the very separation of powers that is purported to lie at the heart of our parliamentary system and the independence of the constituent parts.

“Furthermore, it risks diminishing the inherent privileges of the House and its members, which have been earned and must be safeguarded.

“The House and the government have, essentially, an unbroken record of some 140 years of collaboration in cases of this kind. It seems to me that it would be a signal failure for us to see that record shattered in the third session of the 40th Parliament because we lacked the will or the wit to find a solution to this impasse” (The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2010).

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/speaker/rulings/ruling_3_1_e.html




He then gave the government and opposition parliamentarians two weeks in which to reach an agreement on how the necessary documents would be made available. It is his expectation that the two groups will find a compromise that will respect both Parliament’s fundamental right to demand the documents and the government’s concerns to protect national security.

Failure to reach a compromise could well result in the opposition bringing contempt charges against three government ministers. This would be viewed as a motion of no confidence in the government and result in a snap election.

Comments from the Parties Involved“Is it possible for the two sides, working together in the best interest of the Canadians they serve, to devise a means where both their concerns are met? Surely that’s not too much to hope for.” — Speaker Peter Milliken

“We welcome the possibility of a compromise while respecting our legal obligations as acknowledged by the Speaker.” — Justice Minister Rob Nicholson

“The Prime Minister’s not king and everybody in that chamber has to be respected.” — NDP Leader Jack Layton

“If you can’t trust MPs, you can’t trust the Canadian people.” — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff

Source: All quotes from The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2010.

The Story So FarBy the time you read this, the Speaker’s deadline will have passed, and a crisis will have either been averted or the crisis will have deepened, and we will be in the midst of an election.

The four parties have met and are attempting to work out a settlement. Several different scenarios have been suggested, and include:• Members of the Special Committee

take an oath of secrecy, and the government gives them the documents to personally review. This would be similar to what happens in the United States, where members of congressional committees responsible for national security have access to classified information. The drawback: There are probably tens of thousands of pages to look at, which would tie up the members’ time for months. An oath of secrecy would also mean that they could not reveal anything they learned to other members of their party.

• Ask a third party—perhaps Iacobucci—to review the documents, but to report to Parliament rather than the government with his results. The House could also give him powers of subpoena, allowing him to obtain documents not initially submitted for his review. This is something the government has failed to do up to this point.

• Have the documents reviewed and leave the decision about release of the documents to the Security and Intelligence Review Committee, which already oversees the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), our spy agency.

If the parties fail to compromise, there will be a House of Commons vote on whether the government is in contempt of Parliament. The government might try to forestall this vote by asking the Supreme Court to rule on the matter. Most observers suspect the court would refuse to take the case and would send it back to the House and the government for resolution. If the court did take the case, its ruling could dramatically alter the way Canadians are governed—and permanently strengthen the Court’s own power.


A “yes” vote would almost certainly be seen as a vote of no confidence and result in an election no one really seems to want. A “no” vote would require at least one of the opposition parties to back down, an extremely unlikely scenario given the length of the current dispute.

What Is at StakeIn his analysis columnist John Ibbitson writes that “the very legitimacy of Parliament” is dependent on compromise. He quotes the Speaker: “It seems to me we would fail the institution

if no resolution can be found” (The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2010).

Ibbitson goes on: “Failure will come in the form of a bitter election that would damage the country . . . Every arrow of reason points to compromise. Only passion or ambition could force an election. And then the 40th Parliament and those who served in it would go into history as the greatest failure since Confederation.”

By the time you read this, the fate of that 40th Parliament will have been decided.

Follow-up 1. How did the discussion between the government and the opposition play

out? Did a compromise result, or was an election called? Prepare a brief timeline outlining the activities by the two parties during the Speaker’s two-week moratorium.

2. Are there heroes or villains in this story? Was the government really at fault in resisting the demands of the opposition that it release the documents before a clear ruling by the Speaker? Should the opposition have worked out a policy on national security questions before demanding the release of documents?

3. Columnist Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail thinks that all the debate on the release of documents dealing with detainee transfers misses the point. She writes: “Despite the high-minded outrage, there has been a shocking lack of moral seriousness in this debate. In Ottawa, it’s all about scoring points. You’d be right to suspect that hardly any of our politicians give a rat’s derrière about a few wretched Afghans. And even as this quarrel eats up all the air time, there is no substantive debate at all about our role in Afghanistan—past, present or future” (April 29, 2010).

Do you agree with Wente that this debate is all about scoring points? Why or why not?


PARLIAMENT AND THE DETAINEE ISSUEActivity: Pick Your Corner

A four-corners debate gives students the opportunity to express their opinion on a controversial topic, discuss the topic with other students, and modify their opinion if they wish to do so.

1. To begin the activity, read the following statement to the class: “Even if information related to national security might become public, the government of Canada must always share all classified (secret) information with parliamentary committees.”

(You may choose to use other statements related to the story—for example, “Prisoners of war are not entitled to the same rights as ordinary citizens.”)

2. Ask the students to take a few minutes to make some notes describing their reaction to the statement.

3. After they have made their notes, ask the students if they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the statement. Depending on their response, they should proceed to the appropriate corner of the classroom and meet with those others who have similarly responded. (The corners should have been posted with signs for each response.)

4. Once in their corners, students should be given about 10 minutes to discuss the reasons for taking the position they have.

5. Following the discussion, one person from each group should share with the class the main ideas raised by their group.

6. Having heard these ideas, some students may wish to change their position and move to another group. This should be allowed.

7. Following the presentation, each group may continue its discussion for another five or 10 minutes. Students should be making notes and choosing the main points that indicate the reasons why they hold their final position.

8. Following the discussion, students should be asked to write a summary statement detailing the reasons why they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the statement.


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIIntroduction

FocusThis CBC News in Review story focuses on the ongoing Canadian effort to provide aid to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, a country that is still trying to recover and rebuild months after the disaster.


In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, Canadians opened their hearts and wallets in a generous outpouring of support. Moved by graphic images of suffering, individuals, families, church groups, and other organizations contributed over $200-million in humanitarian aid. This figure was unprecedented for Western countries, leading former U.S. president Bill Clinton, now a special United Nations envoy to Haiti, to remark that Canada was “at the top of the league” in the per capita amount of its donations to this devastated country.

For its part, the government of Canada acted quickly to dispatch military units to Haiti to aid in the relief effort. Both Prime Minister Harper and Governor General Michaëlle Jean—who was born in Haiti—made personal visits in the weeks following the quake. Ottawa also pledged to provide matching funds to equal the total amount of private donations Canadians contributed. At the end of March, at a special UN conference in New York to discuss a long-term project to help rebuild the shattered country, Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda announced that Canada was signing on to an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar plan. This plan involves rebuilding the country from the ground up.

While the sincerity of Canada’s commitment was not questioned, workers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active on the ground began to criticize the slow pace at which money

was being released for much-needed relief projects. For example, one absolute necessity for the over one million people rendered homeless by the quake was shelter, especially as the spring rainy season was approaching. Another requirement was portable water purifiers that would enable survivors to obtain fresh, safe drinking water. But these and other projects that NGO volunteers were eager to initiate were being stalled because none of the $200-million in matching government funds had been released to them months after the quake.

To make matters even worse, aid workers were also coping with other serious problems on the ground that were interfering with their efforts to assist quake survivors. Among these were heavy-handed Haitian government bureaucracy that was delaying the distribution of supplies, poor transportation and communication infrastructure, and most ominously, the menacing presence of armed gangs that were threatening relief workers in the sprawling, dangerous slums of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital. Over three months after the earthquake, the country was slowly recovering, and some Haitians were benefiting from the generosity of individuals and groups from Canada. But many more were still waiting for the aid that the Canadian government and the international community had promised, and for them the suffering and deprivation lingered on.

To Consider 1. Why do you think Canadians were so generous in the level of their

contributions to earthquake relief in Haiti?

2. What efforts did the Canadian government make to assist Haiti after the quake?

3. Why do you think the Canadian government has not released the matching funds they promised?


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIVideo Review

Pre-viewing ActivityBefore you watch the video, discuss the following questions with a partner or in a small group and record your responses.

1. What was your reaction to news of the earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010?

2. Did you or anyone you know make a contribution to earthquake relief in Haiti? If so, what form did this contribution take?

3. Give examples of some aid organizations with which you are familiar that are involved in relief efforts in Haiti.

4. What do you know about the Canadian government’s involvement in providing assistance to Haiti after the quake?

5. What do you know about conditions in Haiti following the earthquake?

Viewing QuestionsAs you watch the video, respond to the questions in the spaces provided.

1. a) Approximately how many people were killed in the earthquake in Haiti?

_______________________

b) How many were injured? _______________________

c) How many were left homeless? _______________________

Did you know . . .Canada’s annual foreign-aid budget is approximately $5-billion.


2. How did individual Canadians, including young people, contribute to earthquake relief in Haiti?

3. What steps did the Canadian government take to provide assistance to Haiti after the quake?

4. What problems are aid workers like John McEwan and Khurran Nazeer encountering in their efforts to provide tents and water purifiers?

5. a) On what relief projects was the Canadian doctor Raul Singh of Global Medic working in Haiti?

b) Why is his organization ending its work there?

6. How does Gilles Rivard, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, account for the fact that none of the $200-million in matching Canadian government funds has been released yet?

7. What problems did relief workers encounter when trying to deliver needed tents and other supplies to quake survivors in the countryside and in the city of Port-au-Prince?

8. a) What are Carole Coeur, Martine Flokstra, and Nicole Aube of Médecins Sans Frontières doing to assist quake survivors?


b) What challenges are they dealing with in these efforts?

9. Why is the story of Duncan Dee and Air Canada such a positive example of how emergency aid can be delivered quickly to Haiti?

Post-viewing ActivityAfter you have watched the video, discuss and respond to the following questions. Your teacher may choose to place you in a small group with other students.

1. How would you evaluate the effectiveness of Canada’s response to the earthquake in Haiti months after the disaster occurred?

2. In your view, what are the most immediate priorities that need to be addressed to help Haiti recover from the quake?

3. Do you agree with the criticisms that some NGO workers have made regarding the delay in releasing federal funds for earthquake relief? Why or why not?

4. Read the following quote from Dr. Nicole Aube of Médecins Sans Frontières: “This is a broken city. This is a broken country. They are exhausted emotionally when they think about their future. They feel abandoned by their own. They’re really thankful that we, the outside world, are here, and they hear that a lot of NGOs have already started to leave, and they fear that they will remain alone and abandoned.”

After watching the video, do you share Aube’s assessment of the future facing Haiti’s people? Why or why not? Provide specific reasons to support your point of view.


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIAid to Haiti

Focus for ReadingAs you read the following information ask yourself whether or not you agree with the Canadian government’s major aid priorities—which currently target the needs of the world’s least-developed nations.

DefinitionNon-governmental organizations, or NGOs, are generally not-for-profit organizations that do not represent government. Most NGOs are social or cultural groups.

BackgroundThe massive earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, focused Canadian and world attention on the desperate plight of this poor Caribbean country. Even before this catastrophe, Haiti was a major recipient of international humanitarian aid, much of it coming from Canada. A large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were based in the capital, Port-au-Prince, along with a substantial United Nations presence.

UN forces had been deployed to Haiti in early 2004 following the controversial ouster of the country’s president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to help prevent civil unrest and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. One of the major casualties of the quake was the UN mission’s command centre in Port-au-Prince, which was completely destroyed, killing many of its personnel who were trapped inside the building. Ironically, shortly before the quake, former U.S. president Bill Clinton had met with Haitian President René Préval and commended the country on the progress it was making toward political stability and the improvement of its people’s standard of living.

Following the quake, the federal government made Haiti an even greater priority for foreign aid. Eighty per cent of the foreign aid given by Canada each year is distributed through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). This agency maintains three main streams of funding: first through multilateral organizations such as the United Nations; then via bilateral

programs that reach a specific country either through its government or a local agency working there; and last, by way of partnerships between CIDA and a Canadian NGO.

Recently the federal government stated that the highest priority areas within its foreign aid strategy are food security, economic development, and help for women and children in developing countries. Food security means the provision of emergency food supplies in areas affected by drought or other natural disasters and long-term agricultural assistance that would enable a country to start producing enough food to meet its own needs. Economic development entails extending micro-loans to developing countries that will help them to start businesses that will create jobs and manufacture products for both the local and export markets. Finally, assistance to women and children became a special concern of Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he called for a major G8 program to specifically address the health conditions of women and their babies in poor countries.

Currently, Canada’s foreign aid is primarily targeted to 20 countries world-wide. The federal government has increased the number of recipient countries in the Americas while reducing the number in Africa. Afghanistan is the top recipient of Canadian aid, followed by Haiti. Aid to Haiti is likely to increase both through the government’s commitment to match the $200-million in individual donations contributed following the earthquake and as a result


of its participation in a multi-billion-dollar UN project to rebuild Haiti that may take many years to complete.

Canadian Aid in Action: Rebuilding JacmelThe coastal city of Jacmel—or Jakmel in Creole—is considered to be Haiti’s cultural centre. It is also the ancestral home of Michaëlle Jean, Canada’s governor general. Jacmel’s historic centre is a treasure trove of artistic and cultural traditions that blend colonial French, African, and Caribbean influences dating back over three centuries. The town figured significantly in the Haitian revolution in the late 18th century that saw an army of former slaves drive superior French and British forces from the island. Haiti was declared an independent republic in 1804, the first free non-white state to come into being anywhere in the world.

The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, caused widespread destruction and loss of life in Jacmel. The first tremor occurred at 4:30 p.m., and a severe aftershock about an hour later stopped the clock in the cathedral tower permanently at 5:37 p.m. Zenny Edwin, the town’s mayor, stated that between 300 and 500 residents lost their lives in the quake, which also injured another 4 000 of the city’s 50 000 inhabitants. About 70 per cent of the houses in Jacmel were totally destroyed. Colonial-era buildings in the town’s historic centre, whose ornate balconies were supported by stone pillars, were largely spared, as was the covered market that Belgian craftsmen built in 1895. But the poorer neighbourhoods of Jacmel were not so lucky. Most of these structures were built of concrete blocks and either completely collapsed or sustained irreparable damage in the quake, often killing or severely injuring those unlucky enough to have been

inside them when it struck.Since the earthquake, Jacmel has

become the main focus for Canada’s aid programs in Haiti. Even before her emotional visit to her home town in early March 2010, Jean drew attention to the plight of Jacmel and the loss of many of her friends and family members in the disaster. But her much-anticipated arrival on March 9 was a momentous occasion for its beleaguered residents. Jean had visited Jacmel once before, in May 2006, shortly after she assumed the position of governor general. At that time, she expressed the hope that her homeland would overcome its serious problems and one day realize the dreams of its heroic founders.

On her second trip, she focused on Haitian women, without whom, she claimed, no project of relief and reconstruction could succeed. She drew attention to the plight of many Haitian women, usually the mainstays of the family unit, who were facing serious threats to their personal safety from marauding gangs. She appealed to all Haitians to unite and overcome their past differences in order to deal with the urgent task of national rebuilding the earthquake had presented to them. And she promised that she would not forget Jacmel and the rest of her homeland when she returned to Canada and would do whatever she could to pressure the federal government and world bodies such as the United Nations to keep Haiti at the top of their humanitarian aid and reconstruction agendas.

Canada has been instrumental in helping Jacmel recover from the devastation of the earthquake and lay the foundations for a precarious, slow recovery. Shortly after the quake struck the town, Canadian troops arrived and have maintained a major presence ever since, helping to restore the functioning of the airport, clearing rubble from the

Did you know . . .Creole is one of two officials languages in Haiti; the other is French. A large Haitian-Canadian population lives in Montreal.

Quote“The whole world wants to see Haiti seize this important moment and do what it takes to lift Haiti out of misery. The time for tensions and divisions is over.” — Governor General Michaëlle Jean, visiting Haiti in 2006 shortly after becoming Canada’s governor general (The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2010)


streets, and repairing water and sewage systems. Local residents are extremely grateful for the assistance Canada has provided and are quick to point out that no official from the Haitian government even visited the town before Jean’s arrival.

Haiti’s needs are great, and Jacmel, for all its historical and symbolic significance, is just one town among many in this desperately poor country that is seeking assistance from both national and international bodies.

Follow-up 1. Do you agree that Afghanistan and Haiti should be the two main recipients

of Canadian foreign aid? Why or why not?

2. Do you think that Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s visit to Jacmel will have more than just a symbolic significance for the town’s earthquake-ravaged residents? Why or why not?

3. Do you think people are tired of hearing about the devastation in Haiti? Provide reasons for your answer.


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIRaising and Tracking Money

Pre-reading ActivityWith a partner or small group, develop a flow chart or a list of points that describes what you think happens to aid money after someone makes a donation. Be very specific in your answer. Compare your answer with one other pair or small group and make any additions or changes that you feel are necessary. As you read the following information, further update your notes.

In This GuideTo learn more about the musician K’naan, turn to the story on pages 46-56 in this resource guide.

Aid Pours InLike the Asian tsunami of December 2004, the earthquake in Haiti prompted a remarkable outpouring of donations from Canadians. Almost immediately after the first images of the quake’s devastation appeared on television and computer screens across the country, people began to contact a number of charitable organizations that raise money to respond to natural disasters around the world. Among the best-known of these are the Canadian Red Cross (CRC), CARE Canada, OXFAM, Save the Children Canada, World Vision, and Médecins Sans Frontières. Many of these groups were already involved in sponsoring aid programs in Haiti even before the quake, but the disaster vastly increased the amount of money that was flowing into their head offices

Because of greater access to the Internet, a growing number of Canadians now make charitable donations online instead of by mail or telephone. In the days immediately following the Haiti earthquake, the response was so great that some of the Web sites of charitable organizations—Médecins Sans Frontières, for example—crashed because of the high volume of hits. By mid-February 2010, about a month after the quake struck, Canadians had donated a total of $113-million to various organizations participating in the Haiti relief effort. The federal government pledged to match this amount with an equivalent grant. By late March, total

donations had topped $220-million.The Canadian Red Cross alone

had raised $122-million for its Haiti Earthquake Fund by mid-April 2010 and had already spent about one-third of this amount for emergency relief efforts in areas devastated by the quake. According to Conrad Sauvé, CEO of the CRC, one of the organization’s top priorities was providing tents for tens of thousands of homeless people in the quake zone. The CRC was also helping to construct more permanent shelters for them.

Individual Canadians were also doing what they could to assist Haiti. Some of the country’s top recording artists, including Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, and Drake, collaborated on a remixed version of K’naan’s song “Wavin’ Flag,” donating proceeds from digital sales to Free the Children, War Child Canada, and World Vision to be used for Haiti relief projects for children. A group of people in the Ontario city of Markham organized three fundraising events, including an Asian-inspired dinner, a “taste of Broadway” concert, and a gala dance reception that pledged to raise $250 000 to help rebuild part of Port-au-Prince. This ambitious project was dubbed the “Markham miracle.” Eighty schools in the Hamilton, Ontario, area, along with local police, hospital staff, and others, raised $218 632 in a one-week fundraising drive called “Project Concern,” to help rebuild the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, an orphanage in Haiti that was completely destroyed in the


quake. These are just some of the many examples of Canadians who were doing what they could to help Haiti.

Where Does the Money Go?As Canadians continued to donate vast sums of money for Haitian earthquake relief projects, there were growing concerns that the funds were not actually reaching those in need of assistance. Some of the money is used to cover the administrative costs of charities for items such as advertising, staffing call-centres, and maintaining Web sites. While some organizations, such as Plan International Canada, Adventist Development, and Relief Agency Canada, were committed to using every cent they received in donations to fund their Haiti operations, other larger charities admitted that they retained between eight and 10 per cent of total donations to cover administrative costs.

Once the money arrived in Haiti, there was still no certainty that all or even most of it would be spent on emergency food and water supplies, shelter, or medical equipment and assistance. A great amount would be needed just to provide logistical support to deliver the aid to where it was needed. For example, it costs as much as $2 000 per day to hire a truck to bring safe drinking water from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, a trip that could take many days through difficult terrain over shattered roads. According to Jane Connolly, director of programs for the International Development and Relief Foundation, “the necessity for the money really is in the transportation because everybody is squabbling over trucks and drivers. That’s just one of the supply chain issues you get with disasters.”

In the aftermath of the quake, some aid agencies began to shift their priorities from emergency assistance to longer-term reconstruction efforts.

CARE Canada, Oxfam, and Save the Children planned to dedicate some of the over $10-million it raised for multi-year reconstruction projects, including rebuilding homes, schools, and other facilities. But others, including World Vision, continued to make meeting the short-term needs such as shelter and non-food items like hygiene kits a major focus for its spending. Before that, supplies had to be moved directly into Haiti, which took time due to the severe congestion at the country’s only international airport and the almost total destruction of the port facilities in Port-au-Prince.

After the Asian tsunami of December 2004, some Canadian donors were angry to learn that prominent aid groups had not been able to deliver the funds donated to those most in need of help. Instead, they had been used to finance other projects or, in the worst cases, had disappeared into the pockets of corrupt local partners in reconstruction efforts. According to Rosemary McCarney, president and CEO of Plan Canada, “when you give to an organization, you should be able to hold their feet to the fire in terms of accounting for the funds that have been given” (“Haiti: Where is your money going?” Canadian Press, February 7, 2010). While acknowledging that many large aid organizations had implemented tighter accountability measures after the tsunami, others were still not operating as transparently as they could. In her view, the best way that Canadians could ensure that their charitable donations are actually ending up helping those in need of them is to contribute to groups that were already operating in Haiti even before the earthquake. “You have to ask what is the aid group’s capacity to work in the emergency,” she stated. “Have they got long roots in the country where they actually know how to be effective?”

Did you know . . . One of the reasons that aid is not delivered quickly to those who need it is that all of the disaster relief agencies on site have to fight over the same trucks and vehicles within the disaster area. Transportation infrastructure is one of the key issues in providing disaster relief.

Did you know . . .Haitian banks were shut down for an entire month following the quake. Because of that, it was very difficult for money to be transferred from Canadian banks to partners operating on the ground.


A CBC investigation focusing on the operations of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) in the tsunami-devastated Aceh region in Indonesia has raised some disturbing questions regarding how reconstruction projects are administered in remote areas stricken by major natural disasters. According to Virgil Grandfield, a former CRC employee, hundreds of construction workers imported from other parts of the country to build new houses for tsunami survivors found themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous mandurs, or subcontractors, who refused to pay them for long periods of time. Instead, the subcontractors pocketed money targeted for reconstruction efforts for their own uses.

Grandfield claims that even though CRC officials in Canada were aware that this was happening, they did nothing to halt these abuses. Since leaving the CRC in disgust, Grandfield has dedicated his time and energy to tracking down former construction workers scattered across Indonesia in order to prove his allegations. And while the CRC is now promising that it will investigate Grandfield’s charges and will compensate the workers for their withheld wages, he still feels that more could be done. He urges that the CRC should “recognize that it happened, and apologize for it . . . The CRC was rolling in money when this was happening” (“Stolen Aid,” CBC documentary, 2010).

Analysis 1. Review the notes you made during the pre-reading activity. How accurate

was your information? Did you learn anything in this section that surprised you?

2. What fundraising efforts for Haiti earthquake relief taking place in your own school or local community were you aware of? Did you or your friends/family/classmates participate in any of them? Why or why not?

3. Do you think that aid organizations in Haiti should shift their focus from short-term emergency assistance to longer-term reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake? Why or why not?

4. Are you concerned that the money you may donate to a charitable organization may not reach those in need of it? Why or why not?

5. Has the information presented in the CBC documentary Stolen Aid affected your view of the CRC as a reputable aid organization? Why or why not?


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIPersonal Stories

Focus for ReadingThe following material tells the personal stories of a few Canadians who are helping in Haiti. As you read the stories, think about what they are doing, why they are there, and how their experiences have affected them.

Quote“I’m learning just how complex our work here is, and how dedicated the Red Cross is to ensuring that each and every donor dollar is used to help our beneficiaries in the best ways possible.” — Cheryl Kelly, CRC aid worker (“Stories from the Field,” www.redcross.ca/haitia2010/red-cross-response/)

Chiran Livera is working as part of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) relief effort in Haiti. Livera, who first joined the CRC as a youth volunteer in 2004, is part of the emergency response team based in Jacmel. He is trained in humanitarian relief management and has a background in international law, armed conflict, and global citizenship. His main priority for his three-month stint in Haiti is to assist with shelter assessment projects and the distribution of basic relief items.

On arriving in Jacmel, Livera was struck by the sheer scope of the disaster, but also impressed by the resiliency, dedication, and professionalism of local volunteers from the Haitian branch of the Red Cross. He recognized that quake survivors in this region needed emergency shelter in the form of tents, but also more long-term temporary accommodation, which he was responsible for designing and presenting to local officials and future inhabitants. After supervising the distribution of emergency items like blankets, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, and hygiene kits to about 25 000 people, Livera’s efforts shifted to the transitional shelter program, whose goal was to design, build, and house homeless people in structures that would withstand heavy rains and hurricanes and last for as long as four or five years.

During his stint in Haiti, Livera also had the opportunity to travel outside Jacmel to remote rural areas that had received little, if any, outside assistance weeks after the earthquake struck. He was impressed with the sheer physical beauty of these mountainous regions, but also found that

residents faced serious problems—even before the quake—such as no electricity and limited access to transportation to ship the crops they grew to market.

He tells of a passionate grandfather who refused to take his family to a displaced persons camp in Port-au-Prince even though his house had been destroyed, because the only life he knew was in the mountains. He used the tarpaulins the CRC provided to set up a temporary shelter for his large family and also benefited from the hygiene kits and mosquito nets it distributed to local residents.

Back in Jacmel, Livera came to know a number of Haitian Red Cross volunteers well as he worked alongside them. One of them was Michelle Guardina, a 22-year-old student and Jacmel native who showed an innate talent for leadership and motivating others. From his contact with local people, he believes that something positive may arise in Haiti out of this calamity. In his words, “this idea of neighbours helping strangers and communities coming together to identify solutions to challenges is apparent in what I have seen in Haiti. Often out of a tragedy, a sense of community spirit and resilience can emerge, and Haiti is no exception” (“Stories from the Field,” www.redcross.ca/haitia2010/red-cross-response/).

CRC worker Cheryl Kelly was both proud and nervous as she boarded the airplane for Port-au-Prince about two months after the earthquake struck. She wondered if she would be able to cope with the demands

http://www.redcross.ca/haitia2010/red-cross-response/






and deal with the horror and devastation she was certain to encounter on the ground in Haiti. But the presence of so many Red Cross workers from around the world, along with the strength and commitment of local Haitian volunteers, soon buoyed her spirits. She was especially struck by a young woman she interviewed for an administrative position with the CRC team. This person was about to graduate from college when the building where student records were filed was totally levelled in the quake. She now had no proof that she had indeed graduated, but this did not deter her from offering her services to the Red Cross team.

Although her days start at 5:30 a.m. and often do not finish until long after nightfall, Cheryl Kelly is enjoying every minute of her assignment in Haiti.

Magalie Bien-Aimé is a 44-year-old nurse of Haitian background from Montreal who had both personal and professional reasons for volunteering her services for Haiti following the earthquake. Moved by the scenes of suffering and devastation she witnessed on television, she wanted to help. But she was also anxious to find her older brother—whom she had not seen in 10 years—who had disappeared in the rubble of his Port-au-Prince home, leaving behind a 13-year-old son.

Toronto Star reporter Brett Popplewell met her on the plane trip to Haiti less than two weeks after the quake. At that time she expressed the doubts she had about being able to withstand the pressures she was about to encounter. She agreed to meet Popplewell again.

While covering the earthquake for his newspaper, Popplewell met with a number of international volunteers who told of the severe stress they were under while working in Haiti. Some found the horrors they encountered so overwhelming that they had to leave the country mere days after their arrival. For those who stayed, the images of amputated limbs, mangled bodies, and traumatized children will remain in their memories for life.

About two weeks after his arrival, Popplewell was visiting the University of Miami’s field hospital near the airport, where he learned there was a severe shortage of nurses. Upon informing the hospital director that he was a Canadian journalist, Popplewell was led to some small tents where Canadian nurses were staying. There he met Magalie Bien-Aimé again, chain-smoking and exhausted from stress and an inability to sleep.

She told him that while she had been able to find her nephew, who was safe with another aunt, and had spent a short visit with him, she had received no news about her brother, who she presumed was dead. Emotionally drained by her experience in Haiti, she was eager to return to Canada. As she told Popplewell, “there are so many orphans and amputees here. You try to help someone and they scream. You leave them alone and they scream. Others have no feeling. They don’t respond. They just sit there. I haven’t seen any coffins yet but, at night, I dream about them. I don’t want to stay any longer. I need to decompress. I need out” (“Horrors of Haiti take their toll,” Toronto Star, February 7, 2010).

Quote“What you see here will remain in your hard drive for the rest of your life. If you don’t have a filing system to lock it away, you are in trouble.” — Ben Zakous (“Horrors of Haiti take their toll,” Toronto Star, February 7, 2010)

Follow-up 1. Identify the similarities and differences between the experiences of Chiran

Livera, Cheryl Kelly, and Magalie Bien-Aimé. How would you account for these differences?

2. Do you think it requires a special kind of person to work in a disaster zone like post-earthquake Haiti? What qualities do you think such a person should possess before he or she embarks on such an assignment? Do you think you could or would want to be such a person? Why or why not?


HOW CANADIANS ARE HELPING HAITIActivity: Non-Governmental Organizations

Your TaskAs part of a small group, you will be conducting research about non-governmental organizations operating in Haiti and giving a short presentation to the class about the information you locate.

Getting StartedThe CBC has posted online a lengthy list of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are delivering aid to Haiti following the earthquake. This list was compiled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT;, background information on these NGOs can be found on its Web site.

• CBC list: “Disaster in Haiti: How you can help”– www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/13/f-haiti-help.html

• DFAIT Web site: “Earthquake in Haiti”– www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whtsnw/tms/rthqk-haiti-eng.html

The ResearchForm small groups and select two of the NGOs listed on the CBC web site. Some of them—such as CARE Canada, Oxfam, UNICEF, the Canadian Red Cross, or World Vision—may already be familiar to you, while others may be less well known. Each group should try to choose one large or well-known NGO and one smaller or less familiar one as the basis for its research.

While doing your research, make notes on the following:

• background information on your NGOs

• the projects your NGOs are responsible for in Haiti

• challenges facing the NGOs

• examples of success achieved by the NGOs

Final AssessmentWith your group members, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of large NGOs as opposed to small ones. Are there certain types of work that only a large NGO can do? Is a smaller NGO more efficient than a large one (that is, can they get things done faster)? Do they use donated funds differently?

Your responses to these questions will form your final assessment, which you should share as the conclusion to your presentation.

Following the presentations, discuss with the entire class which NGOs it thinks might be best positioned to deliver effective aid to Haiti, and why.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/13/f-haiti-help.html

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/13/f-haiti-help.html

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whtsnw/tms/rthqk-haiti-eng.html

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whtsnw/tms/rthqk-haiti-eng.html


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Introduction

FocusCanada is a multicultural country where people of many races and backgrounds live in harmony together. Most of us are proud of our diversity, and we like to think prejudice isn’t a problem in our country. But how tolerant are we? In this News in Review story we’ll look at how a racist incident shocked a community. And we’ll ask pollsters and ordinary Canadians whether we should be doing more to fight intolerance.


Note to Teachers: Teachers should be aware that the teaching of sensitive and controversial issues may provoke emotional responses from students. A high degree of care should be taken before lessons to ensure that the learning environment allows for conflicting sets of values to be processed analytically and with respect for differences in peoples and their cultures, identities, and world views. As with all activities that involve complex thinking, teachers should build in time for reflection and metacognitive activities.

The majority of Canadians embrace multiculturalism, human rights, and diversity as fundamental values of our country. This is a result of centuries of immigration, where people from many different cultures and ethnicities decided to make Canada their home. Canada has always needed people from other countries to contribute to our economic and social well-being.

Our diverse population is one of the distinct features of our country. This diversity is valued so highly that laws have been enacted to protect and encourage it. For example, all Canadians are guaranteed equality before the law and equality of opportunity regardless of their origins. This fact alone sets us apart from many other countries in the world that do not treat diverse people fairly or

justly. Canadians like to believe that they are extremely hospitable and fair-minded people.

But despite an overall perception of Canada as a tolerant country, with a good overall human rights record, there are ongoing incidents of intolerance and discrimination that paint a darker picture of our beliefs and behaviours—incidents that demand our attention and action. How can all Canadians meet the challenge of working together for common goals despite all of the unique individual and cultural identities that exist in the country?

While there are no easy solutions, it seems clear that diversity requires tolerance, openness, and acceptance on the part of all Canadians.

To ConsiderIndicate whether you agree, disagree, or if you are not sure about each of the statements below. Return to your answers and reconsider them after you have learned more.

a) Intolerance will always exist.

b) Young people are less intolerant than older people.

c) Racism exists between different races and within the same race.

d) Diversity is a national strength.

e) Diversity is a national challenge.


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Video Review

Pre-viewing ActivityBefore you watch the video, discuss the following questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. Think of one example of intolerance and discrimination in Canadian society.

2. Think of one example of Canadian tolerance and inclusiveness.

3. If a poll was taken about racism and tolerance in Canada today, predict what the results of the poll might be.

Viewing QuestionsAs you watch this News in Review story, respond to the following questions in the spaces provided.

1. What hate crime occurred in Hants County, Nova Scotia, on February 21, 2010?

2. How did the community respond to the crime?

3. What other evidence of anti-black racism exists in Nova Scotia?

4. What were some of the results of a spring 2010 CBC poll on racism? Record some of the comments you heard in the video.

5. How will the face of Canadian society continue to change for the next 20 years?

6. According to Kirk Moss—the teacher—how did racism affect his life as a young immigrant?

Did you know . . .In 1914, in Nova Scotia, Viola Davis Desmond—a black woman—was arrested, put in jail, and fined after she sat in the “white only” seating area of a theatre. On April 14, 2010, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia granted Desmond a posthumous pardon, the first such pardon to be granted in Canada.

Note to Students: You may have several emotional responses to the video. You may feel anger, sadness, interest, disinterest, guilt, or similar emotions. Learning about issues of identity is difficult because of the range and intensity of emotions that can arise. During your class discussions, be sure to maintain a respectful learning environment that encourages each person to discuss conflicting sets of ideas and values. Be sensitive in your discussions and remember that one person’s opinion or experience cannot and should not represent the viewpoints or experience of an entire culture, ethnicity, or other group.


7. What are two ways that Canadians could make our society more equitable and inclusive?

8. What evidence is there that younger Canadians are becoming “colour-blind”?

Post-viewing ActivityAfter you have watched the video, discuss and respond to the following questions. Your teacher may choose to place you in a small group with other students.

1. Who did you relate to the most in this video? Why?

2. What information was the most interesting to you? Why?

3. What information was the most disturbing and/or surprising to you? Why?

4. On the whole, do you think that Canada is a tolerant country? What evidence would you use to support your opinion?


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?A Sensitive SubjectWhen speaking about sensitive and controversial issues involving tolerance and intolerance toward other human beings, it is important to have some common language to better understand the complex issues we are addressing. If you cannot distinguish equity from equality, or tolerance from acceptance, or you don’t really understand the meaning of racism, ageism, or ableism, you will be less successful in identifying problems and taking action to improve our school, community, and world. It is also important to keep in mind that language is constantly evolving, including language regarding human identities.

Talking about racism, prejudice, and intolerance makes many people uncomfortable. You may have

experienced intolerance and felt its painful effects. You may feel angry, sad, or disturbed by discussions that deal with your identity as a human being. You may feel implicated or guilty in hearing stories about racism and injustice—I can’t believe how badly Aboriginal people have been treated in Canada; You should hear how my mother talks about that group of people. Or you may want to dismiss what you hear—Why should I care? I’ve never done anything to anyone. Regardless of your reaction—and you may have more than one—it is important to talk about these issues in an open and respectful fashion even if respect can be hard to give or to earn. These are “real-life” issues that affect all Canadians now and in the future.

Understanding the LanguageAnswer the questions below in your notebook or computer using the definitions provided.

1. What is the difference between acceptance and tolerance?

2. What does it mean to say Canada is a diverse society?

3. What is the same and different about race and ethnicity? Why are the two easily confused?

4. What is the difference between equality and equity? Why do you think diversity requires equity and not necessarily equality?

5. How is a hate crime different from other crimes?

6. Give an example that clearly shows that you understand the distinctions between prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. Which of these human tendencies do you think is the most destructive? Why?

DefinitionsThe following definitions are useful in discussions on racism, prejudice, and intolerance.

Acceptance: to be met with approval

Antiracist: seeking the elimination of racism in all its forms

Discrimination: unfair or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, or disability, as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code, or on the basis of other, similar factors. Discrimination, whether


intentional or unintentional, has the effect of preventing or limiting access to opportunities, benefits, or advantages that are available to other members of society.

Diversity: the presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include—but are not limited to—ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

Ethnicity: the shared national, ethnocultural, racial, linguistic, and/or religious heritage of a group of people, whether or not those people live in their country of origin

Equality: the quality of being the same (in value, measurement, status)

Equity: a condition or state of fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment of all people. Equity does not mean treating people the same without regard for individual differences.

Hate crimes: crimes motivated by hatred toward a specific group in society; can include graffiti, oral comments, vandalism, arson, assault, and murder

Prejudice: a set of opinions about or attitudes toward a certain group—or individuals within it—that casts that group and its members in an inferior light and for which there is no legitimate basis in fact

Race: a social construct that groups people on the basis of common ancestry and characteristics such as colour of skin, shape of eyes, hair texture, and/or facial features. The term is used to designate the social categories into which societies divide people according to such characteristics. Race is often confused

Further ResearchLearn more about “white privilege” by reading an excerpt of Peggy McIntosh’s paper “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” at www.cwru.edu/president/aaction/ UnpackingThe Knapsack.pdf.

with ethnicity—a group of people who share a particular cultural heritage or background; there may be several ethnic groups within a racial group.

Stereotype: a false or generalized—usually negative—conception of a group of people that results in the unconscious or conscious categorization of each member of that group, without regard for individual differences

Tolerance: willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs and practices of others; does not always imply agreement with the beliefs and practices

White privilege: a set of advantages that are believed to be enjoyed by white people beyond those commonly experienced by people of colour in the same social, political, or economic spaces

The “Isms” and “Phobias”The group of words below is not inclusive of all types of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination based on human qualities and attributes, but it will help you begin to understand the ways in which we can negatively impact other human beings. These “isms” and “phobias” can be evident in institutions like education and religious systems as well as in the attitudes and behaviours of individual people.

Ableism: prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination directed against people who have developmental, emotional, physical, sensory, or health-related disabilities

Ageism: prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination directed against people based on age

Anti-semitism: prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination directed against individual Jews or the Jewish people on the basis of their culture and religion

http://www.cwru.edu/president/aaction/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf





Heterosexism: discrimination in favour of heterosexuals and against homosexual people

Homophobia: a hostile attitude, negative bias, or fear—which may exist at an individual or a systemic level—toward people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered

Islamophobia: prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, or fear directed against Muslims or Arabs on the basis of their culture and religion

Racism: a set of erroneous assumptions, opinions, and/or actions stemming from the belief that one race is inherently superior to another

Sexism: prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination directed against people on the basis of their sex (biologically determined) or gender (socially constructed characteristics of women and men)

Follow-up 1. Match the following statements to the correct “ism” or “phobia.”

a) An elderly woman’s advice is dismissed by the town council as irrelevant and out-of-date.

b) A Muslim boy is taunted by other students as a “terrorist.”

c) None of the books in the library depict same-sex relationships.

d) Two girls who hold hands in the school hallway are called “gay” by other students.

e) The school has boys-only cricket, hockey, and baseball teams.

f) An autistic child is told he cannot participate in music lessons.

g) Nazi symbols are found painted on the walls of a synagogue.

h) A girl’s father will not allow her to date boys outside her race.

2. After completing the previous activity, write a brief reflection using these sentence stems:

a) The “ism” or “phobia” that I have to deal with personally is . . .

b) The “ism” or “phobia” that struck me as most pervasive in my home is . . .

c) The “ism” or “phobia” that struck me as most pervasive in my school community is . . .

d) The issue I wish we could discuss more about as a class is . . .

Sources for definitions: Antiracism and Ethnocultural Equity in School Boards, Ontario Ministry of Education, 1993; Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009; worldnetweb.princeton.edu


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Perspectives on Racism

Before Reading 1. Think about how you’d answer the question: “Is racism a problem in

Canada?”

2. Compare your answer with that of a classmate.

3. Compare your answers in a small group. What do you think accounts for different perspectives on racism in Canada?

Group Activity: Considering Perspectives on RacismCreate a “placemat” on a large sheet of chart paper to record responses during the following exercise. Write the title “Racism in Canada” in the centre of the placemat and leave enough space to record your group’s final observations in a rectangle around the title. Divide the remaining space on the paper into four sections so that each member of a group of four students can individually record information in response to the questions in Task 1.

Task 1: Reflecting on Other’s WordsRead the quotes below and then put the following information in your section of the placemat:

1. One quote with which you agree.

2. One quote with which you disagree.

3. One quote that you find particularly interesting or provocative.

“We believe—and research confirms—that students who feel welcome and accepted in their schools are more likely to succeed academically.” — Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Minister of Education (Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009)

“Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” — George Dei, Canadian educator and antiracism and equity advocate ( Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009)

The following three quotes are from unidentified pedestrians in response to the question: “Is racism a problem in Canada?” (CBC News, “Aboriginal Peoples, Muslims face discrimination most: Environics poll,” March 15, 2010)

“I think you’re going to find racism all over the place. You’re going to see it in the workplace, you’re going to see it . . . in schools.”

“I think we are a bit more tolerant than other countries, but I do still think that it’s a problem.”

“It’s frustrating because you want to be seen as a person as opposed to some idea of what people see you as.”

“There still exists systemic discrimination against Aboriginal peoples in the health-care, social-service, and justice systems, particularly in the Prairies.” — Grand Chief Morris J. Swan Shannacappo of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (CBC News, “Aboriginal Peoples, Muslims face discrimination most: Environics poll,” March 15, 2010)


“Discrimination in this country is essentially a race issue. If the Muslim is white, nobody has a problem. If the Muslim is black, people are petrified. So in the end it is a question about colour, not religion.” — Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress (CBC News, “Aboriginal Peoples, Muslims face discrimination most: Environics poll,” March 15, 2010)

“I feel that I’m Canadian because I’ve lived here all my life and I don’t know anything else. Race has never been an issue for me.” — Alena Mondok, 13-year-old of Slovakian and Jamaican heritage (CBC News, “Aboriginal Peoples, Muslims face discrimination most: Environics poll,” March 15, 2010)

“We want to avoid the kind of ethnic conclaves or parallel communities that exist in some European communities. New Canadians have a duty to integrate . . . We don’t need the state to promote diversity.” — Jason Kenny, Canadian Minister of Immigration (“Enough of multiculturalism – bring on the melting pot,” The Globe and Mail, March 31, 2010)

“It is the effort to live in a country of peace and prosperity, with laws that are just, with people who are humane, and where citizens of all backgrounds encounter equal opportunities when they set out to realize their potential, contribute to their communities, participate in the Canadian economy, and engage the Canadian political system.” — Michael Adams (Unlikely Utopia: The Surprising Triumph of Canadian Pluralism)

“Multiculturalism has been completely distorted, turned on its head to essentially claim that anything anyone believes, no matter how ridiculous and outrageous, is okay and acceptable in the name of diversity.” — Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal MP for Surrey, B.C. (“The new war over multiculturalism,” Toronto Star, April 25, 2010)

“In an immigrant nation, tensions are inevitable between the native-born and the foreign-born, older and newer immigrants, and the ancestral practices of immigrant parents and their Canadian-born or -bred kids. The push-pull of ‘old country’ values and new is the alchemy of a living, breathing culture. National identity is constantly evolving.” — Haroon Siddiqui (“The new war over multiculturalism,” Toronto Star, May 9, 2009)

“Canadian racism has always been subtle, unlike American racism, which slaps you in your face. Canadians who are racists truly believe that they are open and welcoming—until a person of colour or immigrant points out the racism. Then they cry reverse racism or point the finger right back at you because, in this great land, there is no racism . . . only overly sensitive immigrants.” — Shellene Drakes-Tull (Toronto Star, May 16, 2009)

“It’s very important that people come out and see other people’s cultures and what they bring to Canada. It’s only through learning about each other that we can really respect each other.” — Areeba Jawaid (The Globe and Mail, March 10, 2010)

Task 2: Sharing Once everyone has completed their section of the placemat, the group should share and debrief their choices.


Task 3: Final Group ObservationsAs a group, discuss the following and write your group’s responses in the centre of your placemat.

1. What is one question you would like to ask one of the people quoted?

2. What is one response you would like to make to one of the quotes?

3. What is your group’s response to the question: “Is racism a problem in Canada?”

4. What is your group’s response to the question: “What are three things that could be done to reduce and/or eliminate racism?”


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Evidence of Intolerance in Canada

Focus for ReadingThe following cases promote difficult conversations regarding intolerance and racism in Canada. For each case, consider the following.

1. What is the major issue/problem?

2. How was the issue/problem dealt with?

3. Do you think the issue/problem was resolved correctly? What else can be/should be done?

Sutton, OntarioIn 2007, 11 separate cases of racially motivated attacks and slurs aimed at Asian Canadians who were recreationally fishing were reported to police in Simcoe County, Ontario. Perpetrators who were caught were arrested and tried. Two years later, three incidents were reported. It appears that the work of human rights staff, leaders of the Asian community, police, and politicians is making progress in curbing these attacks.

Source: Toronto Star, April 9, 2009

Keswick High School, OntarioA 15-year-old Korean student was suspended from school for 20 days and was charged with assault causing bodily harm after a fight in gym class with a white student on April 21, 2009. The white student used a racial slur and when confronted refused to apologize. The white student threw the first punch, hitting the 15-year-old in the mouth. The 15-year-old, a black belt in martial arts, threw a punch that broke the white student’s nose.

The Asian student was the only one charged after the fight, which led to protests in the school community and beyond. Four hundred students walked out of class one morning to protest the suspension and criminal charges. After one week of suspension, the York Board of Education reversed its decision and allowed him back to school after the

two boys participated in a reconciliation session. The criminal charges still stand, and the boy is due to appear in court on May 13, 2010.

Source: The Globe and Mail, May 1, 2009

Hants County, Nova ScotiaTwo Nova Scotia brothers await trial for hate crimes in Hants County, Nova Scotia. They face charges of public incitement of hatred, mischief, and uttering threats. They are accused of placing a two-metre high cross with a hanging noose in front of the home of Michelle Lyon and Shayne Howe and their five children. Howe is the only black person living in the town of Poplar Grove. The crime took place on February 21, 2010, at 1:30 in the morning.

Many in the community of Hants County rallied around the family. Lyon and Howe received many cards and letters of support. And more than 200 people took part in a march against racism and in support of the family. Shayne Howe and Michelle Lyon are unsure if they will remain in the community where they have lived for six years.

Source: cbc.ca, March 1, 2010

Africville, Nova ScotiaAfricville was a black community at the northern tip of the Halifax peninsula that existed for about 150 years. Its founding members were former American slaves

Did you know . . .Blacks are the third-largest visible minority in Canada, exceeded only by the Chinese and South Asian communities. Statistics Canada reports that black people account for 48 per cent of the victims of racially motivated hate crime in the country.


and other black settlers. The community did not receive running water or sewage facilities despite paying city taxes.

The tight-knit and vibrant community—which had become physically run down over the decades—was ordered destroyed. The land was expropriated and levelled in the 1960s to make way for “urban renewal” and a bridge over the Halifax harbour. Former residents and their descendants have been demanding compensation and redevelopment. Part of the old Africville site was declared a national historic site in 2002.

Mayor Peter Kelly of Halifax delivered a formal apology to residents of Africville in February 2010 and promised $3-million to build a replica church and interpretive centre at the site. No money has been offered to former residents forced to move.

Source: cbc.ca, February 23, 2010

Hamilton, Ontario“Would your ability to judge evidence in this case without bias or prejudice be affected by the fact the accused are black men or non-white men?” This question has been permitted in Ontario courts since 1994 since it was found

that anti-black racism is a fact that must be confronted in legal proceedings in Canada.

Potential jurors are asked this question by defence lawyers during jury selection. A person who responds “yes” would most likely not be chosen as a jury member. At least one court case in Hamilton, Ontario, ended in a mistrial due to the fact that too many potential jurors declared themselves intrinsically biased against black defendants.

Source: Toronto Star, June 27, 2009

Montreal, Quebec In February 2010, a 29-year-old Egyptian-born woman wearing a niqab was expelled from a French-language class for immigrants in Montreal. The school reported making multiple “reasonable efforts” to accommodate her beliefs. As a result of this high-profile case and others, Quebec tabled legislation in March 2010 requiring Muslim women to show their faces in all government locations. This controversial legislation continues to be debated as an example of what is “reasonable accommodation” of minority groups in Canada.

Did you know . . .The government of France is seeking to ban the niqab and the burqa from streets, shops, and markets in addition to public buildings. In January 2010 the Muslim Canadian Congress declared a ban on the face-covering niqab or burqa. About 30 Muslim groups across Canada denounced the proposal, stating that the state has no business dictating what a woman should wear. In Turkey, a Muslim nation, face-covering garments are forbidden by law.

Follow-up 1. Conduct further research on two of these cases. Go to http://cbc.ca to

gather your information.

2. Take the Project Implicit Psychological at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html test to see if you are unconsciously biased.


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Weighing the EvidenceThere is evidence that Canadians, especially younger ones, are becoming more accepting and tolerant. Read the information below and then respond to the questions that follow.

Visible Minorities Will Become the Visible MajorityAccording to Statistics Canada, about one-third of Canada’s population—up to 14.4 million people—will be a visible minority by 2031. “Visible minorities” are defined by the study as persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-white in colour.

Countries of Origin for the 247 243 immigrants who became permanent residents of Canada in 2008 (Source: Immigration and Citizenship Canada)

Country # of immigrants

% of total

China 29 336 11.9

India 24 549 9.9

Philippines 23 724 9.6

U.S. 11 216 4.5

UK 9 243 3.7

Pakistan 8 052 3.2

South Korea 7 245 2.9

Quote“I always believe at some point, as years and generations go by, we will all be so mixed and diluted that racism will not be so prevalent and strong.” — Elisa Marcucci, a Canadian-born Italian married to a Jamaican French-Canadian, (“Mixed-race couples increase 33%,”Toronto Star)

Quote“It’s a benefit for my kids to grow up with this diversity and open-mindedness to different cultures, views and opinions.” — Carina DelFrate, a Canadian-born Filipina married to an Italian-Canadian (“Mixed-race couples increase 33%,”Toronto Star)

The country’s foreign-born population may rise as much as 28 per cent, which is four times faster than the rest of the population. White people in Toronto and Vancouver will become the minority over the next 30 years. The largest “visible minority” groups are Indians, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans. The proportion of Chinese-Canadians is expected to decrease from 24 to 21 per cent due to low fertility rates. Urban centres remain the choice of most immigrants as places to settle.

Mixed-race CouplesA new Statistics Canada study released April 20, 2010, shows that mixed-race couples are doing better socio-economically that those who marry within their own race. On average, mixed-race couples earn $5 000 more in annual income. Mixed race couples were also more highly educated. Among Canadian couples with a university degree, 6.4 per cent are in mixed unions.

Follow-up 1. What is the evidence of increasing acceptance and tolerance?

2. How does diversity make Canada stronger?

3. What Canadian statistical trends may influence future views on diversity?

4. Write a brief reflection using these sentence stems:

a) What I find hopeful in this information is . . .

b) I would/would not consider marrying outside of my own race because . . .

c) My response to Marcucci and DelFrate (quotes in the margins) is . . .


HOW TOLERANT ARE CANADIANS?Activity: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights

In 2012, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) will open in Winnipeg. This ambitious project aims to be the most comprehensive human-rights museum in the world. One of the museum’s challenges will be selecting exhibits that document the full range of people and events that are significant in the history of human rights.

Choose one of the following tasks to complete.

1. Go to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Web site at www.humanrightsmuseum.ca/share-your-story/guidelines-stories and share a story with them (they are accepting online submissions of photographs, PDF files, and videos). They are looking for stories about experiences of discrimination, overcoming and/or confronting discrimination, people or events that have inspired you to respect and honour human rights and images, symbols, objects, words, music, or art that symbolize human rights to you.

Be prepared to share your story with your classmates or with your teacher in a conference.

2. Write a proposal to be presented to Victoria Dickenson, the chief curator of CMHR, in which you argue for the inclusion of a Canadian person (e.g., Viola Desmond), group (e.g., Canadian Race Relations Foundation), artifact (e.g., Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms), or event (e.g., Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools, June 11, 2008) in the new Canadian Museum of Human Rights. You must be prepared with adequate and accurate research along with an idea of how the research will be presented in an engaging museum exhibit. The following guidelines will help you complete this task:

a) Generate a list of criteria to be used to decide what “deserves” a place in this museum.

b) Decide on a person, group, artifact, or event to be represented based on your criteria.

c) Gather research on your topic.

d) Decide on a compelling format in which to showcase your topic that is mindful of the museum format.

e) Write out a script of all words presented and visuals presented/objects represented in the installation.

f) Comment on how people will be encouraged to reflect, talk, think, and meet people through interaction with your exhibit.

Be prepared to present your proposal to your classmates.

http://www.humanrightsmuseum.ca/share-your-story/guidelines-stories

http://www.humanrightsmuseum.ca/share-your-story/guidelines-stories


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDIntroduction

FocusA product of the mean streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, and the gang life of a tough neighbourhood in Toronto, K’naan has produced some of the most emotionally charged music of his generation. Now soccer’s World Cup has adopted his song “Wavin’ Flag” as their anthem. This News in Review story looks at K’naan’s rise to stardom as well as his personal and musical roots.


Did you know . . .The name K’naan means traveller. This is rather appropriate in light of his 140 000 km tour with the World Cup.

You can’t call K’naan a rising star; you have to call him a major star. His song “Wavin’ Flag” was the biggest hit in the world in the spring of 2010. The World Cup selected “Wavin’ Flag” as the anthem for the 2010 premier soccer tournament, sending K’naan on an eight-month, 83-country, five-continent tour where his international reputation was elevated to new heights.

As well, he teamed up with legendary Canadian music producer Bob Ezrin to lay down a reworked version of “Wavin’ Flag” to raise money for the people of earthquake-ravaged Haiti. More than 50 Canadian musicians calling themselves Young Artists for Haiti gathered at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver and recorded the track. The song was released as a digital single and debuted in first place on the Canadian Hot 100 list—only the third song ever to do so—with the proceeds going to charities working in Haiti.

And in April 2010, the Canadian music industry honoured the Somali-Canadian artist with two Juno awards—one for Songwriter of the Year and one for Artist of the Year.

But don’t think that K’naan is a one-hit wonder. In 2005 his debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, garnered decent sales numbers and excellent reviews—netting K’naan his first Juno for Rap

Recording of the Year. His second album, Troubadour, was also greeted with critical acclaim and outstanding record sales. Now K’naan is pretty much an international household name.

K’naan’s music is born out of a traumatic childhood. Growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia, he was exposed to a great deal of violence. In one interview, reflecting on the murder of his first girlfriend, K’naan commented that killing was so common in his hometown that he never thought to ask who killed her. Surrounded by violence, K’naan and his family fled Somalia in 1991, on the last commercial flight out of the country. He eventually settled in a Toronto neighbourhood called “Little Mogadishu” by locals because of the high population of expatriate Somalis.

K’naan led a troubled existence in Toronto. Between the age of 13 and 18 he was arrested 15 times and went to jail for several long stretches. Finally, he came to the realization that music and poetry—two pursuits he had embraced his whole life—were his ticket to sanity. He has been able to capture his experience and pain and express it through his music. His lyrics hit emotional chords that few performers have been able to reach. And the world has taken notice.

To Consider 1. Why is K’naan’s success so impressive? Is it because he has become so

famous? Because of his opportunity to amass great wealth? Or for some other reason?

2. Do you think that since K’naan was able to turn his life around and leave crime behind him that other young men should be able to do the same?

3. What else do you need to know about K’naan to decide why he’s been able to overcome so many obstacles?


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDVideo Review

Pre-viewing ActivityIn the video you are about to watch, CBC reporter Adrienne Arsenault says that each song K’naan performs is personal and cathartic. Think of your favourite song. Why do you love the song? Is it the music or the lyrics or both? Is the song personal and cathartic or does it describe something—like an emotion—that you too have experienced? Record your responses in the space provided and then compare your answers with those of one or two classmates.

Viewing QuestionsAs you watch the video respond to the questions in the spaces provided.

1. a) Where is K’naan from?

b) Describe some of the hardships K’naan encountered early in his life.

2. What prestigious sporting event selected “Wavin’ Flag” as its anthem?

3. Why does K’naan say he’s “relieved” his life has turned out the way it has?

4. What happened to K’naan’s first girlfriend?

5. Where did K’naan settle when he came to Canada? What was his life like growing up as a teenager in Canada?

6. What effect did the deaths of eight of his friends have on K’naan?

7. Why did K’naan go to prison?

DefinitionA cathartic moment involves the release of unwanted emotions. As a result, a person feels a sense of relief—as if the cathartic moment has taken away a heavy burden.


8. Describe the efforts K’naan will have to make to promote the World Cup through the celebration mix of “Wavin’ Flag”?

9. a) How did some of K’naan’s fans react to Coca Cola’s sponsorship of “Wavin’ Flag” and the World Cup tour?

b) How did K’naan react to their concerns?

10. How many different versions of “Wavin’ Flag” have been produced?______

11. a) What is the name of the Spanish heartthrob who performed a duet with K’naan on the World Cup tour?

b) Why is it important for K’naan to team up with other performers on the World Cup tour?

12. What does K’naan think of the dance moves promoters have been teaching World Cup tour audiences?

13. Which two Juno awards did he win in April 2010?

Post-viewing Questions 1. In the video, K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” is described as “a song born out of

melancholy.” Melancholy is a feeling of sadness. While K’naan believes the song is positive and hopeful, how do you think the hardship of his early life allowed him to write such an optimistic song? Do you know of any other performers who sing songs born out of sadness? Why are these songs so powerful?

2. Does the video do a good job of capturing the charisma of K’naan? Give reasons for your opinion.


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDWho is K’naan?Is he a Somali or a Canadian? Is he a lyricist or a troubadour? Is he an artist or a philosopher? Does he sing rap or hip hop? Well he is probably all of these things, but more than anything K’naan would probably consider himself to be a poet.

His FamilyK’naan is the product of a family that values art and poetry. His grandfather Haji Mohamed was a revered Somali poet, and his aunt Magool was one of the most famous singers in Somalia. In this family of accomplished artistry, Keinan Abdi Warsame—K’naan’s given name—emerged as an artist in his own right.

It was K’naan’s grandfather who recognized that his grandson had a gift when he first saw a poem K’naan had written about how much he missed his father. K’naan’s dad, Abdi Mohamed, had immigrated to the United States when K’naan was very young. He settled in New York, earning money driving a cab and sending the proceeds home to his wife. He also sent cassette tapes home for the kids to listen to—some of which were hip hop albums. K’naan consumed the music, memorizing the songs even though he didn’t understand any of the words. At the same time he fostered an appreciation of the beauty of language and the power of poetry.

Life in SomaliaK’naan’s hometown is Mogadishu, Somalia, which he calls “the hardest place on Earth” in his song “Dreamer.” Over the course of his childhood, Somalia descended into chaos and extreme violence. Somali dictator Siad Barre lost his grip on power, and local warlords took over. Mogadishu became

Did you know . . . K’naan’s second album is called Troubadour. A troubadour is a folk singer.

Quote“God protected me in so many different circumstances and instances. The biggest protection I ever received was not that I didn’t get shot, but that I didn’t shoot anyone. I didn’t kill anyone.” — K’naan (“K’NAAN: MC, singer and songwriter,” Contemporary Canadian Biographies. March 2009)

Further ResearchTo get an idea of K’naan’s devotion to his mother, listen to the song “Take a Minute” on the Troubadour album.

riddled with crime, corruption, and murder. K’naan’s neighbourhood earned the nickname “the river of blood.”

K’naan fired his first gun when he was eight and witnessed the murder of three of his friends when he was 11. He also remembers walking by his school one day with his cousin and picking up an object shaped like a potato. Not knowing what it was, he threw it toward the school building. The ensuing explosion confirmed that K’naan had been handling a grenade. While half the school fell to the ground, K’naan was thankful that no one was injured.

By the time he was 13, K’naan’s mother, Marian, realized that Somalia was about to implode. Normally an optimistic women—who according to K’naan fostered a “home of eloquent people who talked of dreams”—Marian was not about to deny the reality of what appeared to be an emerging civil war. She made daily trips to the U.S. embassy to try to get travel papers to reunite her family with her husband in New York. Day after day embassy officials denied her requests until finally a sympathetic embassy staffer acquiesced and granted her the necessary visas. The embassy closed that same day and Marian, K’naan, and his older brother and little sister caught the last commercial flight out of Mogadishu before civil war engulfed the nation.

Life in CanadaK’naan’s family spent a short period of time in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood before moving to Toronto. They settled in “Little Mogadishu,” in a Toronto suburb. K’naan initially felt isolated because of the language barrier, but his love of the


spoken word and the nuances of speech allowed him to learn English relatively quickly. Once he grasped the language, he began writing poetry in English as well as Somali.

From the age of 13 to 18, K’naan ran with a tough crowd of fellow Somalis. He was arrested 15 times, mostly on weapons and assault charges, often spending months at a time in jail. Eventually he had revelation: “I was an ambitious kid. I wasn’t going to spend my life running from cops and living in these bad neighbourhoods. I didn’t leave Somalia to make another Somalia for myself in Canada” (“K’NAAN: MC, singer and songwriter.” Contemporary Canadian Biographies. March 2009).

With that he took to the road and toured the United States, England, and Switzerland. When he got back to Canada, he started recording songs and writing poems, posting them on Somali Web sites. His reputation grew, and eventually he drew the attention of Sol Guy of Direct Current Media. Guy worked hard to promote K’naan and eventually got him an invitation to read his poem “Must we die?” at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. K’naan read his poem to the assembled diplomats and then delivered them a stern rebuke for their failure to help Somalia. In the audience that evening was African superstar Youssou N’Dour who was so impressed with K’naan that he invited him to collaborate on his album Building Bridges. K’naan toured with Youssou N’Dour in 2001 before heading back to Toronto.

For the next few years, K’naan drifted into obscurity. He kept writing poems and songs but failed to capitalize on the momentum he had built with Youssou N’Dour. Everything changed one night when he worked on a song called “Soobax”—a song aimed at the Somali

warlords who had devastated his native land. K’naan worked all night recording the track and, in the morning, called his aunt Magool to say that he had come upon a sound that he thought was his own. Within the year he travelled back to Somalia with friends to record a music video for “Soobax” and formed a music partnership with Jarvis Church, an accomplished producer and lead singer of The Philosopher Kings. Church worked with K’naan to produce the 2005 album The Dusty Foot Philosopher. The album received great reviews and eventual sales of over 20 000 copies.

People liked what they were hearing. K’naan’s sound was a kind of hip hop with an African backbeat. His lyrics spoke of social justice and the need to question the fundamental premises of life. For the next few years, K’naan toured, eventually securing an invitation to the prestigious LIVE 8 concert. Then, in 2006, he won a Juno for Rap Recording of the Year as well as a BBC world music award.

Canadian and International SuccessDrawing on the success of his first album, K’naan went to Kingston, Jamaica, to record his follow-up album, Troubadour, with Stephen and Damian Marley, the sons of legendary reggae star Bob Marley. He even recorded the album in Bob Marley’s studio. Troubadour was greeted with critical acclaim and excellent record sales—sales that continued to grow over the course of 2009.

By the beginning of 2010, K’naan was an international star—“Wavin’ Flag” had been adopted as the anthem for the June 2010 World Cup. Young Artists for Haiti recorded a remix of the song to help the victims of Haiti’s earthquake. And the Canadian music industry honoured him with two more Junos—one for Artist of


the Year and one for Songwriter of the Year.

From the dire straits of Mogadishu to the top of the musical world, K’naan’s

rise has been a compelling one. And people are eager to see what the hip hop star has in store for us next.

Follow-up 1. What influence do you think K’naan’s family had on him as a musician and

poet?

2. How did K’naan’s mother manage to save his family?

3. Name three people who helped K’naan get his career on track. Why were these people so important in K’naan’s emergence as a hip hop artist?

4. How many Junos has K’naan won? Name the Juno categories that he won in.

5. What were some of the obstacles he had to overcome to reach his current level of success?


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDA Brief History of Hip Hop

Focus for ReadingMusic is not a static form. It has evolved over hundreds of years. New artists adapt or “steal” elements of earlier music and artists that they love. In this way, music continues to change and grow, and new genres are established. As you read the following information, think about the way that hip hop has evolved from earlier forms of music.

What is Hip Hop?While K’naan’s music is often thought of as independent of a particular genre, many music analysts claim that his music is more hip hop than anything else. Hip hop music is a blend of disc jockeying (DJing), b-boying (dancing; also called breakin’), rapping (also called emceeing or MCing) and graffiti art (also called tagging or muralism).

The Roots of Hip HopWhile hip hop is a relatively recent phenomenon, some claim that the true roots of the genre go back to ancient Africa. Over the millennia, African cultures have placed a high value on poetry delivered through the oral tradition. This poetry has emerged in a number of different media and, according to some hip hop historians, without the African love of poetry, the creativity of hip hop never would have come to fruition. Others point to the evolution of African-American music over the course of the 20th century as the catalyst that led to the emergence of hip hop.

Whatever angle the historians choose to take, there seems to be one point of consensus: hip hop was born on the turntables of Bronx DJ Kool Herc in the early 1970s. Kool Herc had immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1960s, settling in the Bronx suburb of New York City. Kool Herc would DJ local block parties and introduce those in attendance to something called Jamaican dub music. This type of music involved playing the

same record on two turntables, with the DJ mixing the musical breaks together—in effect extending the instrumental parts of the song. The extended breaks left space for Kool Herc or other MCs to rap a message to those gathered at the block party. The message could be improvised or scripted.

These early block parties led to a surge in creativity. Kool Herc noted that his Bronx audiences didn’t much care for his reggae dubs so he started using blues, soul, and funk songs. People loved it. Eventually other DJs started copying Kool Herc, and New York became the birthplace of hip hop music. For the rest of the 1970s, hip hop evolved in all four of the categories listed above. Eventually drum machines and synthesizers were added to the mix, and the raps became more musical as well as more popular. By 1979, hip hop made the mainstream with the Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s Delight” and Fatback Band’s “King Tim III” from the album Personality Jock.

The Evolution of Hip HopThe commercial success of “Rapper’s Delight” opened the doors for a slew of performers. Hip hop acts like Run DMC, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys made the genre a force to be reckoned with. These acts paved the way for the likes of Public Enemy, NWA, Dr. Dre—whose album The Chronic is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time—MC Hammer, and the Wu-Tang Clan.


Eventually artists like Jay-Z and Nas were able to establish themselves as hip hop superstars, while gangsta rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur were the inspiration behind the rivalry between East Coast and West Coast hip hop. From a tiny suburb of New York City to the world, hip hop had reached its pinnacle.

By the late 1990s, hip hop record sales seemed to be dwindling, but along came Eminem to put the genre back on top. Following the success of Slim Shady in 1999, his album The Marshall Mathers LP became the fastest selling album of all

time, with over 10 million copies sold.Today, hip hop is dominated by Kanye

West, 50 Cent, and Nelly. Canada’s Drake and K’naan are stars on the rise. One has to wonder if Kool Herc could have imagined the many genres that hip hop would evolve into as today’s hip hopsters have created musical styles like alternative hip hop, crunk, and snap music as well as glitch hop and wonky music. More than anything, the history of hip hop shows that creativity in music is never stagnant; there is always some new artist pushing the musical genre into other dimensions.

Analysis 1. There have been many turning points in the evolution of hip hop. What do

you believe was the most significant turning point for the genre?

2. Do you think that rap music is distinct from hip hop music? If so, in what way?

3. Do you enjoy hip hop music? Why or why not?

4. Are there any stereotypes associated with hip hop, or with people who are fans of hip hop? Explain your answer.


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDK’naan the Poet

To ConsiderWith a partner, discuss the following questions:

1. When you think about “poetry” what images enter your mind? Do you think of poems you’ve studied out of books in school? Do you picture confusing language or confusing rules of language?

2. Many people may have a negative image of poetry. It’s interesting, though, that many musicians and songwriters consider themselves to be poets. And most people love music. Who are some of your favourite musicians? Would you consider any of them to be poets? Why or why not?

You can learn a lot about K’naan by listening to his lyrics. K’naan prides himself on being a poet, and many of his poems have been born out of the violence and despair of Somalia. The trauma of his childhood in Mogadishu—“the most dangerous city in this universe,” as he exclaims in “If Rap Gets Jealous”—is what feeds his songwriting. He clearly loves Africa and is sad about the chaos that consumes the country of his birth. In “Soobax” he sings: “Mogadishu used to be a place where the world would come to see.” But that world was destroyed by the warlords, who introduced their brand of chaos to the city. Because of this, K’naan sings: “Somalia needs all the gunmen out the door” in his song “T.I.A.”—which stands for “This is Africa.”

Despite leaving Mogadishu as a 13-year-old boy, it is his attachment and love for his homeland that informs his musical message. He laments the tragedy of it all. In the song “Somalia” he wonders:

So what you know ’bout the pirates terrorize the ocean.To never know a simple day without a big commotion.It can’t be healthy just to live with such steep emotion.And when I try and sleep, I see coffins closin’.

This verse asks the listener to cut Somalia some slack. Why wouldn’t piracy on the seas off the horn of Africa emerge when no significant effort has been made by the international community to help the failed state form a sustainable government. Indeed, modern Somalia has never known a day without “commotion.” Tragically, all K’naan can see when he goes to sleep is “coffins closin’”—a vivid image that demonstrates the world’s choice to abandon Somalia.

While K’naan’s songs are filled with references to Somalia, you won’t hear any songs about Rexdale—the suburban Toronto neighbourhood he settled in when his family moved to Canada. He is the first to admit that life in North America is far from perfect, but, in the end, life in Canada is filled with opportunity. He wonders why North American rap spends so much time posing as hardcore. K’naan’s response came in his song “What’s Hardcore?” where he says:

We begin our day by the way of the gun,Rocket propelled grenades blow you away if you front,We got no police, ambulances or fire fighters,We start riots by burning car tires,They looting, and everybody starting shooting


When he moves into the chorus he asks: “So what’s hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.” In other words, Mogadishu is the real hardcore. Everyone else is just posing.

Despite the violence of his childhood, K’naan’s lyrics have a corresponding message of hope. In “People Like Me” he sings: “Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down and open doors to hurtin’ people like me”—a lyrical message that sounds like a prayer. In “Fatima” K’naan tells the story of how his first girlfriend was shot dead on the streets of Mogadishu. The song is an ode to his friend, but instead of sinking into the injustice of her murder, K’naan breaks from singing and speaks the words:

Now I just want to make it clear, I don’t want you to shed a tear. Because this here, it’s a celebration, We’re not mourning, We’re celebrating. The song is a celebration of the life of Fatima.Overall, there is a depth to K’naan’s

music that establishes him as an important and influential artist. He has the ability to mix pain with hope. In

“Wavin’ Flag,” before he moves into the familiar chorus, he sings:

So we struggling, fighting to eat andWe wondering when we’ll be free,So we patiently wait, for that fateful day,It’s not far away, so for now we sayK’naan is telling his listeners that

peace is inevitable. He encourages people to avoid the trappings of despair and fly as free as a waving flag. Finally, in “Take a Minute” K’naan reveals his musical secret when he sings:

. . . I take inspiration from the most heinous of situationsCreating medication out my own tribulationsDear Africa, you helped me write thisBy showing me to give is pricelessArt is a gift that an artist courageously

shares with the world. Artist puts themselves at risk of rejection and criticism. They reveal the secrets of their souls and encourage people to participate in their revealed consciousness. K’naan is no exception to this artistic reality. Out of the trauma of Somalia, he has emerged as a serious artist with a powerful voice.

ActivityListen to your favourite album. Make careful note of the words that the artist sings and the melodies that drive the songs forward. Pick three songs and analyze them in a manner similar to what has been demonstrated above.


K’NAAN: A CANADIAN SINGS FOR THE WORLDActivity: Write an Album Review

This is your chance to write about something you care about. Most people feel strongly about music, and this is your chance to give those feelings a voice. Pick an album—any album, by any artist—and write a review of the compilation of tunes.

How to Write an Album Review • Listen to the album several times.

• Gather background information on the artist and any interesting facts about the recording of the album.

• State at the beginning of the review whether or not you like the album.

• Provide specific reasons for your opinion, referring to specific tracks in your review.

• Tell your reader how the album compares with previous recordings and what this album might do for the career of the artist.

• The last sentence in your review should summarize your opinion.

• The length of your review should be between 300 and 500 words.

Sample Review The following album review may be useful as a guideline to your own review.

Album: Troubadour • Artist: K’naan • Released: 2009

Now that K’naan’s World Cup tour and the Young Artists for Haiti have “Wavin’ Flag” stuck in every man, woman, and child’s head, it is time to see if K’naan is worthy of the acclaim that people seem so readily willing to give him. All you have to do is listen to K’naan’s second album, Troubadour, once and you’ll realize there is more to the young artist than “Wavin’ Flag.”

K’naan recorded Troubadour at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios in 2008. He joined forces with Stephen and Damian Marley while laying down the album’s 14 tracks. K’naan and the Marley brothers also worked on collaborations with rappers Chubb Rock, Chali 2na, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine. The result is an album that is musically rich and vocally diverse.

While “Wavin’ Flag” has been the most successful track on the album, there are many other songs that prove that K’naan is an artist who continues to push the bounds of creativity. Collaborative track highlights include “I Come Prepared” that sees Damian Marley bust into a mesmerizing Jamaican rap. On “If Rap Gets Jealous” K’naan is willing to push his brand of hip hop into the rock world. Incidentally, Hammett’s guitar work is predictably stellar.

However, it’s when K’naan raps and sings on his own that we get a full appreciation of his artistry. “Fatima” is a haunting tribute to K’naan’s first girlfriend. The 13-year-old girl was shot dead on the streets of Mogadishu. The song’s message tugs on the emotional arteries of even the most callous of hearts. The songs “Dreamer” and “People Like Me” are also lyrical and musical highlights on this very impressive album. If people were wondering if the Somali-born artist would be able to follow The Dusty Foot Philosopher with equally diverse and compelling songs, one run through Troubadour will put any doubts to rest.


SEPTEMBER 2008Putting a Tax on CarbonChina and the Olympic GamesCanada’s Residential School ApologyBoom Times in Saskatchewan

OCTOBER 2008Canadians to Vote in a Federal ElectionDeadly Bacteria Strike CanadiansThe Dangerous Crisis in GeorgiaCommuters, Cars, and Bicycles

NOVEMBER 2008Canada and the Economic MeltdownAmericans Choose a New PresidentA Community Fights Gangs and GunsThe Push to Grow More Food in Canada

DECEMBER 2008Canada Faces a RecessionCell Phones and DriversHumanitarian Crisis in AfghanistanElectronic Waste and China

FEBRUARY 2009The Conservatives and the CoalitionCanadians, Credit Cards, and DebtThe Terrorist Attack on MumbaiWhen It’s Cool to Be Kind

MARCH 2009Barack Obama Visits CanadaCanada Gets a Recession BudgetGuantanamo Bay and Omar KhadrAfghanistan: A Soldier’s Story

APRIL 2009Hard Times Hit the Auto IndustryThe Future of the Oil SandsWhite Dragons: The Killer AvalanchesThe Flight of the Silver Dart

MAY 2009The Recession and the Developing WorldAfghanistan and the Rights of WomenThe Decline of the Traditional MediaHockey Players and Life Lessons

News in Review IndexA list of the stories covered last season and to date in the current season is provided below.

The complete chronological index for all 19 seasons of News in Review, and a subject-oriented index listing News in Review stories appropriate for various subject areas can be accessed through our Web site at http://newsinreview.cbclearning.ca. Hard copies of these indexes can also be obtained by contacting CBC Learning.

CBC LearningP.O. Box 500, Station AToronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6Tel: (416) 205-6384Fax: (416) 205-2376E-mail: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2009Two Canadians Meet in Space Canada and the Swine Flu Iran’s Summer of Discontent Asbestos: Canada’s Ugly Secret

OCTOBER 2009Canada and the Stranded Canadians Afghanistan’s Troubled Election Remembering Canada’s War DeadAutism: Living with Difference

NOVEMBER 2009Parliament and the Election QuestionKeeping Up with the Swine FluAdoption: Looking for a Baby AbroadTrying to Save the World’s Amphibians

DECEMBER 2009The Copenhagen Climate Change SummitIs the Recession Really Over?The Internet: Forty Years LaterThe Great U.S. Health-Care Debate

FEBRUARY 2010Richard Colvin and the Afghan DetaineesThe Road to the Winter OlympicsThe Plane Bomber and Airport SecurityCanada’s Amazing Neptune Project

MARCH 2010A Deadly Earthquake Devastates HaitiYoung Adults and Heart DiseaseThe Trials of the Toronto 18Diving for Clues to Canadian History

APRIL 2010Earthquakes: The Horror and the ScienceToyota Recalls Millions of VehiclesTaking the Violence Out of HockeyThe Hidden Dangers of Nanoparticles

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News in Reviewmedia.curio.ca/filer_public/79/ac/79ac28bb-a57e-4... · CBC News in Review • May 2010 • Page 3 Contents In This Issue . . . .....4