There are uncomfortable questions coming from that little annoying voice in the back of my head that as a Canadian - I never like to hear. Just why are there approximately 40,000 Canadian citizens in Lebanon? Lebanon’s a tiny country and the political situation has been relatively unstable in the last year or so. No slur on Lebanon, but I just can’t imagine it as high on the list as the place most Canadians most want to visit. Not to mention that the airfare would be off-putting for most Canadians. The US, Caribbean or Europe would be a far greater attraction, and flights would be a darn right bargain compared to Lebanon.
It is not an unreasonable conclusion that most of those 40,000 Canadians currently trapped in Lebanon are dual nationals visiting and renewing family ties per say. I decided to do some checking and found a Wikipedia (yes, I know that Wikipedia can be unreliable but since no one pays me to research this and the Canadian Encyclopedia confirmed the same figures – just suck it up or pay up for better research)entry that details the 2001 census report listing Canadian ethnicity breakdowns. There are approximately 143,635 Canadians who are claiming Lebanese ethnicity but 40,000 are currently stranded in Lebanon. Even accounting for population increases through live births and immigrations in the last six years it does appear that a third of Lebanese Canadians are currently in Lebanon which makes those little voices a tad more compelling.
I decided to compare the US Lebanese community with our own. According to US 2000 census figures, in a country approximately 10 times our size has only a Lebanese community of 329,377 and only approximately 25,000 US passport holders currently in Lebanon. But Canada, with a Lebanese community of less than half that of our American neighbors has 15,000 more nationals in Lebanon? Are Canadian Lebanese more caring than their American former compatriots? Flights cheaper or our dollar pacts more bang for your buck than the US dollar in Lebanon? Or is another fact at work here? Like easy and lax refugee entrance requirements in say the last 20 years or so?
I am not suggesting that the 40,000 Canadians currently stranded in Lebanon should not be assisted by our government in leaving Lebanon but I hope that the CSIS is taking a good long hard look at who exactly is maintaining such close to ties with a mother country whose southern boundaries have been overtaken by an internationally known terrorist organization. Do Canadians really need to fully embrace Hezbollah sympathizers or operatives for the sake of cultural diversity without the CSIS at least knowing who they are and what they are doing?
Let the name calling begin.
9 comments:
Some of them come here and leave so that they can collect welfare money from our country (checks are forged here by relatives/friends and sent out) while they are legally working in Lebanon. There is no question that our immigration system has been a failed entity for quite some time now.
I'm sorry to hear that there are even more Canadians than Americans in Lebanon. I was already concerned about how many of the latter are sympathizers -- or operatives -- of Hezbollah. See Are we rescuing Hezbollah supporters?.
I've only read a little about the Islamists in Canada, but I suspect your concerns are entirely justified.
No name calling (today) but we received large waves of Lebanese immigration in 1948 and 1975 and, being a Maritimer where many settled, they are well integrated into the political and commerical civic life of exotic places like Charlottetown PEI and St. John NB. Joe Ghiz, the late PEI Premier, was Lebanese-Canadian. Most are Christian. No more risk at being supporters of Hezbollah than Scots in Cape Breton...probably less in fact.
No name calling (today) but just noting that Canada took in large waves of Lebanese immigrants in 1948 and 1975. Many settled in the Maritimes where I grew up and have become vital in the commercial and political life. The late Joe Ghiz, Premier of PEI, was a member of the community. Most are Christian and many maintain contact. Hardly any more likely to have contact with Hezbollah than Cape Breton Scots...likely less come to think of it.
Alan
Alan, I did finally breakdown and go to the Cdn census site (as per 2001)figures and discovered that Nova Scotia has the 4th largest community of Lebanese in Cda at 6,565. Albert seems to be the only western province with any Lebanese migration at 17,660. I do know that there is a sizable Maronite community in Toronto which I am well acquainted with, but there is also a larger Shi'ite community here, and in Quebec, which could be significant cause for concern. There has been much underground funding/funding raising for Hezbollah here, though it does seem that Montreal's larger Shi'ite community has been far more active politically there than in TO.
That all does seem reasonable, Kateland. The upside, at least, is if there is an outcome which sees the Cedar Revolution reinstated there is a hope that Canada's civil peacemaking participation can be based on the positive sectors of these communities rather than FedGov happy policies that see middle bureaucrats flown in for conferences.
A quick anecdote related to this post. A little pub-resto near where I live is run by Christians of Syrian and Lebanese origins. Really wonderful folks, luv 'em, no irony intended. During a recent conversation, one told me that Syria and its government are great and that the U.S. and Isreal should back off (I paraphrase). Also told me that they never had any problem with the Muslims in their home countries. Also told me that their parents gave them non-Christian sounding first names so that they would not be easily identified as Christians. Spot the incongruity, if you will. There seems to be an interesting competition between national and religious loyalties, and I do not rule out that some M.E. Christians may be very sympathetic to Hezbollah if they see such an organization as an ally of "their country".
Why is it that we Canadians have to pay for these idiots who do not pay Canadian taxes and are citizens of convenience?? This is absolutely minority appeasement..
The Christian Labenese are as guilty as their Shia countrymen. The only difference is that the Christians can flee the country and the Shias are stuck their. It is highly ironic that I have heard lots of Labense around glorifying their culture and dissing other (non Arab) culture and now they are all begging to come to the west.
We are now going to face another wave of Arab domination and minority apeasement in this country..God bless Canada
I really can't say who is a citizen of convenience or who isn't and neither can you.
Frankly, I have been very disappointed by how little the Canadian government has done for Canadian citizens who round afoul of foreign governments so I am quite pleased that a CPC government is not about to let them fend entirely for themselves.
As far as being citizens of convenience goes that really is an issue that needs to be addressed at some point at the future but not while a group of citizens are literally under fire. Besides the cost could be recouped immediately if the govenment axed/canned the CBC. It should be kept in mind that the evacuation is an extraordinary happening - nor is it likely to be happening on even a quasi-regular basis.
I fail to see what the innate difference between a Shi'ite or Maronite Canadian. As far as the alleged Arab domination of Canada goes I don't see it but if your really worried - have lots of babies.
The Lebanese are quite different and probably the most seductive group of people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And speaking as a woman, there can never be enough Lebanese men in the country.
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