Immigrants are welcome here - No to Hate and Scapegoating

The far right in Canada is spreading vicious lies, scapegoating immigrants - and in particular South Asians and Muslims - for lack of access to housing, jobs, healthcare and education. They have influenced right wing parties from Smith's United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta, and the federal Conservative Party under Poilievre, to push for greater immigration controls, deportations and other policies that scapegoat immigrants. 

 

The federal Liberal government under Trudeau and now Carney is pursuing similar policies, such as under Bill C-2 (now Bill C-12).

 

Provincial and federal governments are responsible for the crisis in housing, jobs, healthcare and education as they privatize public services, cut public sector jobs and let the market decide housing availability. We need to push back on all these issues AND oppose the far right when they mobilize. We must reject attempts to divide the working class through shifted blame, knowing that we have more in common with all workers regardless of nationality, than we do with the ruling class in any state.

 

This is an international phenomena, where the problem in Canada can seem less urgent than in Trump's America, or in the UK where 100,000 marched with Tommy Robinson to "Stop the Boats" in London (UK) on September 13. 

 

But there is no room for complacency here.

 

The far right Dominion Society of Canada is organizing to push for Poilievre to support "remigration ... the return of foreigners to their respective homelands." They define "Canadians [as] the descendants of the brave pioneers who built this country" and promote the great replacement theory that "heritage Canadians are being replaced" by immigrants. This racism and xenophobia also completely erases Indigenous people, the original inhabitants and stewards of the lands of Turtle Island: they uncritically quote the racist and settler colonial John A. MacDonald about the "greatness" of the Canadian nation. Their goal is currently to get Poilievre to support remigration as a policy.

 

Groups like NS13 and the Second Sons are actively organizing racist fight clubs and militia training for nationalist white supremacy. These have connections to Diagolon, who regularly target South Asians in Canada.

 

These and other far right groups stir up violence against Muslims, immigrants and refugees.

 

In Toronto, a group called Canada First has been spreading Islamophobic hate and vilification against Palestine protests on social media and organizing "patriot" marches. They organized a rally and march to demand “Stop mass immigration. Start mass deportations. Remigration is necessary” on Sept 13 in Christie Pits. This location was a provocation given the history of the Christie Pits riots against Swastika groups in 1933. The park is also the centre of a vibrant residential community. Hundreds showed up in the park to counter-protest and took the public space away from them, but the far right were still able to spread their vile hate and racism as they marched through the streets of Toronto.

 

Rallies have been called under the name Canada First for Saturday, October 25th in Toronto, London (ON), Calgary and Halifax. While the callout doesn't make their demands as explicit as on Sept 13, they are clearly continuing the same project. These mobilizations of racist, anti-immigrant lies must be opposed - join a counter rally:

 

In Toronto, join the "No to Hate: Everyone Belongs" counter rally on Saturday, October 25th from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the north end of Queen's Park Crescent (near the Museum subway south exit) - organized by Community Solidarity Toronto, which includes Toronto & York Region Labour Council, Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Toronto East Anti-hate Mobilization and the Steelworkers Toronto Area Council. It is also endorsed by the Trans Rights Commission Toronto - a new group whose first action was a successful counter to an anti-trans rally and march in September.  

 

Toronto Counter Rally social media posts:

Instagram   Facebook   X/Twitter

 

In London, join the "Hope not Hate: Everyone is Welcome Here" counter rally on Saturday, October 25th at 11:30am at the Northwest corner of Victoria Park (Speaker's Corner at Richmond St. and Central Ave.), organized by a coalition of London activists, including London & District Labour Council, Forest City Solidarity, and members of the International Socialists London Branch.