Huron Expositor, 2017-03-08, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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Huron Expositor A test of brave talk
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When Angela Merkel
threw open Germa-
ny's borders to
migrants pouring into
Europe to escape Mideast
chaos, she made both a gen-
erous gesture and a serious
mistake, from which Canada
should learn.
The gesture and the mis-
take were simultaneous.
Merkel declared Germany
would accept as many people
as could survive the Mediter-
ranean crossing, the border
fences, the guards and the
increasingly hostile popula-
tions that separated them
from German borders. But
she failed to anticipate the
extent of the complications
this would create, or make
adequate preparations to
deal with it.
The result has been as dis-
heartening as it was predicta-
ble. Inevitably, the million or
so asylum -seekers who
arrived in 2015 and 2016
included a corps of undesira-
bles who broke laws, abused
benefits, offended customs
and fuelled a growing politi-
cal backlash that now has
Merkel fighting for her politi-
cal life.
Germany's open arms and
cheerful welcome has trans-
formed into a culture of
resentment and distrust. Ger-
man opinion has hardened
to the point that the govern-
ment is planning a new law
setting up a database and
special documentation spe-
cific to refugees, who would
have to be registered, finger-
printed and submit their
phones for examination to
confirm their identities.
Merkel's initial reaction
was admirable enough. She
was eager to demonstrate the
ugliness of Germany's 20th -
century history was well and
truly buried, and a new, tol-
erant country was firmly
established in its place. But
even the most humane of
nations includes dark cor-
ners and intolerant impulses
that can break loose, given
adequate provocation.
Canada is no different, as
has been evident in the bitter
sentiments leaking across the
U.S. border since the election
of Donald Trump legitimized
xenophobia in the eyes of
some.
Canada isn't Germany and
has no need to prove its
accommodating nature.
Though we are hardly per-
fect, our past has nothing like
Germany's to atone for. Can-
ada's record on immigration
and refugees is justifiably a
matter of pride, and retains
widespread support.
But boasting about our
high-mindedness won't be
adequate to deal with the
challenges that appear to be
gathering for the future, and
is dubious enough in itself
given that geography and
good fortune have as much
to do with our immigration
attitudes as does moral
rectitude.
The slight increase in refu-
gee claimants who have
decided Trump's America is
no longer safe is hardly the
equivalent of the millions
who sought help across
Europe over the past several
years. Journalists have
swarmed to fields in Mani-
toba and obscure border sta-
tions in Quebec to crit the
requisite heart-warming tales
of families risking life and
limb to reach safety, but so
far the numbers remain small
and are straining resources
only because Canadian offi-
cials weren't prepared for it.
It will become a national
crisis only if Justin Trudeau's
Liberals fail to learn a lesson
from Germany and devote
the attention and resources
necessary to deal with the
growing numbers.
They seem reluctant at the
moment. The Liberals bragged
mightily about their determi-
nation to provide a safe home
to tens of thousands of Syrians,
until the media lost interest,
the photo ops went elsewhere
and they could quietly let their
promise slip. Ottawa still
hasn't reached the 25,000 Syri-
ans it pledged to welcome 18
months ago, though private
sponsorships have filled the
gap.
Gaudy spin sessions won't
be adequate to deal with the
influx of migrants from the
U.S., should it swell to serious
levels.
Only a loophole in an
agreement with the U.S.
allows for asylum -seekers to
trudge through the snow of
remote farm fields in search
of entry, rather than present-
ing themselves at established
border points. If the Liberals
aren't willing to cancel or
amend the agreement, they
need to make arrangements
to deal properly with those
they're encouraging to make
the journey.
If they do cancel, they'll
need to beef up the capacity
at border posts. Canadians'
will only be forgiving for so
long to the spectacle of entire
families struggling through
snowbanks and tumbling
down ditches as bemused
border guards watch from
either side. If resources aren't
adequate for dealing with the
situation without creating
interminable backlogs, then
the preparations have to be
made to remedy that lack.
It might cost money. It
might not be part of the
agenda the Liberals came to
power with. It might divert
them from their preferred
processes, and it might not
be popular. They might have
to struggle with a population
that can get cranky if people
feel their generosity is being
taken advantage of. They
might need to enter negotia-
tions with the provinces to
co-ordinate their response,
which has been suggested by
Manitoba Premier Brian Pal-
lister and isn't a bad idea.
It's a test both of the Liber-
als' brave talk and their abil-
ity to deal with difficult and
unanticipated problems.
If they ignore it, they run
the risk of finding themselves
in the same position now fac-
ing Merkel, forced into
harsher measures by a swell
of discontent created by a
government unwilling to
make proper preparations
when it had the chance. Dith-
ering isn't a good strategy. It's
not recommended.
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