Maxime Bernier, Bowmanville, February 23, 2024
Today, I am unveiling a new PPC policy on a very important issue: the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
We hear about new absurd examples of these programs almost every day. For example, just a few weeks ago, we learned that the University of Waterloo wanted to hire two Research Chair positions in the Computer Science department.
The first position was only open to applicants “who self-identify as women, transgender, gender-fluid, non-binary, or Two-spirit”. The second position was only open to applicants “who self-identify as a member of a racialized minority”. If you’re straight or white, tough luck! The University of Waterloo doesn’t want you.
Our woke leaders do not believe in merit anymore. They undermine one of the key foundations of western civilization. They tell us that “diversity” is more important than competence. We see this everywhere in Canada and the West today. The longer that this radical ideology is in place, the more things will fall apart and cease to function. Because decline is the only outcome when you prevent and penalize the most capable and meritorious.
In a free society where everyone is equal under the law, competence, need, and other objective criteria that are fair for everyone must be the sole ones used by the state and other institutions in their dealings with citizens. It is time to restore equal rights for all.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, is a far-left ideological fad imported from the U.S. which is being imposed on all sectors of Canadian society by the Liberal government. This hateful ideology holds that our culture and Western society is irredeemably racist, colonialist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic.
According to this doctrine, equal treatment of individuals is insufficient, as it allows for “unconscious bias” to still have an influence and result in discrimination and disparate outcomes. This systemic disadvantage can only be overcome by prescribing special treatment, or reverse discrimination, for minorities.
The more a person can demonstrate that he or she belongs to various so-called “disadvantaged groups,” the more he or she should be favoured by various programs. Conversely, it is acceptable — or even prescribed — to officially discriminate against white, Christian and heterosexual males.
DEI is a fundamentally racist, sexist, and discriminatory ideology that creates blatant injustices, and undermines social cohesion. Under the pretext of promoting nice-sounding goals, it does the exact opposite: it gives more rights to some, while excluding others. Our woke leaders have been working to destroy the good, proper morals that built and maintained our civilization for centuries. This ideology will have catastrophic long-term impacts on Canadian society.
The Liberal government is imposing DEI programs and policies directly on the public service and all federal institutions, including the Armed Forces, as well as on federally regulated industries. As a condition to obtain subsidies, grants, loans, scholarships, services, or contracts, the government is also indirectly forcing all kinds of institutions, organisations, associations and businesses to adopt DEI policies.
Trudeau and his government push a delusional and anti-Canadian vision. We must realign our priorities in Canada. We must prioritize unity over diversity, equality of rights over equity, and meritocracy over inclusion.
A People’s Party government will take the following steps to eliminate this toxic ideology from our society and country.
A PPC government will abolish all federal DEI programs and policies in the public service and in federal institutions such as the Armed Forces, as well as those that apply to federally regulated industries.
It will prohibit DEI training sessions in all federal institutions.
It will remove all DEI clauses imposed on institutions, organisations, associations and businesses as a condition to obtain federal subsidies, grants, loans, scholarships, services, or contracts.
A People’s Party government will stop funding groups that promote the DEI ideology.
It will narrowly interpret section 15(2) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a manner that proscribes reverse discrimination in all legal proceedings.
And finally, a PPC government will support Canadians who are being discriminated against, harassed, vilified, or harmed in any way by organisations that impose DEI programs and policies.
