加拿大中国专业人士协会(CPAC)就近期关于中国政府涉嫌干预加拿大选举的某些政治定性和一些媒体对此的言论，致公开信与加拿大总理暨加拿大自由党领袖Justin Trudeau，官方反对党、加拿大保守党领袖Pierre Poilievre、加拿大新民主党领袖Jagmeet Singh和加拿大绿党领袖Elizabeth May，呼吁他们关注华人担忧，避免殃及池鱼和引发新的种族歧视。都市脉搏连线CPAC会长王体先生做客节目，就此话题深入探讨。
尊敬的[党领]：
最近一段时间关于中国政府涉嫌干预加拿大选举的某些政治定性和一些媒体对此的论调，让我们深感忧虑。我们谨此提请您对这些言论对华人可能造成的影响予以重视。
CPAC是一个代表超过30,000名华裔加拿大人的组织。我们充分理解选举安全的重要，并且认为对选举的干涉就是对一个自由民主社会的选举诚信的破坏。因此，我们支持对任何外国干涉选举的指控进行公正和彻底的调查。
但是，我们对某些媒体的言词和某些政客的言论感到不安。我们社区担心加拿大华人会成为连带的牺牲品和种族歧视的受害者 – 加拿大的华人社区已经在经历各种形式的种族主义了，例如各种成见、无意识的偏见、以至仇恨性犯罪。
此时，我们的社区仍在承受由新冠大流行而起的反华裔种族主义的伤害，我们的长者、儿童，包括所有年龄段的人，都受到了身体、语言或网络上的攻击和伤害。我们担心当前这种毒性的环境会导致华人被贴上不公平的标签和被疏远、对我们和我们的孩子造成进一步的身体和精神上的伤害。
在加拿大引以为耻的《排华法案》颁布一百周年之际，我们担心，如果不采取必要的措施来保护加拿大华人，新的一波排华情绪将会席卷全国，新版本的排华现象会在加拿大复活，导致加拿大华人被视为 “他人 “和 “外人”。
近一个半世纪以来，加拿大华人始终是加拿大社会结构中不可或缺的一部分。在19世纪80年代，华工修建了加拿大太平洋铁路最危险的部分，挽救了加拿大联邦。今天，华裔加拿大人在各个领域 – 从科学和艺术到慈善、法律和民主建设，都在做着显著的贡献。我们是与任何其他族裔一样平等的公民。但是我们担心，目前的某些过激言论如果不被您这样的领导人反击，那么现在多族裔和平尊重的加拿大多元社会可能就会发生破裂。
因此，我们敦促您言行平衡，对加拿大华人给予关怀。我们敦促您在保护加拿大选举安全的同时，也与加拿大华人社区站在一起。我们敦促您公开确认华裔加拿大人的重大贡献，并谴责任何煽动种族仇恨的团体或个人对华裔加拿大人的不负责任的言论或宣传。我们请求您要求所有党内议员和党员在涉及加拿大华人问题时，在言论和行动上也采取同样的平衡方式。我们还请求您抽时间到华人社区与我们见面，聆听我们的忧虑和恐惧，并在贵党的政策和发言中对此有所反应。
华裔加拿大人经常是无知或心怀恶意者的无理攻击的目标。作为一名全国性政党的领袖，您关于加拿大华裔的评论会对我们的处境产生长期的影响。我们真诚地希望您能对数逾百万的华裔加拿大人的担忧保持敏感，并为保护我们免受种族歧视和不公平待遇尽您身为领袖的力量。
非常感谢您对此事的关注。
您的诚挚的，
加拿大中国专业人士协会会长 王体
加拿大中国专业人士协会(CPAC)简介 （https://cpac-canada.ca/）
加拿大中国专业人士协会是在加拿大联邦政府注册的非营利组织，拥有移民专业人士会员30,000多名，多年来以组织规范、制度健全、服务专业和代表性广泛而备受加拿大社会各界瞩目。成立30年来，CPAC秉承服务移民专业人士的宗旨, 全方位提供专业培训和就业与职业发展服务，并于近年逐渐致力于有关加拿大华人权益的研究、教育和培训，努力促进加拿大社会的公平、多元与共容。
March 21, TORONTO – On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CPAC, a multi-dimensional organization that is an association of internationally educated professionals, a career and skills development service provider, and a developing think tank that provides research-based support for the understanding and elimination of systemic racism and barriers to equity, diversity and inclusion, sent an open letter to the leaders of all four major national parties, Mr. Justin Trudeau, Mr. Pierre Poilievre, Mr. Jagmeet Singh, and Ms Elizabeth May, regarding the current environment surrounding the alleged election interference by the Chinese government.
The full text of the letter is as follows.
Dear [Party Leader],
We want to bring to your attention our deep concerns about the impact of the political framing and media narratives of alleged election interference by the Chinese government.
CPAC is an organization representing over 30,000 Canadians of Chinese descent. We fully appreciate the importance of election integrity, and we believe that election interference undermines election integrity in a free and democratic society. We support fair and thorough investigations of any allegation of election interference by a foreign state.
However, we are troubled by the narratives of certain media outlets and statements made by some politicians. Our community fears that Chinese Canadians will become collateral damage and victims of racial discrimination that the Chinese community in Canada already experiences in various forms, such as stereotyping, subconscious bias or hate crime at its worst.
At this time, our community is still suffering from anti-Chinese racism stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our elders, children, and indeed people of all ages, have been attacked and victimized either physically, verbally or virtually. We worry that the current toxic environment may lead to unfair labeling and alienation, causing further physical and mental harm to us and our children.
In this centennial year of the infamous Chinese Exclusion Act, we fear that another wave of Chinese exclusion sentiment will sweep Canada, if necessary measures are not taken to protect Chinese Canadians. We fear that a new version of Chinese exclusion may resurrect in Canada leading Chinese Canadians to be regarded as “others” and “outsiders.”
Chinese Canadians have been an integral part of the Canadian fabric for nearly a century and a half. Chinese railroad workers built the most dangerous part of the Canadian Pacific Railway that saved Confederation in the 1880s. Today, Chinese Canadians are making significant contributions in all sectors of society, from science and arts to philanthropy, law and democracy. We are equal citizens to people of any other ethnic origins. However, we fear that the peaceful and respectful multi-racial Canadian mosaic may unravel, if the current strident rhetoric is not countered by leaders like you.
Therefore, we urge you to take a balanced approach and exercise care for Chinese Canadians. We urge you to stand with the Chinese Canadian community, while protecting Canada’s election integrity. We urge you to publicly recognize the significant contributions of Chinese Canadians and condemn any irresponsible rhetoric or propaganda from any hate promoting groups or individuals against Chinese Canadians. We request that you ask all your caucus and party members to do the same in their statements and actions regarding issues that concern Chinese Canadians. We also request that you take the time to meet with us in the Chinese community to hear our fears and concerns to inform your policies and statements.
Chinese Canadians have often been targeted unfairly, as a result of ignorance or malice. As a national party leader, what you say about Chinese Canadians has lasting consequences for us. We sincerely hope that you will be sensitive to the concerns of over a million Canadians of Chinese descent and that you will do your part to protect us from racism and unfair treatment.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ti Wang
President, CPAC
About CPAC （https://cpac-canada.ca/）
CPAC is a professionals’ association with over 30,000 members, a career service provider for new immigrants and youth from underserved communities, and a research, training and education organization that facilitates the understanding and elimination of systemic racism and barriers to equity, diversity and inclusion.
