Conservatives Ignore Multiculturalism Karygiannis concerned about Kenney Appointment
OTTAWA - The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, expressed his concern about the appointment of Jason Kenney as the new Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity.
"Harper does not see multiculturalism as important to Canadians." said Mr. Karygiannis. "In naming his first Cabinet, he dropped multiculturalism from Canadian Heritage. He then named Kenney as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister responsible for Multiculturalism. The responsibility for multiculturalism was then quietly dropped from Kenney's responsibilities."
Today, Stephen Harper shuffled his Cabinet and added six Secretaries of State. Ministers will remain fully accountable for the powers vested by statute and for the direction of government departments and agencies within their respective portfolios. Secretaries of State will not be members of the Cabinet.
"Kenney may see this as a promotion, but, in fact, Harper has just sent him back to his old job, at a higher salary." Mr. Karygiannis further stated. "Canadians will see it for what it really is - a shell game. There is still no Minister responsible for multiculturalism - just a Secretary of State with no responsibility and no power."
On January 30, 2005, before a Punjabi Editorial Board in Brampton, Mr. Kenney said ".equality doesn't mean treating everybody exactly the same...there are forms of just discrimination."
"This is outrageous. It is a slap in the face to all Canadians." Karygiannis further commented.
