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Jason Kenney

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Drinkingbreaker (talk | contribs) at 05:51, 18 February 2011 (→Federal politics: modified description of Kenney's views on Iraq war to bring in line with his numerous statements of 2002/03. Previous description was inaccurate and misleading). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Honourable
Jason T. Kenney

PC, MP
Kenney at the All Candidates Forum at McKenzie Lake Community Centre in Calgary's Southeast, January 14, 2006
Member of Parliament
for Calgary Southeast
Incumbent
Assumed office
1997 federal election
Preceded byJan Brown
Personal details
Born (1968-05-30) May 30, 1968 (age 56)
Oakville, Ontario
Political partyConservative
Other political
affiliations		Reform (1997-2000)
Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Spousesingle
Residence(s)Calgary, Alberta
ProfessionPolitical advisor
PortfolioMinister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

Jason T. Kenney, PC, MP (born May 30, 1968) is Canada's current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. He has represented the riding of Calgary Southeast in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.

Initially elected as a candidate of the Reform Party of Canada, Kenney was re-elected as a Canadian Alliance candidate in 2000, and has since been re-elected twice as the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Following the Conservative victory in the 2006 general election, Kenney was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada. On 4 January 2007, he was sworn in as the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, and as a Privy Councillor. Kenney has held the post of Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism since October 30, 2008.

Education and early life

Kenney was born in Oakville, Ontario and raised in Saskatchewan. He is the grandson of band leader Mart Kenney.[1] He graduated from the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, a Catholic, co-educational, boarding high school located in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. He studied philosophy at the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit university in San Francisco, California. However he dropped out before completing his undergraduate degree to begin work in Saskatchewan provincial politics.

Early career

Kenney was originally a member of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, and in 1988 he served as an executive assistant to Ralph Goodale, who at that time was party leader. Kenney later served a term as Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Taxpayers Association, and later as President and CEO of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a political advocacy organization.

He has also served as a volunteer director for several non-profit and political organizations. These include the Catholic Civil Rights League and the National Foundation for Family Research.

Federal politics

He was a member of the Reform Party of Canada (1997–2000), which became the Canadian Alliance (2000–2003). He co-chaired the United Alternative Task Force, and served as the national co-chairman of Stockwell Day's campaign for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance. He also served as National Co-Chair of the Canadian Alliance 2000 election campaign. While on the Opposition benches in 1997-2005, Kenney served in a number of prominent roles in the Shadow Cabinet, including Deputy House Leader for the Official Opposition, critic for Canada-United States relations, critic for National Revenue, and critic for Finance.

In 2002 and 2003, Kenney strongly supported the case put forward by the administration of US President George W. Bush for invading Iraq, including its argument that the Iraqi government had acquired weapons of mass destruction and that it posed an imminent regional and global threat through its alleged links with Islamist terrorists. He also criticized the Canadian government for failing to recognize the damage that he believed Canada's non-participation in the Iraq War was inflicting on all sectors of the Canadian economy, and accused then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien of being "the first prime minister in Canadian history to abandon our British and American allies at a time of need." [2]

In 2005, during parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage in Canada, Kenney stated that fellow MPs Libby Davies and Svend Robinson, both of whom had opposite sex relationships before coming out, stood as proof that marriage law doesn't discriminate against LGBT individuals since they can still marry members of the opposite sex.

On February 6, 2006, he was appointed to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, with the portfolio of multiculturalism.

Human rights

Kenney has also been active in promoting human rights and freedom of religion in autocratic countries. He is a member of Parliament's Canada-Tibet Committee, and has hosted the Dalai Lama.[3]

In January 2005, during a government trade mission in China, Kenney visited the home of recently deceased Zhao Ziyang, the deposed Communist party chief. Zhao was a reformist purged for sympathizing with pro-democracy protesters before they were crushed by the military in 1989.

In April 2006, Kenney attended a rally supporting the People's Mujahedin of Iran, a socialist group that advocates the overthrow of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kenney later stated that he did not know at the time the group was on a Canadian terror watchlist.[4]

Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

On 4 January 2007, he was sworn in as the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, and as a Privy Councillor. Kenney has held the post of Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism since October 30, 2008. In this capacity, Kenney has been the Harper government's representative to ethnic communities in Canada. Kenney makes frequent appearances at South Asian ethnic events such as DesiFest in Toronto and also concerts such as Gurdas Mann's concert in Vancouver in 2009.[5][6] The Toronto Star has stated that Kenney more frequently travels to events held by nine ethnic groups in particular: Koreans, Chinese, Jews, South Asians, Persians, Poles, Jamaicans, Filipinos, and Vietnamese.[7]

According to the Globe & Mail, the Chinese-Canadian community nicknamed Kenney the "Smiling Buddha" in reference to his efforts to garner ethnic votes on the basis of what some perceive as commonly held conservative values.[8] Kenney justified his efforts to gain ethnic support by stating: “You observe how these new Canadians live their lives. They are the personification of Margaret Thatcher's aspirational class. They're all about a massive work ethic.”[9] In April, 2009, Kenney officially launched Asian Heritage Month to "better understand the rich diversity the Asian Canadian community brings to Canada.”[10]

In August 2006, Kenney compared Hezbollah with the Nazi Party of 1930s Germany. He also rebuked Prime Minister of Lebanon Fuad Saniora for having criticized Canada's support for Israel in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. Saniora had argued that most nations of the world, apart from Canada, regarded Israel's military actions in Lebanon as disproportionate and illegal. Kenney's response was, "Canada took a responsible position and I would hope that the Lebanese prime minister would express gratitude" for supporting attempts to help the Lebanese government regain control over those parts of its territory controlled by Hezbollah.[11]

In early 2008, Kenney openly supported Progressive Conservative candidate Jonathan Denis, who later became the MLA for Calgary-Egmont, defeating Liberal Cathie Williams and the independent candidate, Craig Chandler, by a large margin. In early 2008 Kenney posted an announcement on his web site announcing that the Government of Canada recognizes the flag of the Republic of Vietnam as the symbol of the Vietnamese-Canadian community. He said "Our government recognises the flag as an important symbol of the Vietnamese-Canadian community's independence, strength, and belief in national unity,and attempts to disparage it are a deeply troubling attack on one of Canada's ethnic communities and on the principles of multiculturalism."[12] In May 2008 he made a speech at one of their rallies lending strong support to their program.[13]

Iraq War resisters

In January 2009, Kenney made public statements critical of U.S. soldiers seeking asylum in Canada who were facing punishment for their refusal to participate in the Iraq war. He said that unlike in the Vietnam era, the current asylum seekers are neither "draft dodgers" nor "resisters", but rather are "people who volunteer to serve in the armed forces of a democratic country and simply change their mind to desert. And that's fine, that's the decision they have made, but they are not refugees." He also said that he considered them to be "bogus refugee claimants".[14] These remarks have been seen by some supporters of the asylum seekers as being a form of interference in the asylum process.[15][16] (See details)

George Galloway

In March 2009, Kenney said he would not overturn the Canada Border Services Agency's decision to bar British MP George Galloway from coming to Ontario, British Columbia and Québec, where he planned to give a series of speeches at the end of the month. The Immigration Minister's Office stated that the Canada Border Services Agency deemed Galloway as inadmissible to Canada due to national security concerns. Alykhan Velshi, a spokesperson for Kenney, claimed that Galloway had openly admitted giving "financial support" to Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist group in Canada.[17][18] Galloway said his donation of ambulances, medicine, and toys to the people of Gaza (which is governed by Hamas) did not materially support terrorism.[19] The Federal Court found that Kenney's office had acted inappropriately, using "a flawed and overreaching interpretation of the standards under Canadian law for labelling someone as engaging in terrorism or being a member of a terrorist organization." The presiding judge also determined that the Canadian Border Services Agency had produced its assessment of Galloway on scant evidence after receiving instructions from Velshi.[20] In October 2010, Galloway said he would sue the Canadian Government for breaching his privacy rights and branding him a terrorist.[21]

Citizenship study guide

In March 2010, the Canadian Press reported that Kenney excised information about same-sex marriage legalization and the decriminalization of homosexuality in the new Citizenship and Immigration study guide for immigrants applying for Canadian citizenship, against the recommendations of his deputy minister.[22] Kenney denied that report by stating, "I did not do such a thing".[23]

Lost Canadians

Kenney has denied a group of 81 “Lost Canadians”; people who should legally be Canadian citizens but have ‘fallen through the cracks'.[24] Bill C-37 corrected the citizenship issues for 95% of “Lost Canadians” and special grants were to have been made to resolve the remaining 5%. Jason Kenney claims that the Lost Canadians group should not be politicizing their plight but they should be making a “solid application and a strong case.[25] He fails to acknowledge that most of these people have applied and have a strong case but have been denied. But, he had no issues with granting citizenship to Olympic hopeful Kaitlyn Weaver prior to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.[26] Kenney's predecessor, Diane Finley, had authorized a special grant of citizenship to Guy Valliere. Kenney never followed through with this grant and Guy Valliere died without citizenship, even though he served honourably in the Canadian Forces during World War II.[27]

Refugee reform

On March 29, 2010, Jason Kenney announced an overhaul of the Canadian refugee system. The reform package also committed to allowing the resettlement of 2,500 more refugees living in UN refugee camps and urban slums.[28] The plan also included expansion of the Government-Assisted Refugees Program to 500 places while a further 2,000 resettlement places were added to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.[28] In total, the new plan would lead to the resettlement of 14,500 UN-selected refugees from refugee camps and urban slums to Canada.[28]

Immigration Changes

On June 26, 2010, Jason Kenney announced changes to the Skilled Worker Immigration Program. Skilled worker applicants are now required to either have an offer of arranged employment, or possess one of 29 eligible occupations (out of 520 occupations described in the NOC) for their application to be processed. A cap of 20,000 applications per year from skilled workers in the 29 occupations was also introduced.

Awards and recognition

Kenney has been named one of Canada's "100 Leaders of the Future" by Maclean's magazine; "one of Canada's leading conservative activists" by the Globe and Mail; and "one of 21 Canadians to watch in the 21st century" by the Financial Post magazine.

On May 13, 2009, Maclean's magazine, in association with the Dominion Institute, L'actualité and Presenting Sponsor Enbridge presented Jason Kenney with the award for "Best Overall MP".[29]

References

  1. ^ Hansard, House of Commons, Canada, 36th Parliament, 1st Session (1998-03-17). "http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332780&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=36&Ses=1#LINK87". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ {{cite web{ url=http://openparliament.ca/politicians/jason-kenney/?page=100#page=102 |title = openparliament.ca |publisher = openparliament.ca | accessdate = 2011-02-18}}
  3. ^ "The Honourable Jason Kenney meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama". Jason Kenney. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  4. ^ "Tory MP attended rally for group on terror list". CTV News. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  5. ^ "Jason Kenney giving it up for DesiFest in Dundas Square, Toronto". Jason Kenney. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  6. ^ "Guradas Maan comes up with 'Mini Punjab'". ANI News. Retrieved 2010-02-04. [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Travelling Tory woos ethnic voters". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  8. ^ "Jason Kenney: The 'Smiling Buddha' and his multicultural charms". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  9. ^ "Jason Kenney: The 'Smiling Buddha' and his multicultural charms". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  10. ^ "Minister Jason Kenney launches Asian Heritage Month". 2010-02-04.
  11. ^ "Re 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict". Embassymag.ca. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  12. ^ Conservative Party Of Canada. "Announcement on Jason Kenney's website re the Republic of Vietnam". Jasonkenney.com. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  13. ^ "Speech at ARVN rally". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  14. ^ ""Kenney's comments prejudice hearings for war resisters, critics say", CBC News report". Cbc.ca. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  15. ^ "''We move to Canada blog''". Wmtc.blogspot.com. 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  16. ^ "''Canadian News Wire'' "Open Letter to Minister Jason Kenney from Canadian Council for Refugees re: War Resisters"". Newswire.ca. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  17. ^ Brennan, Richard J.; Woods, Allan (2009-03-20). "Canada blocks outspoken British MP". Toronto: thestar.com. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  18. ^ Deborah Summers and agencies (2009-03-20). "''The Guardian UK'':"George Galloway banned from Canada"". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  19. ^ "Galloway vows to sue Canadian government". cbc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  20. ^ Alison Crawford (2010-09-27). ""Galloway's Canada ban won't be reviewed"". Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  21. ^ Mary Gazze (2010-10-03). ""Former British MP George Galloway says he'll sue Kenney, Canadian government"". Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  22. ^ Beeby, Dean (2010-03-02). "Toronto Star". The Star. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  23. ^ bn=1 "Globe and Mail". 2010-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  24. ^ Robert Palmer (2008-05-07). "Immigration Dept rejoices as "Lost Canadians" citizenship bill is passed".
  25. ^ Terry Milewski (2009-10-22). "Still Lost Canadians Protest".
  26. ^ CIC New Release (2008-05-07). "Olympic hopeful Kaitlyn Weaver obtains Canadian citizenship".
  27. ^ Canadian Senate Hansard (2009-03-04). "http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/chambus/senate/DEB-E /017db_2009-03-10-e.htm?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=2". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  28. ^ a b c "Expanding Canada's Refugee Resettlement Programs". 2010-04-28.
  29. ^ "Calgary's Jason Kenney named Canada's best overall MP in Ottawa". 2010-01-06.
Template:Ministry box 28
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Diane Finley Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
2008- 		'Incumbent'

Template:Persondata

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