Jason Kenney

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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 the Canadian Parliament
for Calgary Southeast
Incumbent
Assumed office
1997
Preceded by Jan Brown
Personal details
Born May 30, 1968 (1968-05-30) (age 43)
Oakville, Ontario
Political party Conservative
Other political
affiliations		 Reform (1997-2000)
Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Spouse(s) single, never married
Residence Calgary, Alberta
Profession Political advisor
Portfolio Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Religion Roman Catholic

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 four times as the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Following the Conservative victory in the 2006 general election, Kenney was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Prime Minister of Canada. On January 4, 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.

Contents

[edit] 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. While there, he sat on the governing board of the Associated Students Group. In the Spring of 1990, after a student at the University of San Francisco School of Law, Laurie Moore, had won a challenge allowing her and others to distribute pro-choice literature on campus, Kenney stated to a CNN reporter that "The pro-choice group, which is politically activating to legalize abortion-on-demand on this campus, while using campus facilities, is essentially destroying the mission and the purpose of the university." Kenney and others later petitioned the archbishop of San Francisco to drop the word "Catholic" from the university's name, in an effort to pressure the institution to ban the pro-choice group from campus.[2][3]

[edit] 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. Kenney has never worked in the private sector.

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.

[edit] Federal politics

Kenney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 at the age of 29. Along with fellow newly-elected MP's Rob Anders and Rahim Jaffer and advisor Ezra Levant, Kenney was part of an up and coming group of young Reformers which pundits dubbed the "Snack Pack" due to their relative youth.

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.

Kenney supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and suggested that the Chrétien government's refusal to support the war would damage Canada's relationship with the United States of America.[4]

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.

[edit] 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.[5]

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.[6]

While at university, Kenney was an outspoken anti-abortion activist, speaking out against campus groups who promoted abortion rights.[7]

Kenney, speaking in Jerusalem, Israel in December 2009 about Canadian government funding of human rights organizations, said “We have de-funded organizations, most recently, like KAIROS who are taking a leadership role in the boycott [of Israel]. We’re receiving a lot of criticism for these decisions … but we believe we have done these things for the right reasons, and we stand by these decisions.” He later added in a letter to the Toronto Star that “While I disagree with the nature of KAIROS’s militant stance toward the Jewish homeland, that is not the reason their request for taxpayer funding was denied."[8]

[edit] Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

On January 4, 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.[9][10] 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.[11]

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.[12] 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.”[13] In April 2009, Kenney officially launched Asian Heritage Month to "better understand the rich diversity the Asian Canadian community brings to Canada.”[14] Kenney noted that “There were 32 Liberal MPs from the GTA, and of the hundreds of ethnocultural events I attended in the past five years going from Scarborough to Mississauga, typically there were no Liberals there ... They treated the ethnic communities like passive vote banks owed to them through the supposed myth of Pierre Trudeau. They mailed it in.”[15]

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.[16]

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."[17] In May 2008 he made a speech at one of their rallies lending strong support to their program.[18]

[edit] Iraq War resisters

Main article: Canada and 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".[19] These remarks have been seen by some supporters of the asylum seekers as being a form of interference in the asylum process.[20][21]

[edit] 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.[22][23] Galloway said his donation of ambulances, medicine, and toys to the people of Gaza (which is governed by Hamas) did not materially support terrorism.[24] 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.[25]

In October 2010, Galloway said he would sue the Canadian Government for breaching his privacy rights and branding him a terrorist.[26] Galloway later filed a statement of claim on April 12, 2011 citing "alleging defamation and misfeasance of public office".[27]

The Globe and Mail later pointed out that while Kenney was quick to refuse Galloway entry into Canada, his department gave entry to Geert Wilders, who has compared Islam to Nazism.[28]

[edit] 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.[29] Kenney denied that report by stating, "I did not do such a thing".[30]

[edit] Amendments to Citizenship Act

A new law amending the Citizenship Act came into effect on April 17, 2009. One of the changes instituted by the Government of Canada is the "first generation limitation", considered a punitive measure by some against naturalized citizens who reside abroad for lengthy periods of time[citation needed]. Minister Kenney said the following in the House of Commons of Canada on June 10, 2010: "...That’s why we must protect the values of Canadian citizenship and must take steps against those who would cheapen it....We will strengthen the new limitation on the ability to acquire citizenship for the second generation born abroad."[31] The new rules would not confer a Canadian citizenship on children born outside of Canada to parents who were also born outside of Canada. Thus for children to obtain Canadian citizenship if born abroad, they would have to have one parent who was either born in Canada or naturalized in Canada.[32]

[edit] Lost Canadians

Kenney has denied a group of 81 “Lost Canadians”; people who should legally be Canadian citizens but have ‘fallen through the cracks'.[33] 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%. 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.[34] 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.[35]

[edit] Refugee reform

On March 29, 2010, 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.[36] 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.[36] In total, the new plan would lead to the resettlement of 14,500 UN-selected refugees from refugee camps and urban slums to Canada.[36]

[edit] Immigration Changes

On June 26, 2010, 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. As of July 1, 2011, a maximum of 10,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing in the subsequent 12 months. Within the 10,000 cap, a maximum of 500 federal skilled worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing each year.

[edit] Revocation of Canadian Citizenship

On July 19, 2011 Kenney announced government intends to revoke the citizenship of 1,800 people it believes obtained their status through ´´fraudulent´´ means. The decision to revoke citizenship is rare, and a large-scale crackdown such as this is unprecedented. Fewer than 70 citizenships have ever been revoked since the Citizenship Act was passed in 1947. The move will most likely affect individuals from the Middle East and Persian Gulf countries, as well as China.[37]

[edit] Fundraising letter

Early in 2011, a letter using government stationery was sent to Conservative riding associations seeking assistance in raising $200,000 funding for an ad campaign aimed at bolstering support among ethnic communities in ridings that the Conservatives are targeting in the next election.[38] News of this broke when a copy was believed to have been mistakenly sent to the office of opposition MP Linda Duncan instead of that of fellow Conservative MP John Duncan (no relation). This has led to questions regarding possible partisan fundraising with the use of government staff and resources. There was also criticism over the language used in the letter, which labeled some groups and ridings as 'ethnic' or 'very ethnic'.[39] Kenney publicly apologized for the mailing error, citing a staffer's inexperience as the explanation.

[edit] 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 Kenney with the award for "Best Overall MP".[40]

[edit] 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". http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332780&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=36&Ses=1#LINK87. 
  2. ^ K, Laura. "must-see video: jason kenney as young u.s. anti-choice activist". http://wmtc.blogspot.com/2011/04/must-see-video-jason-kenney-as-young.html. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  3. ^ Buzzetti, Hélène. "Des fous de Dieu chez les conservateurs ( Of religious fanatics in the Conservative party)". http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2011/320583/des-fous-de-dieu-chez-les-conservateurs. Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  4. ^ Maria Babbage, "Liberal stance will make it tougher to avoid new border measures, says Alliance," Canadian Press NewsWire, 27 March 2003.
  5. ^ "The Honourable Jason Kenney meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.". Jason Kenney. http://www.jasonkenney.ca/EN/4961/62732bn=1. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  6. ^ "Tory MP attended rally for group on terror list.". CTV News. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060824/kenney_rally_060824/20060824?hub=Canada. Retrieved 2006-09-24. 
  7. ^ "Abortion". CNN The World Today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhlC-ZrguhA. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  8. ^ Will the real Jason Kenney please stand up?
  9. ^ "Jason Kenney giving it up for DesiFest in Dundas Square, Toronto.". Jason Kenney. http://www.jasonkenney.ca/EN/4961/73090bn=1. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  10. ^ "Guradas Maan comes up with ‘Mini Punjab’.". ANI News. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/guradas-maan-comes-up-with-mini-punjab_100184153.htmlbn=1. Retrieved 2010-02-04. [dead link]
  11. ^ "Travelling Tory woos ethnic voters.". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/306284bn=1. Retrieved 2009-12-04. 
  12. ^ Friesen, Joe (2010-01-29). "Jason Kenney: The 'Smiling Buddha' and his multicultural charms.". Toronto: Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/jason-kenney-searching-for-a-tory-majority-along-the-ethnic-beat/article1450178/bn=1. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  13. ^ Friesen, Joe. "Jason Kenney: The 'Smiling Buddha' and his multicultural charms.". Toronto: Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/jason-kenney-searching-for-a-tory-majority-along-the-ethnic-beat/article1450178/bn=1. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  14. ^ "Minister Jason Kenney launches Asian Heritage Month". 2010-02-04. http://www.jasonkenney.ca/EN/4961/87677bn=1. 
  15. ^ Diebel, Linda (2011-05-07). "Exclusive: What really sunk Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals". The Star (Toronto). http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/987422--exclusive-what-really-sunk-michael-ignatieff-and-the-liberals?bn=1. 
  16. ^ "Re 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict". Embassymag.ca. http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2006/august/23/lebanon/. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  17. ^ Conservative Party Of Canada. "Announcement on Jason Kenney's website re the Republic of Vietnam". Jasonkenney.com. http://www.jasonkenney.com/EN/4961/70870. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  18. ^ "Speech at ARVN rally". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_PB6BmTHkQ. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  19. ^ ""Kenney's comments prejudice hearings for war resisters, critics say", CBC News report". Cbc.ca. 2009-01-09. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/01/09/refugee-war.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  20. ^ "''We move to Canada blog''". Wmtc.blogspot.com. 2008-12-30. http://wmtc.blogspot.com/2008/12/jason-kenney-admits-interfering-in-war.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  21. ^ "''Canadian News Wire'' "Open Letter to Minister Jason Kenney from Canadian Council for Refugees re: War Resisters"". Newswire.ca. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/09/c6310.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  22. ^ Brennan, Richard J.; Woods, Allan (2009-03-20). "Canada blocks outspoken British MP". Toronto: thestar.com. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/605682. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  23. ^ Deborah Summers and agencies (2009-03-20). "''The Guardian UK'':"George Galloway banned from Canada"". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/mar/20/george-galloway-banned-canada. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  24. ^ "Galloway vows to sue Canadian government". cbc.ca. 2010-10-03. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/10/03/galloway-suing-canadian-government.html. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  25. ^ Alison Crawford (2010-09-27). "Galloway's Canada ban won't be reviewed". Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/09/27/mp-galloway-banned-kenney-fed-court.html. Retrieved 2010-10-12. 
  26. ^ Mary Gazze (2010-10-03). "Former British MP George Galloway says he'll sue Kenney, Canadian government". Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/former-brit-mp-george-galloway-says-hell-sue-jason-kenney-canadian-government-104245694.html. Retrieved 2010-10-12. 
  27. ^ "George Galloway to sue Canada govt". AFP. April 13, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jnQjYLRljmIz4ETPj3_TCIPcGDzw?docId=CNG.2dbd65c0ce11320ced93b06a6201d53c.131. 
  28. ^ Galloway, Gloria (May. 10, 2011). "Why is National Arts Centre hosting Dutch MP accused of being anti-Islam?". The Globe and Mail. http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/why-is-national-arts-centre-hosting-dutch-mp-accused-of-being-anti-islam/article2016836/?service=mobile. 
  29. ^ Beeby, Dean (2010-03-02). "Toronto Star". The Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/773841--kenney-blocked-gay-rights-in-citizenship-guide-documents?bn=1. Retrieved 2010-05-05. 
  30. ^ "Jason Kenney on gay-rights removal: 'I did not do such a thing'". 2010-03-02. http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/jason-kenney-on-gay-rights-removal-i-did-not-do-such-a-thing/article1488710/?service=mobile. 
  31. ^ "Speaking notes for The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to announce legislation regarding citizenship". June 10, 2010. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2010/2010-06-10.asp. 
  32. ^ http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules.asp#understand
  33. ^ Robert Palmer (2008-05-07). "Immigration Dept rejoices as "Lost Canadians" citizenship bill is passed". http://www.articlealley.com/article_530746_18.html. 
  34. ^ Terry Milewski (2009-10-22). "Still Lost Canadians Protest". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smjrQPLeWkU. 
  35. ^ 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". http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/2/parlbus/chambus/senate/DEB-E/017db_2009-03-10-e.htm?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=2. 
  36. ^ a b c "Expanding Canada’s Refugee Resettlement Programs". 2010-04-28. http://www.jasonkenney.com/EN/4961/109603. 
  37. ^ "Ottawa targets 1,800 in citizenship crackdown". CBC News. Jul 20, 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/07/20/pol-kenney-immigration-visas.html. 
  38. ^ "Kenney fundraising letter breaks rules: NDP". CBC.ca. 2011-03-03. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/03/03/pol-kenney-letter.html. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  39. ^ "Ethnic voter plan is 'offensive': Liberals". CBC.ca. 2011-03-04. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/03/04/pol-kenney-letter-reax.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  40. ^ "Calgary's Jason Kenney named Canada's best overall MP in Ottawa". 2010-01-06. http://www.jasonkenney.ca/EN/4961/89222bn=1. 

[edit] External links

28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Diane Finley Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
2008-
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