“Premier Jean Charest launched an examination this year into the issue, prompting some to air ugly views during public forums on the place of immigrants in Quebec society. Top politicians including the Bloc Quebecois’ Gilles Duceppe, Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois and Action Democratique Leader Mario Dumont have all suggested new immigrants should be sent signals on the nature of Quebec values.
“Harper said Canada’s not perfect, but he doesn’t share the same sense of alarm.
“‘I know there’s a popularly expressed view that immigrants come here and they should change to suit the country. I think they overwhelmingly do. But I think the fact is our country also consciously changes somewhat for new immigrants and new cultures, and I think that’s a successful model. I think if you look around the world for issues of immigration and cultural integration, Canada is as successful as any other country in this regard.'”
(…)
“‘In Ontario, there’s been some concern about radical elements in the Muslim community, but these are at the margins,’ he said. ‘The fact of the matter is there aren’t cultural tensions in the country, there generally is a healthy process of integration along with accommodation and if you focus on the Islamic community, yes there are extremist elements but they are small and marginal and the problems we face in this country compared with other countries are tiny.'”
***
Cancer cells are tiny, too. Doesn’t make them any less dangerous. It would only take a “small, marginal” faction to chop off Harper’s head, as one such group threatened to do.
