I disagree

As usual, I am out-of-step with conventional thinking.  I refer to the Stockwell Day tempest in a teapot over his remark that systemic racism does not exist in Canada.  Frankly, I agree.  It doesn't.

Systemic, or institutionalized, racism is defined by Wikipedia as:

"A form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions.  It is reflected in disparities regarding wealth, income, criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power and education.


"If can also be the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin."
  
In Canada, I can't think of any institution that would discriminate against, or bar, anyone because they were black or any other colour.  Racism certainly exists in the US, but here in Canada?  I certainly don't see it -- and that's not because I am white.  Any disparities in wealth, income, criminal justice and all the other factors listed above are usually the result of personal choices.  As I say, we are all one race:  The human race.  Everything else is culture and the individual decisions we make.

In Canada, everyone has a health card and access to the same care.  As for people living in "ghettos", that's because different cultures congregate in the same, separate communities.  I would not call them "ghettos".  Here in Calgary, for instance, those of Chinese and African heritage tend to live in the northwest, where we live, because that's where they feel most at home, comfortably surrounded by their own cultures.  That's just a fact. 

The same with running for office.  Anyone can.  As for professionals, many, many here are of East Indian origin.  And while native people do live in poverty, that's because they choose to live on isolated and remote reserves with limited access to services.  They can certainly move off-reserve, but they stay because the reserve system is how their leaders get money.  (See countless blogs about this mess.) 

It's ironic that racism is so widespread in the US because it was the British, who the US threw over, who introduced slavery to that country.  Yet, Canada -- long a British dominion -- didn't have slavery.
And while I'm at it, I wish sports celebrities would shut up about politics and racism.  They should just collect their millions and stick to the knitting.  Why do we care what Connor McDavid, Drew Brees, Pascal Siakam and Sidney Crosbie think about racism?  Just keep chasing pucks around and bouncing balls because no one wants to hear a bunch of millionaires opining about something of which they know nothing.  Money insulates you from everything. 
  
So, I say to poor, beleagured Stockwell Day, it's too bad you were bullied into resigning by the elites in academia and the never-ending, politically-correct media -- not that you were going to be elected to anything anytime soon anyway.  I'm disappointed a little truth got in the way of any contributions you might have made in the positions you had to leave.

(Note:  I have no clue why the font shrank?  Ah, the gremlins in the computer!)