Skip to content

Ethnic attire doesn’t belong on politicians

It’s obvious that Canadian politicians who feel compelled to wear visible minority attire while attending cultural festivities or ethnic religious events do so only to garner political favour and votes.

It’s obvious that Canadian politicians who feel compelled to wear visible minority attire while attending cultural festivities or ethnic religious events do so only to garner political favour and votes.

This was evident at the April 14 Vaisakhi celebration in Vancouver over the Easter weekend, attended by B.C. Liberal Party leader Christy Clark and the NDP’s John Horgan. These politicians, including PM Trudeau on a wider stage, have fully-adorned themselves in ethnic/religious/first nations attire on numerous occasions and, no doubt, will continue to follow that confusing ritual of cultural appropriation.

In my view this form of visual politics is patronizing and insincere to the cultural heritage of the minorities they are attempting to mimic, and to the Canadian populace at large.

Is there such a thing as politically correct attire for Canadian politicians at cultural events? Perhaps, under certain circumstances. We recognize that head coverings and modest, respectful attire or the removing of footwear are required for congregants attending services in a Jewish Synagogue, Sikh Temple, Buddhist Wat or to enter an Islamic Mosque. These are customs specifically assigned to respect the religious and cultural behavior of sacred places of worship to be observed by the faithful and visitors alike.

But, in all due respect to other cultures, I draw the line at politicians playing gratuitous costume games in full or partial ethnic attire solely to secure votes. We are a proud country with a great cultural diversity and for the most part Canadians respect their pluralist society. Generic politicians like Trudeau, Clark, Horgan and others don’t need to play “dress-up games” to appease minority voters. In doing so, I believe this makes them politically incorrect and inconsistent with their own cultural and/or religious heritage.

Mickey Donnelly

Parksville