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I am a Romanian and Canadian
citizen who loves my country of origin and Canada as well. I
graduated from "Faculty of Automatics", Polytechnic
Institute of Romania, obtaining a Master's degree diploma, and I
worked as engineer, designer and scientific researcher in the
computer field. I immigrated, as a landed immigrant, together
with my wife and daughter to Canada after the Communist regimes
from Eastern Europe collapsed. Top Page
I was among those who were not
members of the Communist Party and did not like Ceausescu's
Communist dictatorship. In addition, I was afraid that the
dictatorship of Communist Party could return to power, and I
wanted to offer my child a free and prosperous life. Moreover, I
was very impressed by the success of so called "democratic societies", and I was encouraged to
immigrate to Canada, country well known as the best country in
the world where human rights and social justice are respected and
everybody has equal opportunities. But soon, that "equal opportunity for
everybody" and
"social
justice" have
disappeared in the province of Ontario since the Harris
government came to power in the summer of 1995. For more details,
please see "Canadian Experience under Harris
Government"
and "Human Rights Harassment and Discrimination". Top Page
Was it a right choice to immigrate?
After almost ten years of Canadian experience, I can conclude that, under the circumstances of that time, my initial decision to come to Canada was a right one. In spite of the fact that right of the beginning my family and I had confronted with a lot of problems, I was very well impressed to find here a lot of amiable Canadian people who recognize that they were immigrants, too, and some of them speak even publicly that immigrants have enriched and built Canada with their ideas and talents. However, there are others who forgot their ancestry, ethnic origin and place of origin and are against the Canadian immigrants and immigration policy. Unfortunately, as you can notice from my Canadian Experience under Harris Government and Human Rights Harassment and Discrimination, my family and I were very hardly hit by Harris government's "Common Sense Revolution" ideas and discriminatory policy.
After Mike Harris' resignation
on October 16, 2001, I hope that the "Common Sense Revolution" is over, and it would go after
its supporter who implemented it. Otherwise, I would say that the
province of Ontario as well as Canada is going in a wrong
direction, and I would have to recognize that my decision to come
to Canada was a wrong one. The irony of my Canadian experience is
that I found out here a capitalistic dictatorship even more
severe than Ceausescu's Communist dictatorship. If this is the future offered by
Canada to my family, especially to my child, I would say
"No, thank you Canada!", I do not like your new face
imposed by Harris government's fake and false democracy and I do
not want to be part of it. If I would have to choose between two
dictatorships, I would have to go back to my origin country,
Romania, because I would prefer a Communist dictatorship rather
than a capitalistic dictatorship. However, do not blame me that I
am a communist because I never was, but Harris government showed
me a so harsh and ferocious face of a capitalistic system that I
am afraid of. Top Page
It has been more than seven years since I was struggling to resolve my case complaining to the Ontario Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman for the violation of my human rights, but without success. In spite of the fact that I sent letters of protest to the most important Canadian personalities, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Ontario, and I held two hunger strikes so far, my case remained unresolved. If the Premier of Ontario, Mike Harris, ignored most of my letters, the office of the Prime Minister of Canada, Right Hon. Jean Chretien, informed me that "The Prime Minister receives appeals for personal assistance from many people in Canada and around the world. I trust you will understand that, in the interest of fairness to all, this office is unable to address requests of this nature".
I was very surprised by that answer because I addressed in that letter two requests: one for personal assistance and the other one for collective assistance, asking Prime Minister's support in the interest of fairness to all discriminated by Harris government's discriminatory policy. More precisely, I asked his support for my request addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in order to make a declaration in accordance with article 14 of the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (copy attached). The Prime Minister's office chose none of my requests although, under that International Convention, Canada has a responsibility as a State Party to "take effective measures to review governmental, national and local policies, and to amend, rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination wherever it exists" (article 2--1.(c)). Also, article 2--1.(d) states that "Each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate means, including legislation as required by circumstances, racial discrimination by any persons, group or organization".
In these conditions, if the office of the Prime Minister turns a blind eye on the disastrous social consequences of Harris government's "Common Sense Revolution", being afraid to appropriately inform the Prime Minister "in the interest of fairness to all people in Canada and around the world", there is no surprise that Mike Harris did whatever he wanted in this province. Because I saw that the Prime Minister is a very caring and compassionate person, I still believe that the Prime Minister is not informed appropriately by some of his staff. Although I addressed at least five letters so far to the Prime Minister, I did not see yet his signature on the answers received from his office! In my country of origin, there is a proverb: "Before you could get in touch with God, you are eaten by holy men!"
It is unbelievable and beyond my understanding that such discriminations exist in Canada which was recognized worldwide for its democracy and intolerance for harassment and human rights discriminations. It is unbelievable that such discriminations are covered up now in this province even by the government authorities and government agencies that are responsible to handle them. As a person who lived in the past under Ceausescu's Communist dictatorship, I am still wondering where is the fairness of social justice and democracy for immigrants and average people, in general, here in the province of Ontario.
I have to speak up because my Canadian experience gained so far gave me the feeling that we are living now, in the province of Ontario, under a more severe dictatorship than Ceausescu's Communist dictatorship. It's the dictatorship of ignoring, silencing, oppressing and exploiting people. It's the dictatorship of a false democracy which gives you the freedoms of speech without the audience of the elected government and government authorities. Believe it or not, but it is true. For more details, please see "Human Rights Harassment and Discrimination", "Human Rights Commission's Investigation" and "Canadian Experience under Harris Government, chapters Ceausescu's volunteer labour, Mike Harris's forced labour and follows". However, my voice of "speaking out" must be seen as an effort to send a strong warning message to the Canadian authorities that this province is going in a wrong direction which is not appropriate for this country.
Canada has
built its reputation on compassion, respecting and promoting
civil liberties and human rights, and it should remain like that.
My real intention is not to destroy but to fight for restoring
and preserving all those rights. Moreover, I really want to help
Canada to remain the best country in the world and, most
importantly, to be a model for the entire world. Top
Page
On October 2nd, 2003, a
historic election day, the people of Ontario decided to get rid
of a far-right ideology known as the "Common Sense
Revolution" implemented by the Harris government since 1995.
On this historic election, the Ontario Liberal Party won a
majority of 72 out of 103 seats, and the previous Conservative
Government has been swept from power. So, the people of Ontario
have decided to get rid of a dictatorial regime oriented too far
to the right and chose a Liberal Government. It's a great victory for
democracy in this province!
We do not expect miracles over night, but we know that we are
going in a right direction. The most important thing at this time
is that the "Common Sense Revolution" is over and the
people of Ontario can hope and dream together again of a better
life. I also hope that the Liberal Government will restore the
social justice and human rights as they were before in this
province, and I would be glad to acknowledge that Canada would
regain its international reputation as the best country in the
world.
For personal help and support:
I would be very grateful if you would support my struggle for Human Rights Harassment and Discrimination. As you could notice from the Human Rights Investigation, section Commission's decision, I have complained to the Ombudsman office by a letter since August 1999. However, the Ombudsman decided to not investigate at that time using section 17.(1)(a) of the Ombudsman Act which allows the Ombudsman to exercise his discretion to refuse to investigate a complaint further where, under the law or existing administrative practice, it appears to be an adequate remedy for the complainant, whether or not the complainant has availed himself or herself of it.
Which "law or existing administrative practice" the Ombudsman has considered to be an adequate remedy for my complaint, I do not know yet. What I do know, however, is that instead of resolving my case, they (government authorities) were trying to force me to perform forced or compulsory labour for free (up to 70 hours per months) at community placements in exchange for my welfare cheque of $236.00/month at that time. This is a violation of article 8, section 3.(a) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: "No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour". In addition, this kind of compulsory or forced labour is also a violation of article 1(1) of the same International Covenant: "All people have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development".
If you are among those concerned about civil liberties and human rights, please help me by contacting the Ombudsman in order to investigate the Ontario Human Rights Commission's decision. In accordance with section 14.(3) of the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman has "paramount powers" and can investigate the Commission's decision even though that decision became final. In addition, according to section 14.(2) of the Ombudsman Act, investigation on complaint, "The Ombudsman may make any such investigation on a complaint made to him or her by any person affected or by any member of the Assembly to whom a complaint is made by any person affected, or of the Ombudsman's own motion". Therefore, if you are a Member of Parliament (provincial or federal), you are legally entitled to complain to the Ombudsman on my behalf. I can assure you that the Human Rights Commission's decision was based on an investigation which was not resolved through normal procedures of investigation and conciliation and not conducted in accordance with the Commission's enforcement procedures and Code of Ethics. Please, therefore, support my complaint addressed to the Ombudsman in order to investigate the Ontario Human Rights Commission's decision.
For
collective help and support:
I would also be very grateful if you would support my fight for the violations of article 8(3.)(a) and 1(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in order to Restore the Rights of People on Social Assistance, most of them vulnerable new immigrants and poor Canadian people. For more details, please see a "Letter addressed to the Minister of Community and Social Services".
Together we can restore the "social justice" and "protection of human rights" in this province. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights". This is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on December 10, 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, as a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. Justice must be served!
The Ontario Ombudsman can be contacted at the following address:
Mr. Clare Lewis, Q.C.
Ombudsman Ontario
125 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C7
Canada
Telephone: 416-586-3300
Toll Free: 1-800-263-1830 (English)
1-800-387-2620 (Francais)
Fax: 416-586-3485
E-mail: info@ombudsman.on.ca
Web Site: www.ombudsman.on.ca
Thank you very much for your help and support.
Sincerely yours,
Ioan Moraru
E-mail: imoraru@ica.net
Created on: May 5, 2002
Last updated: Oct. 10, 2003