A Question of Our Time

Blackface! Brownface! Dual citizenship! As someone who has experienced racism, discrimination, and, yes, dual citizenship, I found the 2019 federal election, with its personal attacks and disrespect among party leaders, stressful and disappointing.

Remember the man in Montreal who leaned in and suggested that Jagmeet Singh ought to remove his turban, to “look like a Canadian”? That exchange reminded me of a man I met at my first public function as lieutenant-governor, in 2006. With doubt in his eyes and skepticism in his voice, he said to me, “We’ve had good lieutenant-governors. I hope you will be, too.”

Many observers believed Justin Trudeau should have known better when he dressed in black- and brownface as a younger man. They suggested the Montrealer should not have told Singh, “In Rome, you do as the Romans do.” Both actions were clearly racist. But is racial discrimination so systemic, so ingrained in our society, that it is normal, almost...