Speaks on Canada’s experience with migration and democracy

STRASBOURG, FRANCE – David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, today addressed the 2008 delegates of the Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the subject of the state of democracy in Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly is specifically looking at the challenges of diversity and migration and measures to improve the democratic participation of migrants across Europe.

Mr. Tilson formally addressed the Assembly recognizing that Canada can appreciate the challenge of migration and the impact of migration on democratic development, considering immigration has been a central part of Canada’s history. During his address, he noted that, “Our experiences with immigration and integration have been the focus of a growing number of discussions and exchanges with European partners, here at the Council of Europe, at the European Union, and in several European countries.

After providing an overview of the challenges diversity has posed for Canadian democracy, Mr. Tilson concluded, “For historical and geographic reasons, Canada’s experience is quite different from that of most European countries; however, I believe there are lessons to be learned for Europe.”

Currently, the Parliamentary Assembly is discussing various measures to overcome challenges posed by diversity and migration to European democracies, such as providing migrant women every possible opportunity to fully integrate into European democracies and to increase their accessibility to the decision-making process.

Furthermore, the Parliamentary Assembly made the recommendation that migrants be given a “fair share” in the democratic process and that adequate steps be initiated to allow them to participate more effectively.