Announcing the Establishment of Canadians United Against Modern Exclusion (CUAME)

A new organization has been officially established to fight new forms of prejudice, discrimination and stigmatization against Canadians.

Canadians United Against Modern Exclusion (CUAME) was set up to advocate for Canadians whose rights and freedoms have been compromised because of false or exaggerated narratives driven by foreign interference hysteria, national security overreach, and fear of the “other”.

What is Modern Exclusion?

In an age of heightened geopolitical conflict and populist nationalism, there has been a dangerous turn in many countries to punish their citizens for not conforming to a rigid idea of the national interest or for having benign ties with foreign entities. This is modern exclusion.

While much of the discrimination is informal, diffuse, and sometimes difficult to pin down, the consequences of such actions are not trivial. Individual and organizations caught up in accusations of “foreign interference” or “foreign influence” can face ostracization, stigmatization, and even criminal prosecution. Canadians from all walks of life – businesspeople, scholars, civil servants, community service workers and more — have been affected.

Government-sanctioned exclusion of minorities from society has been an unfortunate feature of our history. These odious acts have always been justified on the grounds of racial superiority, national security, public safety, or national interest. First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples are the first and most prominent examples of Canadian exclusion. They were in effect excluded from their own lands and way of life through a system of settler colonialism and exploitation. Their struggle for justice and reconciliation continues to this day.

Immigrants to Canada have been victims of a different kind of exclusion, where earlier generations of settlers have imposed discriminatory policies against the newer arrivals based on racist or xenophobic arguments, with the blessing of government.

There are many examples of immigrant group exclusion in Canadian history affecting Black Canadians, Ukrainians, Jews, Italians, Japanese, South Asians, Muslims, Palestinians and others.

While the examples above are all cases of Canadian exclusion, the word “exclusion” itself is most closely associated with the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, which is also known as the “Chinese Exclusion Act”. Following unsuccessful attempts to stem the inflow of Chinese workers to Canada through a punitive “head tax” over a 40-year period, the government of Mackenzie King enacted a law that effectively banned immigration of Chinese people to Canada. The law also required all Chinese in Canada to register with the government and to carry documentation with them, failing which they could be subject to fines, jail, or deportation. The Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect for 24 years.

What We Do

· Document abuses of charter rights and freedoms that are dressed up as foreign interference or national security threats. We have posted two case studies of modern exclusion on our website and will produce more examples in the months ahead.

· Defend Canadians who are victims of national security overreach and unsubstantiated claims of foreign interference

· Educate the public on the dangers of modern exclusion, and how it can be weaponized against any minority group that is deemed to be problematic because of politics and prejudice

· Advocate for sound public policy related to national security, foreign interference, and the protection of rights and freedoms of Canadians who maintain ties with other countries

· Mobilize Canadians to stand up for their rights and to participate fully in Canadian civic life, including politics, without fear of persecution and stigmatization

We Need Your Help

As a non-partisan organization, we work with other groups that share our concerns about protecting Charter rights and encouraging political participation and civic inclusion of all Canadians.

Spread the Word

Tell your friends about our work and encourage them to be alert to examples of modern exclusion. You can share the attached poster with your contacts and on social media.

Volunteer

We need help in documenting examples of modern exclusion, advocating for those who are affected, organizing local activities, and educating the community about the need to speak up. Contact us for specific volunteer opportunities using this simple form: CUAME Volunteer Sign up Form

Partner Organization

We invite organizations across Canada to stand together against modern forms of exclusion. Fill out our short form to be listed as a partner organization on the CUAME website: Supporting Organization Sign Up Form

Donate

We welcome donations large and small. You can donate by clicking on this link: https://www.cuame.ca/donate

There is more information on CUAME at www.cuame.ca.