My Take | Canadian values may not be many Hongkongers’ cup of tea
Those of us may find it hard to deal with the country’s acceptance of drug use, multiple gender identities and highly accessible euthanasia
Rachel Miu Mei-shi was speaking out at a recent neighbourhood rally in Vancouver, when she declared, “Make Canada drug free!” The former ATV news anchor and Link Reit PR manager put a smile on my face. The parent in me fully supports her; the cynic in me, though, says, “Good luck with that.”
While I applaud her community spirit, It’s a bit like shouting, “Make Macau gambling free!” It would be hard to find another country more tolerant and even sympathetic to drug addicts than the Great White North.
Miu said she and her family recently moved to Canada. I gather they now live in Richmond, Vancouver, the home of many former Hongkongers, including some of my own relatives and friends.
“Today, my family and I came out together to say NO to three toxic directions of the government,” she told her fellow protesters and probably neighbours.
“The BC (British Columbia) government has always regarded itself as a saviour, saying they want to save people with addictions. Those of us who are willing to take responsibility for our lives not only have to pay for them, but we are also labelled as their persecutors.”
The provincial government pioneered legalising the consumption, but not trafficking, of hard drugs and the setting up of injection sites that provide a safe environment with first aid and sterilised drug paraphernalia such as clean needles. The practice has spread to other provinces in recent years.
Neighbours in Richmond have been fighting against having such a site in their community. If you remember, a Caucasian woman last year had to apologise publicly after shouting racist remarks at such a rally. She was captured on video which went viral with her claiming China was responsible for the fentanyl crisis and telling those she was arguing with to go back to Hong Kong.