What makes Monia run?
In Tunisia, I dreamed of Canada as a land of justice and opportunity. Now I want to help make it so, says MONIA MAZIGH, who hopes to become an MP
By MONIA MAZIGH
Friday, March 12, 2004 - Page A19
Why am I running for politics?
When I was still a second-year business school student in Tunisia, I wanted to live in a country where I could feel the respect of others and where I could always be intellectually challenged. In 1991, after finishing my bachelor's degree, I came to Canada and started a new life.
It was not always easy; at first I was not admitted to university, because the administration told me that the Tunisian grading system was different from Canada's. Instead of giving up, I registered as a special student, passed the courses extremely well and was finally accepted at Montreal's École des Hautes Études Commerciales. At each new step in my career, I encountered tremendous obstacles, and asked myself: Should I continue? I learned the valuable lesson that progressive change cannot come without struggle. Anything worth something is worth fighting for.
A year and a half ago, I'd been happily married for eight years, had just had my second child and had finished a PhD in finance. We went on holiday to Tunisia to visit my extended family. It was the calm before the storm.
On his way home, my husband, Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was unjustly deported to Syria. Suddenly, I became the centre of media attention. I felt as though my soul was once again thrown into a storm and I had to struggle back to the shore.
But I did not want my husband's fate, or my own, to be decided by others. I did not accept the way my husband was treated and I was never satisfied with the answers offered to me. I wanted justice and promised myself not to relent. Those days seem like a lifetime ago. Now that my husband is back and that a public inquiry has been called by the government, my understanding of Canada, of life in general, will never be the same. I take nothing for granted now. Canada has been always described abroad as a strong advocate of human rights. As a citizen and new Canadian, I feel a responsibility to make this a reality. I want it to be more than a nice title. I want future generations to see it in practice.
After I attended the speech given by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, two days ago, I became more convinced that my vision about how a future Canada should look is the right one.
The topics that Mr. Annan touched upon were restricted to the role of Canada in the international arena. But before Canada can play a more important role at the UN, it must set an example to other Western countries on how to bring solutions to existing domestic social, political and economic problems. To achieve this objective, the Canadian Parliament should represent a broader range of ethnic communities and gender groups that have been traditionally underrepresented. We also need more participation from younger Canadians who, though they may have less political experience, are nevertheless sincere, eager and more than capable of creating true change in politics.
As a young mother who continuously faces challenges in raising two children, as a woman who has experienced unfavourable treatment by some members of society, and as a person who went through very difficult trials in a fight for justice, I believe I represent a broad range of Canadians who want to see change in the current political system. The challenges that I faced opened my eyes on many other important topics such as child care, education and the challenges that women (and more specifically, single mothers) face every day.
My decision to run for the New Democratic Party was not an arbitrary one. I always voted NDP because I believed it had the best social, political and economic program. Having a PhD in finance does not make me a neo-con; I am interested in the importance of social justice.My decision to enter politics might have been a surprise for some. For me, it is the next natural step. Not only do I want to ensure fairness and equity in the political decision-making process in Canada, I also want to help other Canadians. Peace, equality and security are our birthright and our collective responsibility.
Unfortunately, in many of the world's democratic countries today, there's a worrisome trend for participation in elections to decrease. Is it skepticism about politics? Or is it a simple disinterest toward politics? In my opinion it is both, and the need for a new political approach is urgent.
Indeed, this is our perpetual challenge: The messages of corruption and animosity should be replaced by justice and a strong commitment to fundamental Canadian values. Complacency must be replaced by hope. The values that we all call our own, and that attract so many to Canada, must sustain a vision of a better future. Anything is possible. Let's not take what we have for granted.
Monia Mazigh is seeking the NDP nomination in the federal riding of Ottawa South.
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