A too costly slip of the tongue?

With just three more weeks for the election campaign, there is a three way stalemate. Soon the voters sitting on the fence would be taking a call and making the election analyst do little more task. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair had a chance to cast an impression on the voters at the debate last week. Leaders discussed budgets, economic policies, Middle East refugee crisis and laid down the agenda.
Each debate gives the leaders a chance to grab the attention of the voters and set the agenda for the next one and at times gain ground for the voting day too. The debate held last week is being remembered for the lowest point it hit. When Prime Minister Harper making a reference to uncontrolled inflow of refuges in Europe coined a new phrase “new and existing and old –stock Canadians” and went on to say that “new and existing and old –stock Canadians agreed with his concerns”. In no time, that new coined phrase created a stir on social media, among the leaders and also in the media, mainly as not only was it misleading but also lead to discussions on the real intent of Prime Minister Harper.
Many felt that it was a divisive strategy and not good for a country like Canada that takes pride in being multicultural and inviting immigrants from all over the world. Already facing criticism on bill C-124 which critics believe would make it more difficult for new immigrants to get Canadian citizenship and easier for many Canadians to lose .
Prime Minister Harper had created a flutter of a kind with his new phrase. Was it intentional or a slip of the tongue? It certainly is a term with enough negative association that it shouldn’t just slip from a national leader’s lips. Even before Prime Minister Harper could put forth an explanation, the matter was taken up by leaders and critics. The two main opponents wasted little time. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau reacted by saying, “It’s not just offensive, it’s harmful to the country we are building.” NDP leader Tom Mulcair called the phrase as “divisive” and said “I don’t like dividing Canadians like that”. Soon social networking sites where eventful with question like what are you? Are you old or new stock Canadian? Difference between existing Canadians and old stock Canadians? Has Harper undone the good work done by him and Conservatives over the years with issues related to immigrants? In 2008, out of the 143 ridings won by Conservatives only three were where new Canadians lived, and in 2011 when Conservatives got a majority, 20 per cent of the constituents in Conservatives ridings were new Canadians. Prime Minister Harper has made it a point to address immigrants and aboriginal issue, even apologizing on the issues of race. In 2008, he offered a full apology “to aboriginal peoples for Canada’s role in the Indian residential schools system.” He apologized for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident in which hundreds of Indians seeking a better life in Canada were turned away, and on every occasion Prime Minister Harper has been able to leave a mark, and an indomitable impression among new Canadians.

However, by coining the new phrase, Prime Minister Harper has dealt a body blow to his party’s effort to be open, transparent, despite his effort to put the issue at rest by explaining that Old-stock Canadians are “Canadians who have been the descendants of immigrants for one or more generations.” Going by the discussion at the various social networking sites and the reaction pouring in at various TV programs, Canadians find the phrase to be “divisive’, and a small majority has also called it racist. An ill chosen comment that is going to remain as a tag with the Conservatives.