Diversity of opinion

The Globe's web comment points out that another group of professional immigrants is having trouble finding a place in Canada - but that something is being done on at least a small scale:

When the Spectator let it be known that it was interested in talking with immigrant journalists in Hamilton, 20 showed up for the initial meeting. They came from India, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Angola, Ethiopia and Colombia. Jim Poling, the Spectator's assistant managing editor who ran the program, wrote later: "Some struggle with English. Some are shy. Some are nervous. They tell us about being beaten, imprisoned, tortured. One woman tells us how the police in Central America raided her newsroom and pulled reporters out of their desks and off to jail. By the time we arrived at the final person," Mr. Poling observed, "our own journalists felt humbled, proud of being journalists, and sad. Sad because there was such rich talent in this community that deserved to be telling our readers about stories of importance to them."

Half of the original 20 journalists committed themselves to the program. They met every week with Mr. Poling. The aim was to prepare them to begin writing for the paper as regular paid freelancers. The program now has 20 participants, including a core group of about 10 who write regularly. It also has its own designated freelance photographer, who was a professional news photographer in Pakistan before coming to Canada. An Indian woman journalist who came to Canada three years ago to face consistent rejection by Canadian editors because she didn't have "Canadian experience," now writes regularly for the Spectator ,and with the newspaper's support, is now lecturing on globalization to journalist students at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont.

Not much to add, other than that the Spectator's idea is indeed a great one, and one that will hopefully be emulated: both in order to make sure that the media includes a wide range of experience and viewpoints, and for the benefit of the journalists who have gone out of their way to have the chance to live in Canada. The writer suggests Michaelle Jean as a patron for such a movement, but even without her jumping into the fray the idea should be matched by other media outlets.