points and favoritism
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Established in 1967, the Canadian point system served as a means of distancing the government from the personal, dire realities of migrants, reducing lived experience to a rubric of category. While purportedly deracializing immigration, this approach ignored the nuanced backgrounds of migrants, particularly those from countries lacking the infrastructure to meet criteria like education. The system prioritized points—essentially a proxy for economic utility—over humanity. Watching Trudeau's latest immigration policy video (and then doomscrolling through the comments—not a single positive one), I'm reminded of Canada's longstanding history of reframing immigration through a lens of economic gain, masked under progressive rhetoric and blatant gaslighting.
As Anah mentioned in her post, growing up Ismaili meant an implicit awareness of Canada's ties with the Aga Khan. For many Ismailis, the Aga Khan's relationship with both Trudeaus has fostered unwavering support for them. While efforts to secure Asian Ugandan migration were undeniably positive, it's hard not to feel slightly uneasy, particularly at this stage of my relationship with my faith and community, about the favoritism involved. Ismailis have long been conditioned to embrace a model minority identity—contributing to a knowledge society, gaining mobility, and pursuing material well-being alongside faith and community. There's a sense of pride in our integration and ties to Canadian institutions. I sometimes question the lack of reflexivity this integration demands, and the compromises made to sustain such an ideal.