I was 15 years old when Somalia was going through a civil war there was
going through a civil war there was
going through a civil war there was chaos and violence everywhere my parents
chaos and violence everywhere my parents
chaos and violence everywhere my parents and I decided that we had no choice but
and I decided that we had no choice but
and I decided that we had no choice but to flee we gathered a few belongings got
to flee we gathered a few belongings got
to flee we gathered a few belongings got on the back of a big truck with a few
on the back of a big truck with a few
on the back of a big truck with a few other families left Somalia never to
other families left Somalia never to
other families left Somalia never to return after a very long journey I
return after a very long journey I
return after a very long journey I landed in Canada at the age of 16 by
landed in Canada at the age of 16 by
landed in Canada at the age of 16 by myself as a refugee I found that way
myself as a refugee I found that way
myself as a refugee I found that way after that I landed on the indigenous
after that I landed on the indigenous
after that I landed on the indigenous territory of the Mississauga’s of new
territory of the Mississauga’s of new
territory of the Mississauga’s of new credit I was going through conflicting
credit I was going through conflicting
credit I was going through conflicting emotions on one hand I felt that I was
emotions on one hand I felt that I was
emotions on one hand I felt that I was worried
worried
worried would I be accepted in this new country
would I be accepted in this new country
would I be accepted in this new country would I succeed but on the other hand I
would I succeed but on the other hand I
would I succeed but on the other hand I was excited about a chance to restart my
was excited about a chance to restart my
was excited about a chance to restart my life and the chance to make new friends
life and the chance to make new friends
life and the chance to make new friends I was 16 after all the very next day
I was 16 after all the very next day
I was 16 after all the very next day what I didn’t get used to and still
what I didn’t get used to and still
what I didn’t get used to and still can’t get used to is that cold Canadian
can’t get used to is that cold Canadian
can’t get used to is that cold Canadian winter that at the time Canadians were
winter that at the time Canadians were
winter that at the time Canadians were experiencing that here the coldest
experiencing that here the coldest
experiencing that here the coldest Canadian winter in a very long time the
Canadian winter in a very long time the
Canadian winter in a very long time the very next day I tried to mail a letter
very next day I tried to mail a letter
very next day I tried to mail a letter to my mother and someone told me to go
to my mother and someone told me to go
to my mother and someone told me to go to a mailbox I had never seen a mailbox
to a mailbox I had never seen a mailbox
to a mailbox I had never seen a mailbox in my life and I was I was trying
in my life and I was I was trying
in my life and I was I was trying struggling to insert that letter in
struggling to insert that letter in
struggling to insert that letter in there in the middle of this snowstorm a
there in the middle of this snowstorm a
there in the middle of this snowstorm a young Canadian woman left her baby in a
young Canadian woman left her baby in a
young Canadian woman left her baby in a stroller raised towards me and helped me
stroller raised towards me and helped me
stroller raised towards me and helped me do that that was my first experience of
do that that was my first experience of
do that that was my first experience of true Canadian generosity a few days
true Canadian generosity a few days
true Canadian generosity a few days later I went to the laundromat I had
later I went to the laundromat I had
later I went to the laundromat I had never seen a laundry machine before I
never seen a laundry machine before I
never seen a laundry machine before I asked people how do I operate this thing
asked people how do I operate this thing
asked people how do I operate this thing and these guys told me you need a loonie
and these guys told me you need a loonie
and these guys told me you need a loonie I got worried I thought what is a loon
I got worried I thought what is a loon
I got worried I thought what is a loon is it a crazy person trying to bring a
is it a crazy person trying to bring a
is it a crazy person trying to bring a crazy person here and after almost
crazy person here and after almost
crazy person here and after almost leaving the establishment another
leaving the establishment another
leaving the establishment another Canadian reached out and helped me do my
Canadian reached out and helped me do my
Canadian reached out and helped me do my wash cycle unfortunately they didn’t
wash cycle unfortunately they didn’t
wash cycle unfortunately they didn’t stay long enough to help me figure out
stay long enough to help me figure out
stay long enough to help me figure out the dryer
the dryer
the dryer so I ended up walking back to my
so I ended up walking back to my
so I ended up walking back to my apartment with a bunch of wet clothes
apartment with a bunch of wet clothes
apartment with a bunch of wet clothes but regardless I was so happy that
but regardless I was so happy that
but regardless I was so happy that someone reached out to me in my time of
someone reached out to me in my time of
someone reached out to me in my time of need I I went to high school joined the
need I I went to high school joined the
need I I went to high school joined the track and field team and myself the
track and field team and myself the
track and field team and myself the teammates on the and the coach banded
teammates on the and the coach banded
teammates on the and the coach banded together and bought me a winter jacket
together and bought me a winter jacket
together and bought me a winter jacket and over the years making my way through
and over the years making my way through
and over the years making my way through high school I relied on social
high school I relied on social
high school I relied on social assistance and social housing when I
assistance and social housing when I
assistance and social housing when I went to university I commuted two hours
went to university I commuted two hours
went to university I commuted two hours each way to pump gas at a minimum-wage
each way to pump gas at a minimum-wage
each way to pump gas at a minimum-wage job for six dollars and 85 cents but I
job for six dollars and 85 cents but I
job for six dollars and 85 cents but I used social housing to also get through
used social housing to also get through
used social housing to also get through University and through using the
University and through using the
University and through using the generosity and the supports of Canadians
generosity and the supports of Canadians
generosity and the supports of Canadians the community services are working
the community services are working
the community services are working incredibly hard I’m now able to stand in
incredibly hard I’m now able to stand in
incredibly hard I’m now able to stand in front of you as the Member of Parliament
front of you as the Member of Parliament
front of you as the Member of Parliament for York southwestern and even more
for York southwestern and even more
for York southwestern and even more incredibly as Canada’s Minister of
incredibly as Canada’s Minister of
incredibly as Canada’s Minister of immigration refugees and citizenship
thank you the second part of my journey
thank you the second part of my journey is one that may not be familiar to many
is one that may not be familiar to many
is one that may not be familiar to many of you it is the journey of a country
of you it is the journey of a country
of you it is the journey of a country that is incredibly generous and
that is incredibly generous and
that is incredibly generous and welcoming and diverse but continues to
welcoming and diverse but continues to
welcoming and diverse but continues to have challenges in addressing systemic
have challenges in addressing systemic
have challenges in addressing systemic racism and true inclusion and at the
racism and true inclusion and at the
racism and true inclusion and at the time I lived in Regent Park Canada’s
time I lived in Regent Park Canada’s
time I lived in Regent Park Canada’s oldest and largest social housing
oldest and largest social housing
oldest and largest social housing neighborhood and on many days on many
neighborhood and on many days on many
neighborhood and on many days on many evenings I would go for walks and doing
evenings I would go for walks and doing
evenings I would go for walks and doing the majority of those walks a police car
the majority of those walks a police car
the majority of those walks a police car would screech to a halt right in front
would screech to a halt right in front
would screech to a halt right in front of me and the police officer would swing
of me and the police officer would swing
of me and the police officer would swing his door in a dramatic fashion come at
his door in a dramatic fashion come at
his door in a dramatic fashion come at me running same manner every single time
me running same manner every single time
me running same manner every single time and asked me where are you going what
and asked me where are you going what
and asked me where are you going what are you doing what do you have in your
are you doing what do you have in your
are you doing what do you have in your pockets
pockets
pockets show me your ID and when I talked to a
show me your ID and when I talked to a
show me your ID and when I talked to a number of my friends then the ones who
number of my friends then the ones who
number of my friends then the ones who had the same skin color as myself
had the same skin color as myself
had the same skin color as myself confirmed for me that they did indeed go
confirmed for me that they did indeed go
confirmed for me that they did indeed go through racial profiling and carding
through racial profiling and carding
through racial profiling and carding regularly
regularly
regularly and every single time that happened to
and every single time that happened to
and every single time that happened to me it was more humiliating than the
me it was more humiliating than the
me it was more humiliating than the first time it happened because your
first time it happened because your
first time it happened because your neighbors are looking at you strangers
neighbors are looking at you strangers
neighbors are looking at you strangers are passing by with a car through their
are passing by with a car through their
are passing by with a car through their car windows they’re wondering what did
car windows they’re wondering what did
car windows they’re wondering what did this guy do to deserve being held on the
this guy do to deserve being held on the
this guy do to deserve being held on the side of the road but I did nothing
side of the road but I did nothing
side of the road but I did nothing I was only stopped because of the color
I was only stopped because of the color
I was only stopped because of the color of my skin and a few did a few years
of my skin and a few did a few years
of my skin and a few did a few years later I worked hard and was lucky enough
later I worked hard and was lucky enough
later I worked hard and was lucky enough to be hired as a political staffer and
to be hired as a political staffer and
to be hired as a political staffer and we were at a reception where the only
we were at a reception where the only
we were at a reception where the only political staff in the room was me who
political staff in the room was me who
political staff in the room was me who was black and a prominent Canadian came
was black and a prominent Canadian came
was black and a prominent Canadian came to me and asked me are you an
to me and asked me are you an
to me and asked me are you an entertainer I found the question to be
entertainer I found the question to be
entertainer I found the question to be strange but I was polite enough to say
strange but I was polite enough to say
strange but I was polite enough to say no I’m not I I smile and I said I’m a
no I’m not I I smile and I said I’m a
no I’m not I I smile and I said I’m a political staffer he smirked and said
political staffer he smirked and said
political staffer he smirked and said how did you get that job he couldn’t
how did you get that job he couldn’t
how did you get that job he couldn’t believe it I said well I worked hard I
believe it I said well I worked hard I
believe it I said well I worked hard I went to university and Here I am he
went to university and Here I am he
went to university and Here I am he asked again with another smirk and said
asked again with another smirk and said
asked again with another smirk and said no really how did you get that job and I
no really how did you get that job and I
no really how did you get that job and I said again with a very polite answer
said again with a very polite answer
said again with a very polite answer I worked hard went to school and applied
I worked hard went to school and applied
I worked hard went to school and applied for this job he walked away shaking his
for this job he walked away shaking his
for this job he walked away shaking his head and didn’t ask that question of any
head and didn’t ask that question of any
head and didn’t ask that question of any other political staffer in the room a
other political staffer in the room a
other political staffer in the room a few years later I became a lawyer and I
few years later I became a lawyer and I
few years later I became a lawyer and I was representing a client in Ontario
was representing a client in Ontario
was representing a client in Ontario Superior Court and I wrote the name of
Superior Court and I wrote the name of
Superior Court and I wrote the name of my client and my name to be called at
my client and my name to be called at
my client and my name to be called at the right time by the clerk and after a
the right time by the clerk and after a
the right time by the clerk and after a few hours of not being called at during
few hours of not being called at during
few hours of not being called at during the court recess I asked the clerk why
the court recess I asked the clerk why
the court recess I asked the clerk why is my name not being called she looked
is my name not being called she looked
is my name not being called she looked at the two names and said oh sorry we we
at the two names and said oh sorry we we
at the two names and said oh sorry we we thought you were one of the accused they
thought you were one of the accused they
thought you were one of the accused they accused being the only other black
accused being the only other black
accused being the only other black individuals in the courtroom who were
individuals in the courtroom who were
individuals in the courtroom who were who were like me when these incidents
who were like me when these incidents
who were like me when these incidents happen imagine walking on the street and
happen imagine walking on the street and
happen imagine walking on the street and having a parent pull there pull their
having a parent pull there pull their
having a parent pull there pull their child closer to themselves because
child closer to themselves because
child closer to themselves because you’re walking by being followed in a
you’re walking by being followed in a
you’re walking by being followed in a grocery store because of the color of
grocery store because of the color of
grocery store because of the color of your skin imagine because of the of the
your skin imagine because of the of the
your skin imagine because of the of the color of your skin being pulled over by
color of your skin being pulled over by
color of your skin being pulled over by constantly these incidents are
constantly these incidents are
constantly these incidents are debilitating they wear you down and they
debilitating they wear you down and they
debilitating they wear you down and they make you feel like the other and even
make you feel like the other and even
make you feel like the other and even though I got used to a lot of that it
though I got used to a lot of that it
though I got used to a lot of that it wasn’t right and it isn’t right and so
wasn’t right and it isn’t right and so
wasn’t right and it isn’t right and so it’s one thing to talk about identity
it’s one thing to talk about identity
it’s one thing to talk about identity it’s one thing to talk about racism and
it’s one thing to talk about racism and
it’s one thing to talk about racism and privilege it’s another to really live
privilege it’s another to really live
privilege it’s another to really live the black experience in Canada so the
the black experience in Canada so the
the black experience in Canada so the experiences of people of color the
experiences of people of color the
experiences of people of color the struggles they face every day with
struggles they face every day with
struggles they face every day with microaggressions are real the despair
microaggressions are real the despair
microaggressions are real the despair they they they go through sometimes is
they they they go through sometimes is
they they they go through sometimes is real the feeling that you have that some
real the feeling that you have that some
real the feeling that you have that some of the structures around you on the
of the structures around you on the
of the structures around you on the systems are working against you is real
systems are working against you is real
systems are working against you is real so how do you reconcile this amazing
so how do you reconcile this amazing
so how do you reconcile this amazing generous welcoming diverse country with
generous welcoming diverse country with
generous welcoming diverse country with these realities faced by some of our
these realities faced by some of our
these realities faced by some of our citizens I can go to Parliament Hill
citizens I can go to Parliament Hill
citizens I can go to Parliament Hill today and hold my head high and work
today and hold my head high and work
today and hold my head high and work seamlessly among my colleagues shake
seamlessly among my colleagues shake
seamlessly among my colleagues shake hands with world leaders but to this day
hands with world leaders but to this day
hands with world leaders but to this day still worried about getting pulled over
still worried about getting pulled over
still worried about getting pulled over by police but I chose to reflect on what
by police but I chose to reflect on what
by police but I chose to reflect on what is best about Canada and I worked hard
is best about Canada and I worked hard
is best about Canada and I worked hard in Regent Park to come together use the
in Regent Park to come together use the
in Regent Park to come together use the beauty of the system to organize
beauty of the system to organize
beauty of the system to organize advocate and work with my neighbors to
advocate and work with my neighbors to
advocate and work with my neighbors to access a five hundred million dollar
access a five hundred million dollar
access a five hundred million dollar fund and we were able to revitalize not
fund and we were able to revitalize not
fund and we were able to revitalize not only the buildings but the community our
only the buildings but the community our
only the buildings but the community our home region Park and today today today I
home region Park and today today today I
home region Park and today today today I have lawyer friends who are moving into
have lawyer friends who are moving into
have lawyer friends who are moving into Regent Park buying condominiums the
Regent Park buying condominiums the
Regent Park buying condominiums the experiences of generosity as well as
experiences of generosity as well as
experiences of generosity as well as these other experiences that are
these other experiences that are
these other experiences that are debilitating are both real and as a
debilitating are both real and as a
debilitating are both real and as a country we have to remember that
country we have to remember that
country we have to remember that although we remain generous and
although we remain generous and
although we remain generous and welcoming we have a long way to go in
welcoming we have a long way to go in
welcoming we have a long way to go in our treatment of visible minorities and
our treatment of visible minorities and
our treatment of visible minorities and our challenge with systemic racism but
our challenge with systemic racism but
our challenge with systemic racism but did you know
did you know
did you know that in canada 9.5 percent of federal
that in canada 9.5 percent of federal
that in canada 9.5 percent of federal black inmates are federal inmates are
black inmates are federal inmates are
black inmates are federal inmates are black even though black canadians only
black even though black canadians only
black even though black canadians only constitute 3 percent of our population
constitute 3 percent of our population
constitute 3 percent of our population did you know that between 2003 to 2013
did you know that between 2003 to 2013
did you know that between 2003 to 2013 the number of black inmates in federal
the number of black inmates in federal
the number of black inmates in federal prisons went up by 80 percent eighty
prisons went up by 80 percent eighty
prisons went up by 80 percent eighty percent think about that did you know
percent think about that did you know
percent think about that did you know that black canadians are three times
that black canadians are three times
that black canadians are three times more likely to find themselves in a
more likely to find themselves in a
more likely to find themselves in a low-income household than european
low-income household than european
low-income household than european canadians what do these statistics tell
canadians what do these statistics tell
canadians what do these statistics tell us it tells us that we are not a perfect
us it tells us that we are not a perfect
us it tells us that we are not a perfect country that we have problems but does
country that we have problems but does
country that we have problems but does that mean that Canada is not great no I
that mean that Canada is not great no I
that mean that Canada is not great no I believe Canada is great because we want
believe Canada is great because we want
believe Canada is great because we want to do better and we don’t believe in
to do better and we don’t believe in
to do better and we don’t believe in hiding our flaws that is why we have to
hiding our flaws that is why we have to
hiding our flaws that is why we have to have discussions on race identity
have discussions on race identity
have discussions on race identity privilege we have to acknowledge that
privilege we have to acknowledge that
privilege we have to acknowledge that racial discrimination and a lack of
racial discrimination and a lack of
racial discrimination and a lack of inclusion exists we have to acknowledge
inclusion exists we have to acknowledge
inclusion exists we have to acknowledge that privilege is real we have to
that privilege is real we have to
that privilege is real we have to acknowledge that not each one of us has
acknowledge that not each one of us has
acknowledge that not each one of us has the same opportunities and the same
the same opportunities and the same
the same opportunities and the same social supports these conversations are
social supports these conversations are
social supports these conversations are difficult they are uncomfortable but we
difficult they are uncomfortable but we
difficult they are uncomfortable but we need to have those conversations because
need to have those conversations because
need to have those conversations because if we don’t it is as if we’re saying
if we don’t it is as if we’re saying
if we don’t it is as if we’re saying that we’re invisible that is what it
that we’re invisible that is what it
that we’re invisible that is what it means when you hear the cry of people
means when you hear the cry of people
means when you hear the cry of people who say black lives matter and so when
who say black lives matter and so when
who say black lives matter and so when you examine Canada and you examine what
you examine Canada and you examine what
you examine Canada and you examine what it means to be a great country I
it means to be a great country I
it means to be a great country I challenge you to reevaluate what
challenge you to reevaluate what
challenge you to reevaluate what greatness means we have read we have
greatness means we have read we have
greatness means we have read we have defined greatness in a wrong manner we
defined greatness in a wrong manner we
defined greatness in a wrong manner we should define greatness and look at your
should define greatness and look at your
should define greatness and look at your personal and professional lives look at
personal and professional lives look at
personal and professional lives look at the leaders that you see do you consider
the leaders that you see do you consider
the leaders that you see do you consider a leader great when he or she thumbs
a leader great when he or she thumbs
a leader great when he or she thumbs heard his or her chest and proclaims
heard his or her chest and proclaims
heard his or her chest and proclaims their greatness for everyone to hear or
their greatness for everyone to hear or
their greatness for everyone to hear or do you consider a leader great who
do you consider a leader great who
do you consider a leader great who acknowledges his or her flaws who
acknowledges his or her flaws who
acknowledges his or her flaws who intently and who inspires people to
intently and who inspires people to
intently and who inspires people to action I challenge each one of you a lot
action I challenge each one of you a lot
action I challenge each one of you a lot of people come to me and say we can’t
of people come to me and say we can’t
of people come to me and say we can’t fix the semi crazies and I’m only one
fix the semi crazies and I’m only one
fix the semi crazies and I’m only one person it’s abstract it’s big but we can
person it’s abstract it’s big but we can
person it’s abstract it’s big but we can all check our unconscious biases like
all check our unconscious biases like
all check our unconscious biases like the parent who pulls their child closer
the parent who pulls their child closer
the parent who pulls their child closer when a black man passes by I challenge
when a black man passes by I challenge
when a black man passes by I challenge each one of you in addition to examining
each one of you in addition to examining
each one of you in addition to examining your strengths look at your weaknesses
your strengths look at your weaknesses
your strengths look at your weaknesses and I know it’s hard because it puts you
and I know it’s hard because it puts you
and I know it’s hard because it puts you in a vulnerable situation but be
in a vulnerable situation but be
in a vulnerable situation but be vulnerable because through that
vulnerable because through that
vulnerable because through that vulnerability you’ll be able to develop
vulnerability you’ll be able to develop
vulnerability you’ll be able to develop from within and you can move forward and
from within and you can move forward and
from within and you can move forward and being vulnerable as a country is
being vulnerable as a country is
being vulnerable as a country is powerful on the international stage
powerful on the international stage
powerful on the international stage because when countries become vulnerable
because when countries become vulnerable
because when countries become vulnerable and expose their flaws to transnational
and expose their flaws to transnational
and expose their flaws to transnational problems like climate change or our
problems like climate change or our
problems like climate change or our approach to our indigenous brothers and
approach to our indigenous brothers and
approach to our indigenous brothers and sisters it’s only then that we can work
sisters it’s only then that we can work
sisters it’s only then that we can work together to correct those flaws and this
together to correct those flaws and this
together to correct those flaws and this is not just an idea of national
is not just an idea of national
is not just an idea of national greatness it is an idea of individual
greatness it is an idea of individual
greatness it is an idea of individual success and I’ll repeat myself be
success and I’ll repeat myself be
success and I’ll repeat myself be vulnerable be vulnerable be vulnerable
vulnerable be vulnerable be vulnerable
vulnerable be vulnerable be vulnerable because through that vulnerability you
because through that vulnerability you
because through that vulnerability you are able to develop and build from
are able to develop and build from
are able to develop and build from within build yourself build your family
within build yourself build your family
within build yourself build your family your community and yes your country
your community and yes your country
your community and yes your country Canada my name is Ahmed Hussein and
Canada my name is Ahmed Hussein and
Canada my name is Ahmed Hussein and black a Muslim I’m a refugee I’m
black a Muslim I’m a refugee I’m
black a Muslim I’m a refugee I’m Canadian and I am proud thank you very
Canadian and I am proud thank you very
Canadian and I am proud thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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