Canada’s top DEI official struggled to answer a simple question about whether she supports legalizing drug dealing.
Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion & Persons with Disabilities, was being grilled by Conservative MP Jamil Jivani over the current liberal governments policies.
Jivani had been quizzing the official over the countries Black Justice Strategy, a document to help them tackle anti-black racism in the justice system.
One of the suggestions put forward was the decriminalization of the possession of a 30-day supply of drugs of hard drugs.
After frequently asking Khera if she supported that policy, she refused to give a straight answer.
Jivani continues: ‘Your government calls this history making and a milestone for black people in this country.
‘I think it’s fair for black people to look at it, and say is this what you want intend to do to our communities.
‘Do you intend to decriminalize a 30 day supply of drugs in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion. Why is this such a difficult question to answer?’
Amazingly, Khera responds: ‘Mr. Chair, clearly the member does not understand what diversity, inclusion and equity actually means.’
Jivani quickly goes on the offense and quotes an EDI expert who said in a statement that EDI programs had made anti-Semitism worse in the country.
He continues: ‘Who deserves equity and inclusion in your mind?’
She gives a stock response, saying: ‘My goal is to ensure we are creating equal opportunities for every single person in this country.
‘That takes fundamental changes to our institution to do that work, you have to be deliberate about that change.’
Jivani continues to try and interrupt her comments, saying: ‘You can keep trying to filibuster if you like.’
After the chair of the panel interrupts, Jivani is allowed to continue with his questioning.
He adds: ‘So when a university student from our country says that diversity, equity and inclusion is disadvantaging her community, you response to that is “well I’m just going to keep making these blanket fluff statements?”
‘She’s asking you clearly, how do you decide who deserves equity and who deserves inclusion? Why are there Canadians who feel excluded by your DEI framework.’
Clearly rattled, she then repeats a similar statement that she delivered at the start of their exchange, saying: ‘The honorable member does not really understand.
‘He does not understand that there are systems in place, that anti-black racism, systemic racism is a real thing.’
He shared the video of their interaction to his X page, saying: ‘The top DEI official in Canada shows exactly what the DEI industry is all about. Superficial, empty, hollow virtue signaling.’
Since he shared the video he has been inundated with comments from people attacking Khera over her word salad.
One person commented: ‘Well done Jamil, she showed her colors and where she stands in pushing division politics under the guise of compassion.’
Another added: ‘Please tell me when Conservatives take over, all these DEI Ministries and programs will be removed and all those working in them will be fired.’
Changes around drug policy have been rolled out across the country in the last few years, following a rise in opioid deaths since the pandemic.
In 2022, British Columbia passed a law decriminalizing the small-scale possession of certain drugs including cocaine and MDMA until 2025.
They hoped that the policy change would help reduce overdose deaths by easing a fear of arrest by those who need help.