Tomorrow evening at 6:30 Stephen Harper is holding an event at 655 Dixon Road in Toronto. The event planners are looking for “representation from the Arab community” in “ethnic costume” to sit in the front row — “great photo op.”

The invitation was passed along to members of the Colour of Poverty community network this morning. Ironically it was received by an Arab organization that was defunded by the Harper Conservatives. Now they’d like them to dress up for the leader.

(The Colour of Poverty network is behind the video released yesterday, and decry how immigrants have been turned into “ethnics” and “very ethnics.” They rightly view themselves as Canadians, more than a vote or a photo-op, and with pressing concerns that need substantive response.)

Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:26:47 -0400
Subject: Opportunity – Thursday night with the Prime Minister
From: [email protected]
To:

Hello,

On Thursday night, the Prime Minister will be in Etobicoke for a big
rally.

Here is the link for the event

http://www.conservativeevent.ca/toronto

We, at the Etobicoke Centre riding, are trying to create a photo-op
about
all the multicultural groups that support Ted Opitz our local
Conservative
candidate and the Prime Minister. The opportunity is to have up to 20
people in national folklore costumes which represent their ethnic
backgrounds. These people will sit in front row behind the PM – great
TV
photo op.

We are seeking representation from the Arab community. Do you have any
cultural groups that would like to participate by having someone at the
event in an ethnic costume? We are seeking one or two people from your
community. Please let me know by Wednesday afternoon – 5:00 pm at the
latest.

I apologize for the short notice.

Thanks again for your help!

Zeljko ‘Zed’ Zidaric
Ted Opitz Campaign Team
416.577.4000

This post first appeared on Making It Count.

Armine Yalnizyan

Economist Armine Yalnizyan is the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers.