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Posted by Kate Butler Feb 7, 2007 |
Before Hérouxville, Quebec, Canada decided to impose a set of standards for newcomers, it is likely that most Quebecers, let alone Canadians or North Americans, had never heard of this place. Now, thanks to incredible media interest and attention, Hérouxville is the center of a veritable controversy.
Hérouxville has only one immigrant family, and yet decided to draft a set of standards warning potential newcomers about what to expect in this town, in regards to social and cultural norms. The town council says that they enacted this code because they want to attract foreigners, but want them to be able to integrate socially.
As pointed out by advocacy groups, certain politicians, and many members of the general public, this list of so-called norms is extremely problematic. Much of what is in the standards is seen as patronizing at best and offensive at worst. The town decree is seen as exemplifying the long-ranging debate about immigrants in our society by many commentators.
However, it seems absurd to use this tiny Quebec town as a microcosm of what is going on throughout the rest of the continent. Mainstream media attention to the situation in Hérouxville has caused this little debacle to be blown out of proportion. This is a town that has a total population of 1300 people, and is unlikely to start having a large immigrant population any time soon. The mainstream media has given the situation in Hérouxville incredible coverage because of the rather ridiculous nature of the town council proposal, and the ensuing debate. If media outlets across North America were to give this archaic document little notice, there is no doubt that it would fade away, and the residents of Hérouxville might get the chance to actually realize what a silly and useless set of standards they have enacted.