Althe Kabor

I decided to get involved in politics for few reasons. One of them being the fact that, as an immigrant who is living in this country for many years, I felt like my voice was not heard or even sought after, even though I was fully contributing to society. I felt powerless regarding how and when decisions that would directly impact me were being made. A new law would get passed, and suddenly, I was governed under new rules! No one ever reached out to me or the other immigrants close to me, and I had no means either to partake in the conversations. Or so I thought. "Be thankful that you were accepted in Canada and are able to study/work," I would repeat to myself again and again.

As a black woman, there are so many places and so many ways society takes power from you. Add to that living in a different country - one with a white dominated society - as an immigrant, and then you feel very much lost, erased.

I come from a country (Burkina Faso) where, like in many other developing countries, people are basically checked out of politics - for various reasons, but mainly from an entrenched lack of trust in the democratic process (if one can still call it that). Hence, when I moved to another country with a more established democratic process, I still did not wish to touch politics even with a ten-foot pole.

After so many years of living in the shadows and flying based on which wind the political weather was blowing, I decided to get to know more about how decisions were taken and by whom, especially the ones that impacted my daily living and my status as an immigrant in Canada. It felt like learning to advocate for what one needs, getting actively involved in politics, is a necessary tool to have - but also a right that I had living in a democratic space.

I recall applying for an after-degree work permit after graduating with a bachelor and getting refused, because the document I submitted as proof of graduation was deemed "not official." Here I was unable to work and pay my rent, bills and food, and required to go through another process which will require money and time that I would not have! Luckily, an international student advocate on campus reached out to Immigration Canada, and I was called in and issued the work permit as the law allowed me to have since I fulfilled the requirements.

Fast-forward less than a year later, and there was a law or regulation or even a directive (I am not sure) that basically said that educational institutions were no longer allowed to contact Immigration Canada on behalf of international students. My heart sunk! Thinking about all these students that will be left out in the cold with no advocacy whatsoever. And I asked myself, who decides these things and why?

Moving on

Fast-forward a few years later. I am a permanent resident of Canada, and after two years will fulfill all requirements to apply to become a Canadian citizen. But wait - one year in and the law is changed, and now I am required to wait for four years after becoming a permanent resident (excluding any days I travel outside of Canada) before being able to apply to become Canadian. My time spent in Canada studying for a Bachelor and Master would not count at all anymore either. My heart broke! I lived all my adult life here, Edmonton was a home for me I never lived 10 years in the same place before! I love to travel and always aspired to working in developing countries, and now my time would need to only be spent here in Canada, not even visiting my family back in Burkina Faso until I could fulfill my physical presence requirement to apply for a Canadian citizenship. My other option was to drag the process longer, knowing I only had six years to satisfy the requirements anyway. "Who felt like this was a good idea and why?" I asked myself again. This is not right in so many ways. It felt like a betrayal, and it was.

So these days I work as a Legislative Officer for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). I support MLAs that carry my values in their work to serve Albertans, because that is one way to encourage actions you know will bring your interests and the interests of those like you to the forefront. You also learn about how politics works when in the midst of it.

Now, I hope to get out there and inform immigrants and new Canadians, and encourage them to get involved either by supporting their local MLA, talking to that MLA about what concerns you, and getting out to vote when it is the day to do so. That way, your voice is part of the discussion, it is part of the solutions; and you ensure that you, your family and friends are well represented and served in the democratic process. Even better, be that individual that will represent them at the forefront! Be an MLA. Be an MP.

Althe Kabor is a Legislative Services Officer - Caucus Committee Support in Edmonton, AB. Her role is to support to the government MLAs' work in the Legislative Assembly, in Legislative committees and other caucus duties.