Toronto becomes third city to condemn Maclean's "Too Asian" article

Toronto city council has passed a motion calling on Maclean’s magazine to apologize for its “Too Asian?” article, becoming the third Canadian municipality to wade in on the story.

Vancouver city council passed a similar motion earlier this week, while Victoria was the first city to condemn the piece, resolving to write a letter to Maclean’s expressing concern over the title of the article.

The Toronto motion, introduced by councillors Mike Layton and Kristyn Wong-Tam and passed by a vote of 27-14 Thursday evening, called on the city to “request that Maclean’s apologize unreservedly for the negative stereotyping of the Asian-Canadian community”.

The Chinese Canadian National Council, which has called the article offensive and “full of stereotypes”, commended the action.

“We appreciate this boost of support from Toronto City Council in our national campaign to hold Maclean’s to account,” said Victor Wong, the executive director of the CCNC, in a news release Thursday.

Since the article ran on November 10, the magazine published a commentary defending the piece.

The statement read: “Although the phrase “Too Asian?” was a question and, again, a quotation from an authoritative source, it upset many people. We expected that it would be provocative, but we did not intend to cause offence.”

Comments

25 Comments

GOT

Dec 17, 2010 at 11:36am

Perhaps we could now hear from citizens' councils of the many cities in Canada that don't have a large Asian-Canadian population? Better yet, seeing as how Maclean's is a national magazine, perhaps they could run a poll on their website to see how many Canadians think an apology is required. By the way, those 'stereotypes' weren't just about Asians. I took great offense to the portrayal of white students as the piss-it-up-party-'til-you-puke crowd. I hardly EVER puked! But the ridiculous reaction to this article is getting me pretty close...I mean, c'mon people! Lighten UP! Or at least pass the Gravol.

Bruno15

Dec 17, 2010 at 5:16pm

One need not do any research to find out where there are significant concentrations of Asian Canadians in Canada. One need just find out which city councils have condemned the MacLean's article.

This doesn't mean that councils outside of these condemning city's are racist, but only means that they don't have any significant amount of ethnic Asian voters to pander to.

Weak.

fratboy

Dec 17, 2010 at 6:54pm

What if the article was called "Too Jewish" or "Too Black" or "Too White"? Now do you see why its offensive to Asians?

Bamboocanuck

Dec 17, 2010 at 9:05pm

@GOT I would love to "lighten up", but for some reason I remain incontrovertibly yellow.

GOT

Dec 18, 2010 at 1:48am

@bamboocanuck.Good shot! I've often considered, within the context of being 'too white', how could I be less white? You know what? My families met on the prairies, and I'm glad to consider myself within the metis nation. I'm not 'white'. I'm Canadian.

Taxpayers R Us

Dec 18, 2010 at 1:54am

I sincerely hope that Maclean's stands by the article. There should be nothing wrong with a publication discussing a matter such as this.

Disappointing, though, to see how transparent and spineless our politicians continue to be.

Ken Lawson

Dec 18, 2010 at 2:35am

Do not listen to Victor Wong he is a party of one. The fact remains that there are far to many Foreign Students in Canada from Hong Kong and China period, When many of our own Asian and Caucasian students cannot get in. Im a biracially married Canadian that agrees with MacLeans. The real problem we have Minister James Moore, a senator Vivian Poy in a place that should be abolished, Poy never gets her facts straight at the best of times. and how many of you know how Vivian Poy got into Canada in the first place.

Dugy Stiel

Dec 18, 2010 at 11:17am

Concentrated of Asians can be found on the city' motions? Victoria is hardly an Asian concentrated city.

Too many foreign students from Hong Kong and China? That's because firstly, they have enough academic achievements to pass the entrance requirements, while many of the locals do not. I'm sure they would not be allowed if they don't. Secondly, the paid the full academic fees, and such, not subsidized by our government. Thirdly, having foreign students in student population and academic environment enrich the academic community by ways of cultural exchange and cross cultural understanding, so institutions see it as a positive program.

I see, so you are not a racist, but you are just a "nationalist".

Ken Lawson

Dec 18, 2010 at 1:43pm

I would say Senator Vivian Poy is not worthy of being in the Senate and James Moore is not MP or Minister that Im a fan of, due to his bad attitude before and during the winter olympics. But that is for residents of riding to decide but should not be a Minister. Conservative - Reformer, Now you ask what is a Conservative - Reformer, A Conservative - Reformer is a Reform member who did not join the Conservative Party of Canada because of their total dislike for the Progressives of Mulroney being in the Party, but there are thousands and thousands in BC whom have not decided where to place their hat. I would like to Reform members in our City Halls of BC, not just at the Provincial or Federal level.

Ken Lawson

Dec 18, 2010 at 2:18pm

Look who is speaking:
CNNC (no members) organization with one member Victor Wong former Vancouver resident and a career with Stats Canada.
Mike Layton son of Oliva Chow and Jack Layton, what choice did he have Oliva would spank him if he did not speak in her favour.
Who the hell is Kristy Wong - Tam
What is needed on our Council (Vancouver) is a member of the Indo Canadian community 2nd largest,and the third largest visible minority the Filipino to replace the current Chinese that do not put Canada first. This would clearly show the diversity of the city.