That 20 per cent of Canadian children live in poverty is a scandal. The plight of aboriginal people is a national disgrace. While it's no secret that Mount Royal's Jewish community has come out strongly in favour of Cotler, he takes pride in the fact that leaders from the riding's black community and other communities have also endorsed him. We have to get away from a tribal approach to politics, this notion that only blacks can speak out on behalf of blacks, or only aboriginal leaders can speak out on behalf of aboriginals. Cotler is anxious, for instance, to broadcast the results of a recent study of black Canadians conducted by the School of Social Work.
Black males have higher rates of employment and lower rates of being on welfare than white males.
We have to challenge stereotypes. He saw it as the expression of democracy in this country. As a child, I remember him taking me to Parliament and talking about the place with a certain awe. Politicians are crooks,' he says. He says I have a great reputation as a human rights lawyer.