They believe that it is safer not to get involved with the government, to let people know they exist, just to stay hidden and to survive, just like they have been doing for generations. They think they will be able to avoid trouble by not declaring themselves to be Rom in public. However, by being recognized as a genuine ethnic minority in Canada, they would be protected against discrimination like other minorities in this multicultural society. Things have changed in Canada since the 1930s and are still changing. They may need self-representation in the future and it will be too late for them to create it when they need it the most.
Nobody can predict political trends anywhere.
First of all, I don't like to use word Gadje because if we, as Roma, are going to say Gadje , we are making a difference between us and them. If Roma want to be accepted as equals, then they have to accept the other people as equal. I prefer to use non-Roma instead of Gadje . Well, this is definitely something that we have to combat. This is stereotyping.