“Canada must be progressive and Canada must be a just society.”

These were the words of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau after passing Canada’s multiculturalism act, in a clip featured on tonight’s episode of TVO’s Political Blind Date, a show where opposing politicians are paired on a “date” to discuss some of the country’s most contentious issues.

Thursday’s episode will feature NDP MP Jenny Kwan and Liberal MP Gary Anandasangaree discussing the government’s progress on multiculturalism and the treatment of newcomers to Canada since Trudeau’s policy.

Both Kwan and Anandasangaree have personal attachments to the issue. Kwan immigrated to Canada from China with her family at the age of 9. She watched her newcomer parents struggle to support their family facing discrimination in the Canadian workforce.

“We were brought into this country as cheap labour, let’s be clear about that,” said Kwan, who represents the Vancouver East or “East Van” as she puts it. Kwan doesn’t believe the government delivers on their promise of multiculturalism and said immigrants and refugees still face systemic discrimination.

Anandasangaree, who arrived as a Tamil refugee fleeing persecution in his native Sri Lanka and now represents the riding of Scarborough-Rouge Park, doesn’t disagree on the issue of multiculturalism — but he doesn’t agree with Kwan’s critiques of the system either.

What do you think?

“Canada is a place of safety,” said Anandasangaree, who believes the Liberal government is moving in the right direction to take care of everyone in Canada.

Kwan and Anadasangaree have worked together, both serving three years on the Immigration Committee. It’s apparent they aren’t afraid to get into the gritty details of the issue with each other as soon as they meet.

“Oh Gary, come on,” Kawn responds to Anandasangaree when he argues the ability of choice between refugees and immigrants.

Anandasangaree shows Kwan the results of government policies at a Scarborough community health centre dedicated to helping newcomers who face barriers to health care. Kwan introduces Anandasangaree to foreign workers who have been separated from their families because of a backlog in the government’s permanent residency applications.

Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Multiculturalism, talks with his date, Jenny Kwan, NDP MP and Critic on Immigration, Labour and Multiculturalism, about whether Canada should treat the United States as a non-safe third country in terms of refugees crossing the border .

Will the two politicians, through sharing their own personal experiences and those of their constituents, find some common ground?

Find out on Thursday’s episode which airs at 9 p.m. on TVO.

The Toronto Star is the series media partner and is providing an exclusive peek at two bonus scenes from tonight’s show. The second season features politicians from across Canada who explore issues that may play key roles in this year’s federal election.

Political Blind Date episodes

The six-part series airs Thursdays on TVO at 9 p.m. and on tvo.org. See thestar.com for weekly pre- and post-show coverage.

Feb. 14 — Guns in Canada

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Marco Mendicino, Liberal MP and former Crown prosecutor from Toronto, squares off with Glen Motz, Conservative MP and former police inspector from Medicine Hat, Alta.

Feb. 21 — The urban-rural divide

Bonnie Crombie, mayor of Mississauga and former Liberal MP, sets out with Andrew Scheer, Conservative party leader, from Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.

Feb. 28 — Taxes

Lisa Raitt, Conservative MP and deputy party leader, Milton, and Wayne Easter, Liberal MP and chair of the Finance Committee, from Malpeque, P.E.I.

Mar. 7 — Improving Indigenous communities

Romeo Saganash, a Cree NDP MP from Abitibi-James Bay-Nunavik-Eeyou (Quebec) and Don Rusnak, an Ojibway Liberal MP from Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Ont.

Mar. 14 — Opportunities for newcomers

Jenny Kwan, NDP MP, Vancouver East (and immigrant to Canada at the age of 9), and Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal MP, Scarborough-Rouge Park.

Mar. 21 — Asylum seekers

Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative MP from Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, Quebec, and Rob Oliphant, Liberal MP and chair of the Immigration Committee, from Don Valley West.

Political Blind Date is produced by Open Door Co., Nomad Films and TVO, which airs the show Thursdays at 9 p.m. and on tvo.org. The Toronto Star is the series media partner.

Read more:

The flattery was flowing on MPP Arthur Potts’ ‘blind date’ with MP Shannon Stubbs

MP Marco Mendicino and MP Glen Motz take a shot at gun regulations on their ‘blind date’

On their ‘blind date’, a New Democrat and a Liberal discuss reconciliation: ‘What are you doing about it?’

Premila D’Sa is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @premila_dsa

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