When guilt by association wasn’t the Canadian way

[CHIMO]

Canadians have gained a reputation as a fair-minded people. There have been exceptions through our history, but, by and large, we have been seen as a moderate and tolerant country.

We didn’t do guilt by association, for example. But that’s what so distressing about the character of today’s Conservatives. They revel in it. The most recent manifestation is the cancellation of a speech by the head of the Canadian Islamic Congress at the National Defence Headquarters. Many years ago, a former director of the group made some remarks – vile remarks – about Israelis over the age of 18 being legitimate targets for suicide bombers.

By all accounts, new director Imam Zijad Delic repudiates that extremism. By all accounts, he is trying to bridge the divide. But the Conservatives tar him with the same brush and won’t allow him to give a speech at the National Defence Headquarters. Imagine the harm it would have done!

There are countless examples of the intolerant streak that marks this government. Canada opposed the Iraq war, yet we won’t allow a haven to Americans who opposed fighting in that war, as we did with Vietnam. We’re probably the only G20 country that tried to bar George Galloway, at the time a British MP, from coming to speak. Minister of State Diane Ablonczy was stripped of some of her responsibilities for her support of Gay Pride week. Those criticizing aspects of our Afghanistan policy are berated for not supporting our troops. If a bank executive like Ed Clark criticizes government economic policy, he’s pilloried for supposedly being motivated by politics rather than economic expertise.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lawrence-martin/when-guilt-by-association-wasnt-the-canadian-way/article1750751/

Looks like time for the long knives to come out.

[Lucy Goosey]

1. Harpercons' intolerance = unCanadian

You know, I kind of like that as something to drill the Cons with next election. 'UnAmerican' gets thrown around all the time south of the border, after all. And Harper is intolerant and hates social programs, when tolerance and Medicare are two things that form part of the Canadian identity for most people. Also, he should be tagged with the label 'teabagger'. Just because.