Silly ban on British MPPlumb foolish. That's how Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government looks, declaring gadfly British MP George Galloway inadmissible to Canada.
Galloway was about to kick off a Canada-U.S. speaking tour but was denied entry by immigration officials as a security threat. The radical, anti-war, Taliban-friendly MP has cheerfully delivered humanitarian aid to the Hamas regime in Gaza, which might be a problem here, because it is classified as a terrorist group. Yet he has no criminal record and has broken no laws here.
He may be an affront to Conservatives and others, but that doesn't mean he poses a threat to Canada. He should be granted entry to speak whatever sense, or nonsense, he wants.
We aren't afraid of free speech in this country. U.S. authorities haven't denied him entry there. In recent years, the Canadian government has blocked the likes of Bill Ayers, an American Vietnam-era radical, and American anti-war activists Medea Benjamin and Ann Wright. The Harper Conservatives make us all look like country bumpkins. People who don't share their views aren't all hideous threats to the nation.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/605917Banning British MP a clumsy, dangerous moveJason Kenney has gone over the edge. The increasingly erratic immigration minister made headlines last week when, in a fit of pique, he cut off funding to an Arab organization that helps newcomers learn English. Now, Kenney has banned British MP George Galloway from entering Canada, on the spurious grounds that he supports Middle East terrorism.
It's a clumsy move, designed presumably to bolster the Conservative government's support among voters who ardently back Israel.
But in a roundabout way it does illustrate how absurdly broad Canada's new anti-terror laws are and how dangerous they can be in the wrong hands.
Galloway's apparent crime was to deliver humanitarian aid last week to Gaza's Hamas government, which Canada deems a terrorist organization. But the 54-year-old Scottish MP's real sin was that he couldn't resist rubbing it in. Others have taken aid into Hamas-controlled Gaza, including a delegation of Canadians and Americans who crossed into the Palestinian territory on March 8.
more:
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/606073Not-so-free speechLAURA KAMINKER
March 21, 2009
Mississauga -- Does anyone really think that British MP George Galloway is a threat to Canada's security? It's obvious that Mr. Galloway is being refused entry into Canada because he is critical of Canadian foreign policy under the Harper government.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has described himself in recent interviews as a defender of free speech. If that is true, he should immediately rescind the ill-advised, politically motivated decision to bar Mr. Galloway from Canada.
If George W. Bush, a war maker, can come to Canada, surely a peace activist can, too.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090321.COLETTS21-2/TPStory/CommentNot-so-free speechREG WHITAKER
March 21, 2009
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney wants to return Canada to the days of the Cold War. The last time a British MP was barred from visiting Canada because of their political views was in the 1950s, when "communist sympathies" were cited (Canada Bans Outspoken British MP - online, March 20). Today, George Galloway is accused of sympathizing with the Taliban and offering support to Hamas.
This decision was taken on the same day that U.S. President Barack Obama extended the hand of friendship to Iran via a video message. Should Mr. Obama ever seek to revisit Canada in the future, Mr. Kenney will no doubt be quick to step in and bar him. After all, the Harper government has denounced Iran for supporting Hezbollah and Hamas, so anyone offering friendship to a terrorist-supporting regime must represent a security risk to Canada.
distinguished research professor emeritus, York University,
adjunct professor of political science,University of Victoria
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090321.COLETTS21-1/TPStory/CommentCanada should let British MP speakBy Lorne Gunter, The Edmonton JournalMarch 22, 2009 3:02 AM
I don't like George Galloway. I don't like his politics. His tactics are too showy and deliberately designed to provoke authorities and offend ordinary people whose views are opposed to his own. He gives aid and comfort to terrorists and is not shy about supporting their causes.
Still, I would not bar him from Canada for a speaking tour he has planned later this month.
Galloway is an elected British MP. That doesn't excuse him if his purpose is to break Canada's anti-terror laws. But until he has broken them, until he has stood on a podium in this country and asked, directly, for donations to Hamas or Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad, we have no reason to bar him from entering the country.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Canada+should+British+speak/1415830/story.html
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