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Monday, November 30, 2009
Elizabeth May: "Are we turning into a police state?”
Reports of the detention of an American journalist trying to cross into Canada for a speaking engagement have prompted outrage within the Green Party of Canada. Amy Goodman was kept at a British Columbia border crossing for over an hour, apparently because officials wanted to be sure she wasn’t coming to Canada to make negative comments about the Olympics.
“Are we turning into a police state?” wondered Green Leader Elizabeth May on hearing the report. "Canada is a free and democratic nation with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms protecting free speech. Why are our border guards being so overzealous concerning what visitors will speak about while they are here?"
"This incident raises concerns about the ongoing erosion of rights that needs to be addressed by the opposition parties," said Jared Giesbrecht, Green Party Justice Critic. "Canadians’ value freedom of speech as a fundamental right. The Canadian Border Services Agency should be monitored by independent oversight mechanisms to ensure Canadian values are fully reflected in its operation."
Ms. Goodman was planning to speak about American health care reform and to promote her new book, Breaking the Sound Barrier. Border guards eventually allowed her into Canada but only with a requirement that she leave within 48 hours.
Posted by Matthew Johnston on November 30, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Jared Giesbrecht says this raises concerns about the on-going erosion of rights that needs to be addressed by the opposition parties, which is rather strange since it should be addressed by all parties. Jared also said that Canadians value freedom of speech as a fundamental right, and I agree. I just wonder if Jared and the Green Party practise the same when people disagree with their ideology.
Posted by: Alain | 2009-11-30 11:23:09 AM
Betsy May, the unpaid agent of the corporations who sold out her party on Kyoto a while back, is just griping. Ignore her.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-11-30 11:42:07 AM
Alain,
Neither the left nor the right really believe in freedom of speech in this country. Each wishes to curtail freedom for their own purposes.
Posted by: Charles | 2009-11-30 11:54:33 AM
Alain, Charles, right on.
I don't know much about Ms. Goodman, but my guess is she is not the champion of free speech she like to think she is. None the less, she should not have been detained.
Posted by: TM | 2009-11-30 2:20:02 PM
Alain,
Thanks for the comment. The Green Party and I are committed to free speech and will continue to speak out to protect it. Free speech must be protected regardless of ideology.
Jared Giesbrecht
Justice Critic, Green Party of Canada
Posted by: Jared Giesbrecht | 2009-11-30 4:18:11 PM
The Green Party is nothing but an adjunct to the Liebral/NDP party. When their leader agreed to take a Liberal offer to run unopposed in an election, she placed them firmly under their wing. This is the same party which exempted Ontario's auto industry from the Kyoto Accord, effectively halving Canada's ability to meet those standards. They apparently saw nothing wrong with isolating Alberta on this matter, undermining their constitutional right to equality in the process. So, whenever a Greenie says they're for freedom, they lie horribly.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-11-30 4:44:35 PM
I didn't notice the colour and good-feelings Party protesting the prevention of Gert Wilders from being allowed to enter and speak in Canada. How about their position on sec. 13 of the CHRA?
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-11-30 5:41:05 PM
Pike, I am suspicious too. I remember that last election.
John, that is an excellent question for Jared.
With no political affiliation I will vote for the party that best stands up for freedom, and property rights. I don't care what color.
Posted by: TM | 2009-11-30 10:51:24 PM
"With no political affiliation I will vote for the party that best stands up for freedom, and property rights. I don't care what color."
Agree, but no party stands for these rights. They all feed us the appropriate bullshit to get elected and then do whatever they want once in power. The spin is everything.
Posted by: peterj | 2009-11-30 11:39:44 PM
peterj, true. maybe that's why I am seriously thinking of NOT voting in the next election.
Posted by: TM | 2009-12-01 9:49:42 AM
Zebulon Pike know not nothing about which he speaks.
If the Green Party was an adjunt to the Liberal Party they would not be running candidates against the Liberals. If the support the Green Party has all went Liberal then the Liberals would be polling arount 35% instead of what they are. Clearly one in ten Canadians see something within the Green Party to make them vote the way they do.
Posted by: N. Burman | 2009-12-01 10:06:50 AM
N Burman
Looking at the Green party it seems to be dominated by the usual foam at the mouth, granola crunching tree huggers who have never had a honest days work in their lives.
They are global warming fanatics and seem to have a strong dislike for any type of industry. In other words....just the type that Al Gore and Suzuki attribute their millions to. Great party to support if you want to move back to the stone age.
Posted by: peterj | 2009-12-01 9:31:05 PM
Peterj
I agree and add that the only useful function of the Green Party is to split up the left (watermelon) vote three ways instead of two. They are therefore the best thing that Harper has going for him. That Elizabeth May was once a Red Tory and now an unintended reverse power-broker without holding a seat must torment her. Eat it raw, Lizzie!
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-12-02 12:04:41 AM
If I vote for the Greens, its like a vote for the Elephant Party. A protest vote. Where is the "none of the above" check box?
Posted by: Steve Bottrell | 2009-12-02 7:54:51 PM
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