Galloway Remains Barred From Canada – sort of
| 3/30/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News, Canadian Politics |
A federal judge today denied the group representing George Galloway an injunction to allow him into Canada. Galloway, a British MP who is the sole MP for the Respect party (which he founded), was denied entry to Canada by the Canadian Border Service. He was to be in the country on an anti-war speaking tour.
The judge ruled:
“The admission of a foreign national to this country is a privilege determined by statute, regulation or otherwise, and not a matter of right,” Martineau wrote in his ruling. “In this respect Parliament has expressly given the CBSA officers legal authority to exclusively determine whether a foreign national who seeks to enter this country is admissible”
The group, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, argued that Galloway’s exclusion was as the result of political interference and was an issue of free speech. The judge didn’t completely rule out the political interference by declined to directly express an opinion. A judicial review of the decision will take place.
I tend to think the judge has reached a correct conclusion legally but in many ways it was pointless. Even though Galloway can’t cross the border and physically attend these speaking engagements, he can do so by video link. The only thing that wouldn’t be present would be his ability to shake hands… big deal.
So, what has the government gained by this… sweet b** all.
Instead of this guy entering Canada, making his remarks to a relatively small group and leaving in relative obscurity, the government has provided him plenty of a stage that raised his profile and curiousity of others. What a gift to the git.
The issue here isn’t free speech, Galloway has no right to free speech in Canada, he could have had the privilege of entering this country and enjoying free speech. He has been denied access under Canadian law. That is law that has been defined under the Conservatives who have chosen to align this country solidly with the Israeli’s.
Prior to the Harper government, the government of Canada maintained a neutral stance in the Middle East. That was a stance that allowed this country the ability to challenge inappropriate behaviour on either side of the conflict. The fact is, there is inappropriate behaviour on both sides. Harper has positioned this government and our current laws to only challenge the Palestinians. That’s wrong and that’s the issue.
Canada needs to return to the middle ground.
Follow Me!