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March 20, 2009

George Galloway won’t be coming to Canada

Infamous British MP George Galloway will not be coming to Canada this month as the bureaucrats at Citizenship and Immigration Canada have decided that Galloway is inadmissible to Canada. It is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration’s prerogative to grant an exception, but Minister Kenney has chosen not to do so.

Galloway has a history of being a supporter of organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas and has spoken warmly about Saddam Hussein.

The department of Public Safety lists Hezbollah and Hamas as banned terrorist groups in Canada.

Here is a video of Galloway speaking in support of Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah at a protest in London in 2006,

Galloway tells the crowd,

“I am here to glorify the Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah. I am here to glorify the leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.” — George Galloway

Regarding Hamas, Galloway told IslamOnline.net about why he was visiting Gaza,

“My visit has more than one reason. The first one is to walk a step toward lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip.

The second is to tell the whole free world that they can do anything real to you.

The third and the main one is to stand beside the legal Palestinian prime minister, [Hamas leader] Ismail Haniya. The entire world knows that he was elected, apparently, democratically. I have offered him corporeal and financial support.” — George Galloway

Galloway has also offered friendship and comfort to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein,

The NDP, showing that its still not ready for prime time, published a news release on this via their immigration critic Olivia Chow,

OTTAWA – Canadians interested in hearing international experts deliver anti-war messages will now have to leave the country to do so. British MP George Galloway, who was schedule to talk on resisting the war in Afghanistan, was banned by Harper’s government from entering Canada.

“Harper’s Conservatives are wrong to bar MP George Galloway,” said New Democrat Immigration Critic Olivia Chow. “The Minister of Immigration is becoming the ‘Minister of Censorship’. This bunker mentality indicates a government afraid of hearing contradictory points of view.”

…

The last time I remember Chow defending the indefensible was when US domestic terrorist Bill Ayers was denied entry into Canada.

Canadians seeking “anti war” messages could visit the following countries,

England:

Sweden:

The United States (Ft. Lauderdale, FL):

France:

Iran:

Canada:

This entry was authored by Stephen Taylor at 03:02 PM | Tweet this | Add a comment
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  • Don't try to derail the main issue, which is the Middle East Conflict, by changing the focus to George Galloway. He is just a messanger. The message should be debatet, not the messanger.

    I suggest you focus on International Law and what it says in relation to continuous, criminal policies and actions of the terrorist, apartheid-style state of Israel. Stealing, killing, and lying will not pay - the whole civilized world can see it and is not buying the BS propaganda and Israel's hypocrisy anymore.
  • Ruth
    The root cause of much of this is economic deprivation, a system that fails to empower women, and right wing fundamentalism on ALL sides. Building walls and gagging people serves no one and nothing.
  • batb
    1luvRubyDhalla: "It's a dangerous precedent barring people for simply having an alternative view on foreign policy."

    EXCUSE ME? Can you read? Can you process what you read? Or, do you only read what you want to read?

    George Galloway is NOT being barred from Canada "for simply having an alternative view on foreign policy."

    He has raised funds for both Hamas and Hezbollah, both terrorist organizations which have been outlawed in Canada. Outlawed. Understand? What is the point in groups being outlawed if they can continue to have funds for their nefarious objectives raised in Canada and are allowed to have activists like Galloway aid and abet their terrorist agendas on Canadian soil? Why should Canadians have to pay police to monitor whether or not Galloway breaks our laws or not?

    It's about time that law and order in Canada prevail. It seems that the only "rights" being defended these days are those of ne'er do wells like Galloway's and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, who push their terrorist agendas. This is NOT a free speech issue. George Galloway is a Brit who has absolutely no right to either enter Canada or speak his mind here. He has been denied entry into our country because he has supported and raised funds for outlawed terrorist organizations.

    Saying that the CPC government won't allow him into Canada because they have "an alternative view on foreign policy" is patently false, as is the charge that he's not welcome because he disagrees with the war in Afghanistan. These are straw men continually constructed by our media so they can be knocked down. He's not being allowed to speak in Canada because he is considered a security risk, and I am grateful that my government is taking Canadians' safety and security seriously. I pay taxes here. George Galloway doesn't.
  • Trim
    Galloway is a great man The allegations against him are false, any one who does not support the terrorism and crimes of Israel receives this kind of treatment by certain groups. He was able to defend himself in American congress with courage. Those who are afraid of him are afraid of truth and they can not suppress the truth. It is undemocratic to deny entry to someone who did not have any problem entering US . I thought that US officials are reasonable and democratic enough not to deny him entry . It is just a vocal minority of certain ethnic and religious groups that protest his truth .I want to give message to Mr. Galloway that it is not the majority of Canadians who are responsible for insulting him and the govt does not represent the majority in this case.
  • Omanator
    I suggest you educate yourself about Mr. Galloways actions. They speak louder than words.
  • east of eden
    The guy is a venemous gasbag. I am so sick of loudmouthed, vitriolic gasbags. We barred him and now he wants to take Canada to court. Sheesh.
  • Pat
    The only people that support his entry are the ones that would be thrilled if there were riots by the "Religion of Peacers" that followed his speeches. The guy is a walking riot starter. Freedom of speech does not allow for yelling fire in a theatre or starting riots and Car-B-Q's in Ontario.

    He has Zero rights to come in, it's totally a privilege.
  • 1luvRubyDhalla
    It's a dangerous precedent barring people for simply having an alternative view on foreign policy.

    As far as I know, Mr Galloway was never convicted of a criminal offense. There has to be defined rules for inadmissibility, not putting it in charge incompetent public servants who have a grudge.

    Whether or not you agree with Mr Galloway isn't the point. This is an attack on our freedom of speech
  • Omanator
    I appears to me that you are just as dumb as Ruby. She repeated verbatim everything that Chretien said.
    We are talking about fundraising for Hamas not just speaking.
  • Jen
    CHRISTIANITY AND DEMOCRACY will be brought to its knees when the opposition parties take over this country. Terrorist groups will run this land through the liberals ndp and bloc. Why do you think none of the opposition partes ever bothered to instantly rise to vote for the ANTI-TERRORIST ACT BILL.?

    Galloway knows that the CONSERVATIVE PARTY are hated by the MSM he knows that the opposition parties supports him rather than you from him.

    Apparently beheading an innocent is not worth the MSM attention nor the world's fury yet when one touches the hair of a terrorist, the MSM and the world reacts.
  • Jamie
    HAHA this is hilarious
  • Thanks to Ezra Levant's article I found your site. We have been much too politically correct in Canada. Hearing dissenting views is fine from Canadians who do not aid nor abet terrorists. Hearing such ignorant nonsense from outsiders is not exactly an enrichment to the life of Canada. When "politically correct" organizations won't even allow a former Israeli PM to speak, this is a mild action by our government.
  • batb
    What's happening? Twice in the past two days, when I've clicked on "Comments" on this thread, my connection has been shut down. Hmmm ... 'Doesn't happen with the other threads or on the other blogs I frequent.

    What's happened to Galloway's threat to sue the Canadian government?
  • Trenchant Commentator
    The issue is not really about barring Galloway from entry into Canada for what he has said before or what he might say while he is in the country. Galloway's intention was to speak at an event in order to raise funds for HAMAS. Tghe latter is considered a terrorist group/org in Canada, and supporting or fundraising on behalf of HAMAS is illegal. Galloway was denied entry because his intentions in coming to Canada were criminal i.e. against Canadian law.
  • the turtle
    Can anyone imagine what it would have cost the taxpayer (me) in extra police security, etc., if this clown was allowed to come here and put on his show? If an invited foreign head of state visits or something like that, or even if CANADIANS here decide to peacefully demonstrate about something, I think we can justify the costs of security measures.

    But why should I have to pay for security if this foreign guy's circus to come to town? Even ignoring the risk of someone getting hurt in/by the associated demonstrations, etc., that were sure to happen, the right call was made to avoid the costs and headaches of managing the logistics of it all.
  • Ian
    The only reason the taxpayer would cover his security is if he were at a government invitation. Instead it would be up to his sponsors here to cover his security. Did the Canadian government pay for the Hussein supporting (though the 80s) and war criminal George W. Bush to come to Calgary?

    If you support Bush being here you should support Galloway. At least by banning Galloway you gave him SO much more of a voice than if he'd been ignored entirely by the media.
  • Co-bra
    stupid canadians ,do not see you guys your people dying every day in afganistan for who ?for so called democracy ....nice joke.George is great person and I admire him so much
  • Beer and Popcorn
    My Canada excludes Hamas, terrorist organizations and thankfully, George Galloway
  • Colin Smith
    Taylor's interest in free speech is confined to "free speech for those who agree with me".Voltaire said "I disagree with what you say, but I'll fight til death for your right to say it". THAT is true democracy. But then I look at Taylor's origins, Preston Manning, and i wonder why I bother. The right is as hostile to democracy as ever.
  • Laura
    It is the LEFT which is hostile to democracy as we can see by their support of islamic jihadists.
  • east of eden
    You know, if the Islamists ever took over Canada, the first people to go would be the left-wingers. These misguided fools seem to forget that Islamists are VERY focused on their mission from GOD. Lefties seem to be anit-God and great supporters of all that Islamists deem to be replusive and unholy. What a bunch of maroons. Guys like myself will be safe - as a devout Christian man who follows Christ, I'll be okay. Muslims, after all, revere Christ as a great prophet. The joke will be on the left-wing, let me tell you.
  • Hi Colin. I support free speech. However, I do not support fundraisers done for Hamas on Canadian soil (or anywhere else for that matter).
  • z
    Hamas is democratically elected. You tool.
  • Maria
    So was Hitler.
  • east of eden
    Good point. Really, really, really good point. Thank you for that.
  • ken
    I don't much care for nuts from either edge of the political snack-tray, but I don't think there was much to be gained from banning Galloway from Canada. Sunlight is usually a disinfectant.

    The word "terrorist" has been used so recklessly in the last several years that it's been pretty much devalued, even in the mouth of the Canadian bureaucracy.
  • Galloway is one of the most rational and intelligent politicians around. I admire his courage for standing up and fighting the "Fox News" Propaganda, the corruption and the bias perspectives that exist in our society. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs a reality check. He knew from day 1 the war in Iraq was based on a pack of lies, and his predictions where 100% correct. I hope George gets to put Minister Kenney in his place, that minister is just another fool who needs to stop watching fox news.
  • George Galloway supports Hamas. You support George Galloway. I'll see your Fox News allgation and raise you some Hamas propaganda.

    http://www.pmw.org.il/tv%20part1.html

    Is this what you really support?
  • MWalsh
    Broken link, Stephen....might want to repost it
  • Here it is: http://tinyurl.com/ccbdyl original link had a space in the URL... how odd
  • ken
    Here in North America, it's ALL propaganda on the topic of Israel/Palestine, Stephen. You know that as well as anyone.

    Maybe if the west gave to Israel and Palestine equally, Hamas wouldn't have to fund-raise.
  • east of eden
    Robert Mugabe was also elected and he is responsible for the ruination of an entire country, the murder of thousands of people, and the destruction of natural wildlife. Does this mean that we should welcome him here? As far as the legality goes - to heck with that. Galloway is a trouble-maker who, for some reason, is working against the country which pays his salary and supports his lifestyle. I challenge him to go live under Hamas. I'd like to see how long he lasts.
  • So you're saying we'd save Hamas the trouble of putting time into fundraising so they could focus on their other priorities?
  • ken
    Hamas was elected. This simple fact speaks volumes about the complexity of the Israel/Palestine conflict. You have to conclude from this that either the majority of Palestinians support terrorists, or Hamas represented the best of a bad set of options.

    Assuming you concluded the latter, then you have to consider just how rotten it must be to be a Palestinian, that Hamas was the better choice than Fatah.

    If the west was more supportive of Fatah, do you think Palestinians would have elected Hamas?

    To get back to the point - I happen to think "Hamas bad" too, but it's such a complex and volatile issue that you can't simply just stick your head in the sand and block out dissenting opinions, let alone celebrate such decisions.
  • Brian Otto
    George Galloway is a sitting British MP. Hamas is a democratically elected government, regardless of what the Conservatives in Washington and Ottawa want to label them. There is no legal reason to bar him from entry to our country other than to limit his ability to speak his opinion - and that of many others, including many Israelis - about a serious and important political reality. One more shame for they Tories in limiting free speech.
  • Omanator
    Sorry it's not as simple as that. Hate mongering is a federal offence. The British have more trouble than they can handle, why should Canada follow that example?
  • The Toronto speaking engagement was to involve a Hamas fundraiser.
  • Anne in sw ON
    I believe the government would be more than willing to allow George Galloway all the freedoms guaranteed to a Canadian citizen, including freedom of speech, if he WERE a Canadian citizen. He is not.
  • Rockford
    Isn't it odd how conservatives (big-C and small-c) are always talking about defending our freedoms, including freedom of speech, yet they're always happy to prevent anybody whose views they disagree with from speaking.
    Conservatives claim to be opposed to state interference, yet they applaud state interfere when it comes down on others.
    Ulli Diemer's recent article "Free speech - as long as it doesn't offend anyone"
    http://www.diemer.ca/Docs/Diemer-FreeSpeech.htm does a good job of skewering this kind of hypocrisy.
  • Wayne O.
    Rockford --- YOU JUST DON'T GET IT DO YOU! The guy is a terrorist supporter (nothing to do with Free speech whatsoever!) & I as do most other Canadians do not want him in Canada! As a supporter of terroriists he himself is essentially considered a terrorist - in times past he would have been prosecuted for treason and likely hanged - something that should be brought back for these goofballs and goons! This is just one person's opinion but I think it hits the mainstream of Canadians who have any thought about preserving peace and sanity for Canada.
    Thanks to Jason Kenney for protecting Canada and Canadians from these idiots who have no rights in Canada. The only thing have coming from outside Canada are those privileges that they may have granted to them by the Canadian government.
  • Maria
    Rockford - it was not a matter of "freedom of speech" that mattered most. It was the fact that this nutcake has contributed large sums of money to terrorist organizations banned by our government. Furthermore, by criticizing our efforts in Afghanistan, he is insulting our soldiers who are sacrificing their lives for the betterment of a downtrodden people.
    Whether you are a Conservative or not, I would have thought that what Galloway stands for would be crystal clear to everyone. He is a blatant supporter of a terrorist organizations and the Immigration Dept has been deligent in their duty in not granting him entry. I hope they will always be so in all and every case henceforth.
  • Omanator
    I am appalled to see how these people subvert our freedom. I wonder when we will reach the point that no
    more people from the Middle East are admitted to the country. When this day comes, they have only themsel ves to blame. I am glad that this idiot hatemonger from England has been refused entry.
    As far as Olivia Chow is concerened we know at what corner she is standing.
  • Ronald
    This is not even worth a mention. Good choice by the government.
    Stay home Galloway - wherever that might be.
  • batb
    OMG. Olivia Chow is dumber than a bag of hammers. AND, lucky me, she's my MP :-( As you point out, Stephen, these nutters have ample opportunity here in the West to browbeat the rest of us using our freedom of expression Charter rights and other democratic rights, which they take gross advantage of.

    George Galloway has no inherent right to enter Canada to spew his subversive and dangerous brand of propaganda on behalf of terrorist groups outlawed in Canada. I'm delighted that Jason Kenney and the CPC government are insisting on safety and sanity for Canadians. We don't need a swaggering, bullying, British leftie nutbar stoking the fires of subversion here in Canada. We have enough of our own moonbat nutbars -- including Jack Laydown and Olivia -- who definitely don't need any more encouragement.

    Way to go, Jason Kenney! Keep it up!
  • Switchyard O'Taylor
    I'd rather see him here to embarrass himself. It's strange that he wasn't vocal about assuring Geert Wilders barred entry into England last year.

    2 despicable people, 1 double standard
  • Right from the left coast
    looking at the comments on the original British site, it appears to me that the Brits don't want him either.
  • Omanator
    Right on. I think we have enough hatemongers in Canada who are Canadian Citizen, we surely don't need to import more from the outside.
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Stephen Taylor - email@stephentaylor.ca
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.