Not Only is the Harper Government Attacking Immigrant Groups But They Have Them Under a Gag Order. They are VOLUNTEERS!

When the Harper government decided to follow through on an old Reform policy, to end multiculturalism in Canada, by starving advocacy groups of aid, we were not surprised.

After all, why else would he name Jason Kenney the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. His corporate sponsored Canadian Taxpayers Federation, were always bellowing against giving money to immigrant groups.

But no one expected them to personally attack the volunteers, and place them under a gag order.

Immigrant service agencies were horrified when they got a government email last week banning them from discussing recent federal funding cuts that may kill some of them ... “I was in total shock,” Community Action Resource Centre executive director Marion Newrick said of the ministry order. “They thought they had the right to silence us. We are all community volunteers. CIC doesn’t even cover our time to go to these meetings.” ... The group reluctantly complied. Even so, it was asked to forward the minutes of the meeting to the department the next day.

The Harperites are suggesting it was a mistake, but we all know that it was just another day in Harperland. Using fear to keep us all in line.

Jason Kenney Cuts Funding to Immigrant Support

When Jason Kenney was running the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, he openly fought against any money going to immigration or multiculturalism.

Well, he's finally getting his wish as he pulls the plug on support for newcomers to this country.

Liberal MP Bob Rae called the cuts harsh and draconian. New Democratic MP Olivia Chow agreed, adding that the government has not given enough of an explanation for the budget cuts?

Enough of an explanation? They've given none, announcing it during the holidays, hoping no one would notice. And 80% of those cuts will be in Ontario. (Rob Ford is said to be doing the Chicken Dance he's so excited)

And a letter to the Star, rightfully suggests that: Tory spin doesn’t add up

Ontario is bearing the brunt of cutbacks across Canada, absorbing more than 80 per cent of the funding reductions, while other provinces — notably Alberta, which just happens to have heavy representation on the government benches — will come out ahead. Quebec, too, will largely escape the budget axe. The big losers will be ethnic communities in Toronto that rely heavily on agencies that lay the groundwork for integration and citizenship among newcomers ... Speaking to reporters last week, Kenney got bogged down in gobbledygook, describing a process that rewards agencies most adept at filling out bureaucratic forms rather than those with a human touch and a track record for getting things done.

This is so incredibly frustrating.

Lots of money for fighter jets and prisons though.

Thank you Mr. Galloway. You are Indeed an Inspiration

For all of their attempts to silence this British member of Parliament, George Galloway has been able to speak in the country formerly known as Canada, and as he says "the sky over Canada hasn't fallen in".

He is a brilliant and caring man and his message is revealing. Or at least it should be.

We are in trouble. The rest of the world knows it. Canadians do not.

The theme of my tour, and the question I still can't answer, is why Canada ended up with a government so determined on isolation from the currents abroad? By Stephen Harper's own admission, you are paying a pretty penny. Although he is ready to "pay any price" for this isolation, I'm not sure you are.

Canada's defeat in the recent election to the UN Security Council was due to the country's "unstinting support" for Israel, as he admits. He's picked a fight with Russia, prompting a former Canadian diplomat to describe his government as the "last Cold Warrior standing." There's the rumpus with the United Arab Emirates over something as inconsequential as landing spaces. Rumbling towards
us is a major crisis in Lebanon with Canada's fingerprints all over the casus belli. The head of the inquiry into the assassination of Rafik Hariri and most of the "investigation" muscle is Canadian.

Canada gained much credit, particularly in the Muslim world, for sitting out the Iraq war. But Harper is no Jean Chretien and the goodwill account is now overdrawn. A couple of broken promises later your young men and women, who have already paid a disproportionately high price among NATO occupation countries, are being sent back into the maw of Hamid Karzai's corrupt, incompetent, failing Kabul congestion charge area caliphate, this time as "trainers."

Please tell me that we are going to wake up soon.

George Galloway Throws Down the Gauntlet. Jason Kenney Weeps.

After threatening to sue Jason Kenney for blocking his entrance to Canada last year, George Galloway is challenging the hapless anti-multiculturalist Jason to a debate.

I'm reminded of a comment I heard several years ago. In a battle of wits Jason Kenney would be unarmed.

Although, I suppose there are enough half-wits in his caucus, that he could glue together.

Nah. Still wouldn't work.

British firebrand politician George Galloway donned a pair of red mittens and clenched his fists Sunday, challenging Canada's immigration minister to a high-noon style boxing showdown. Galloway, who said he fought in his youth, wore the mittens as if they were boxing gloves and urged Jason Kenney to "go five rounds with me." "Jason Kenney, you can run, but you can't hide," Galloway said to cheers from boisterous crowd of 500 spectators who packed a Toronto church to hear him speak.

The cheers from the balcony were often so loud they drowned out Galloway's forceful voice. The audience members stood up to give him several standing ovations. Galloway also challenged Kenney to a public debate and said he would be prepared to stand outside the minister's constituency office in Calgary, and follow Kenney across Canada until he gets one.

There is currently a fundraising drive for poor Jason, to purchase a large supply of Depends. That poor boy will pee in his pants. He's all mouth and when challenged his first impulse is to run. Remember when he removed gay rights from our citizenship guide?