Kenney has no regrets over cutting off Arab group
Minister says officials from federation show support for terror groups Hamas, Hezbollah
Comments on this story :(28)
Tanya Talaga
Queen's Park Bureau
The Toronto Star
Mar 19, 2009 04:30 AM
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made no apologies yesterday for ending the flow of funds to the Canadian Arab Federation, which he says has expressed support for terror groups.
CAF president Khaled Mouammar believes Canada should regard Hamas and Hezbollah as “legitimate organizations,” Kenney said.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are on the Canadian government's list of groups “associated with terrorism,” according to the public safety department's website.
“Here we have in Canada, someone who, until the end of this month at least, was receiving public subsidies from my department, who says … these organizations that are essentially anti-Semitic and seek the destruction of Israel … should be able to operate in Canada,” Kenney said.
People in Canada “need to exercise freedom of expression responsibly” and should be wary of the rise of a new form of anti-Semitism cloaked in debates about Israel's actions in the Middle East, Kenney said in a speech to University of Toronto students.
There is no room for non-violent extremism in Canada that is “beyond the pale,” he said. “When I say beyond the pale I don't mean illegal. But these are the kinds of organizations that should receive no formal support from the organs of the Canadian state.”
Kenney reportedly first threatened to review the CAF's funding after Mouammar said at a public rally in January that the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza exposed two types of politicians: “Professional whores who support war,” naming Kenney, among other politicians, and others who have been silent about Gaza.
CAF executive director Mohamed Boudjenane was surprised by the minister's comments, and surprised to learn about the end of funding for programs the organization runs to help settle newcomers and give them English lessons.
“We have a contract to provide English for newcomers,” Boudjenane said. “The LINC (language instruction for newcomers to Canada) school and we have a workshop for newcomers. The agreement is until March 2010. I don't know what he is talking about,” he said, adding that contracts were signed for two years.
Immigration department officials in Ottawa say the CAF has two contracts with them the LINC contract for $2,106,623 ends March 31, 2009, and the other for $474,873 runs until March 31, 2010. Neither will be renewed, Alykhan Velshi, director of communications and parliamentary affairs, said in an email.
If Ottawa removes this funding, it is newcomers to Toronto who will suffer, said Boudjenane.
“Most of the people that use our services are Chinese,” he said. “You aren't going to punish CAF, but these immigrants. This is not the type of money ministers should use to play politics.”
Kenney said he is an “unapologetic supporter” of Israel.
He says the proudest moment in his career as immigration minister was when he withdrew Canada from next month's United Nations-sponsored Durban II conference in Geneva.
Israel, the United States and Italy have since announced they will boycott the conference, which critics predict will be a repeat of its 2001 predecessor in Durban, South Africa, a meeting infamous for anti-Semitic rhetoric.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Comments :
Very Illuminating
The UN may call the Israelis war criminals but the Harper Conservatives are proud to call them friends.
Submitted by Nite Owl at 3:21 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 9
|
Disagree 7
|
Alert a Moderator
RE: Lawrence W @ 11:00am
The UN conference has absolutely nothing to do with racism, and this was realized by virtually every CIVILIZED nation. Even the EU has condemned the hijacking of the conference's agenda by specific islamic nations. Why? Because after decades of military defeat, the anti-israel movement (mostly islamic) has decided to hijack academia and discourse instead of hijacking airplanes. They have chosen to change the battle into a memetic one, where the dissemination of hateful anti-israel propaganda is achieved via rhetoric exploiting blatant misnomers (i.e. apartheid, occupation, etc.), all the while operating under the guise of left-wing academic thought. Which is ironic (and hypocritical) because Leftists should be opposed to islamofascism, but I digress. Anyway, if this were a real conference on racism, it would be expansive, covering the oppression of people in islamic nations as well. However, if the conference DID… I'm sure you and yours would be united in your condemnation of it.
Submitted by jnwood2517 at 2:45 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 11
|
Disagree 9
|
Alert a moderator
Kenney said he is an unapologetic supporter of Israel guaranteeing him no lack of campaign funding no doubt
seemingly confirmed in a Canadian Jewish News report last week. He met with representatives from Jewish groups, including Canadian Jewish Congress and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto where he said he hopes to deepen his close relationship with the Jewish community. Even more? Israel supporters play down the effect Canada has on the world stage, presumably so Canadians wont be too alarmed at how divorced from the reality of the conflict are government policy is, to quote Haroon Siddiqui today in the Star. Kenney, however, takes full credit for Canada having a significant influence. I would like to believe that we had some positive impact, and certainly the recent decision of the Obama administration, I am confident, will be followed by other European allies. Kenney noted the administration had not yet opted to pull out of the Durban II conference when Canada announced its decision.
Submitted by Lawrence W at 12:48 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 4
|
Disagree 9
|
Alert a Moderator
ANY group –
that promotes violence against others should not only be cut of from getting funding from tax money but should be no longer considered a charitable group for tax deductions and be investigated under the hate crimes laws.
Submitted by WJM at 12:39 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 16
|
Disagree 2
|
Alert a moderator
People in Canada “need to exercise freedom of expression responsibly”?
Oh big surprise, a conservative attacking our democratic rights. Who determines what is “responsible”? The state? If you aren't scared, you should be.
Submitted by engaged citizen at 12:37 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 7
|
Disagree 16
|
Alert a Moderator
Does this mean
Does this mean other groups, like the Canadian Jewish Congress, which may have members that support the forced expulsion of all non-jews from Eretz Israel, will cease getting money from the “state” too? Does the CJC have any interaction at all with an Israeli group called Gamla, whose sole purpose is to ensure the forced expulsion (by economic means or outright starvation, whatever it takes) of all non-jews? Gamla is an organization made up of high ranking military officers (current and retired) and “settler's groups” (no militancy or theocracy in that group) that advocate these things. Fair is fair. Cut off ANY group that runs afoul of Canadian morals, don't discriminate just against Muslims.
Submitted by cdnviking at 12:16 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 7
|
Disagree 12
|
Alert a moderator
Canada won't be missed at the UN Conference
Withdrawing Canada from UN conference won't make reality go away. Israel is committing atrocity against innocent women and children. By taking sides in this senseless and stupid middle east conflict Canada ruins her reputation as peace-loving nation. It seems some ministers have not let go the policies of the past of supporting regimes like South African apartheid government.
Submitted by khalyboy at 12:11 PM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 8
|
Disagree 16
|
Alert a Moderator
stop support for all terrorist nations
Kenny is on the right track but starts and stops with the weakest link in the chain of world violence. Will the Conservative government also stop funding to Jewish groups for their support of Israel, pro-American groups for their support of the USA and their imperial wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pro-Russian groups including the Orthodox Church because of Putin's terrorist activities in Georgia and other Baltic States, Saudi Arabia for its support of terrorist organizations, and pro-Chinese groups who support state terrorism in Tibet, etc etc – and what about those who support the IRA? Maybe Kenny is just concerned about Jewish support in the next election?
Submitted by prairielad at 11:35 AM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 14
|
Disagree 10
|
Alert a moderator
Just Visiting
Kenney is a Federal Minister. He is not part of Ontario. it is only Ontario that creates laws for every occasion. Favorite ones involve not being able to enforce them. Especially when the Premier's mother tells him what to do. Please, get your facts straight. Now if you said that George Smitherman is thinking about a new law. that would be a different story.
Submitted by bock at 11:34 AM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 3
|
Disagree 5
|
Alert a Moderator
Hamas and Hezbollah
Both are terrorist groups, end of discussion. Thank you Mr. Kenny, you sure got this one right.
Submitted by hjk50 at 11:01 AM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 19
|
Disagree 9
|
Alert a moderator
Jason Kenney, accused of being one of the “professional whores who support war,” has no regrets over ending the flow of funds to the Canadian Arab Federation
A self-described “unapologetic supporter” of Israel whose proudest moment is boycotting the UN conference on racism that will justifiably criticise Israel s continuing occupation of Palestine an clear act of racism – one has to ask, what part of “professional whores who support war didnt Kenney like? Maybe professional, but doing it for money political contributions it seems in this case is what separates amateurs from professionals. One has to wonder at the Star reporters characterisation of the UN gathering as a meeting infamous for anti-Semitic rhetoric. It took place only once before where only the US and Israel walked out. Wiki states Berlusconi has shifted Italy towards a greater friendship with Israel, as Harper has here -hardly infamous by usual standards. The conference can be expected to be infamous for anti-racism and anti-occupation rhetoric, however. Mostly Israel-supporters equate criticism of Israel with criticism of Jews.
Submitted by Lawrence W at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 6
|
Disagree 13
|
Alert a Moderator
Finally a politician who reflects the public view
I have no brief for the Israelis or the Palestinians; in fact I say a pox on the both of them for their inability to settle their differences. But we can't have public money supporting terrorist causes. Kenney is simply reflecting the general public view. Unlike most others. Good for him.
Submitted by prospero_caliban at 10:51 AM Thursday, March 19 2009
Agree 21
|
Disagree 9
|
Alert a moderator
Page 1 of 3
