On February 17, Ron Banerjee, Eric Brazeau, Sandra Solomon, and other Islamophobes protested in front of a mosque in Toronto. As of Saturday the Toronto Police Service claimed to be investigating the protest as a possible hate crime. And since Banerjee was kind enough to provide video of the event,
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Anti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Associate of Soldiers of Odin in Saskatchewan Found Guilty of Uttering Threats Directed at Prime Minister
To be fair, the Saskatchewan Chapter of the SoO is now seemingly defunct, but that is neither here nor there. Near the beginning of August we reported that Christopher Hayes of Grayson, Saskatchewan had been arrested for uttering threats directed towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Christopher was at the time
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Associate of Soldiers of Odin in Saskatchewan Found Guilty of Uttering Threats Directed at Prime Minister
To be fair, the Saskatchewan Chapter of the SoO is now seemingly defunct, but that is neither here nor there. Near the beginning of August we reported that Christopher Hayes of Grayson, Saskatchewan had been arrested for uttering threats directed towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Christopher was at the time
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: December 2016 Bits and Bites
We begin with a very brief update on Paulie who is so tickled pink (well, more pink than he usually is) about Trump's election that he isn't bothering to try to conceal his views in more "respectable" terms anymore: We're sure that Paulie will be leading the charge…. so long
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: December 2016 Bits and Bites
We begin with a very brief update on Paulie who is so tickled pink (well, more pink than he usually is) about Trump's election that he isn't bothering to try to conceal his views in more "respectable" terms anymore: We're sure that Paulie will be leading the charge…. so long
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: A Busy Weekend for Extremism in Calgary: Blood & Honour and "The Rebel"
This past weekend there were two Calgary events that caught our attention. In some ways they were a study in contrasts. One event was held on Saturday by a small, shadowy, group that has since 2012 shunned media attention. The other was held on Sunday by a relatively politically savvy
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: A Busy Weekend for Extremism in Calgary: Blood & Honour and "The Rebel"
This past weekend there were two Calgary events that caught our attention. In some ways they were a study in contrasts. One event was held on Saturday by a small, shadowy, group that has since 2012 shunned media attention. The other was held on Sunday by a relatively politically savvy
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Ezra Levant and Canadian-Style Trumpism
In Edmonton this past weekend, Ezra Levant and his merry little basket of deplorables posing as journalists held a rally at the legislature opposing the carbon tax passed by the NDP government that is set to come into effect in January 2017. Aside from the fact that Levant claims The
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Andrew Benson Reappears With Interesting Friends
It seems that in addition to the Goudreau, who recently came to our attention after a lengthy absence, another character whom we had once been keeping close tabs on but whom we lost track of has reappeared on our radar: Andrew Benson has been somewhat of a political chameleon over the
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Trump Train Derailed: Canadian Supporters Respond
You would have to be living under a rock to not be aware of what has become known as the "Trump Tape" in which Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks about sexually assaulting women on a hot mic: In part as a result of the tape and, perhaps, his crude
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Kellie Leitch’s Canadian Values And Dog Whistle Politics
Days after the attacks occurred many politicians came together and in an example of non-partisanship that, since then have become increasingly rare, proclaimed in unison that these attacks would not change our fundamental nature as a society or our commitment to liberal democratic values which included freedom, pluralism, and tolerance.
But of course our fundamental nature and commitment to those values did change.
In the years since September 11, 2001, we’ve allowed governments to pass laws which violated our civil liberties — the PATRIOT Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Loi Renseignement — because of fear.
Hate groups have used social media to effectively disseminate propaganda targeting immigrants, religious and ethnic minorities, and those who subscribe to progressive political positions. Some of these groups, such as PEGIDA which originated in Germany and the Soldiers of Odin which originated in Finland have created chapters in other countries, including Canada (and which have lately been prominently featured on this blog) and have moved off of social media and onto the streets of the country. Incidents of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim vandalism, arson, death threats, and assaults are not unusual occurrences and are often celebrated by people who support anti-immigrant/anti-Muslim groups, some of whom (such as these posts on III% Canada) actually desire the genocide of a people:
We’ve witnessed the demonization of an entire faith group because of the actions of a few leading to attacks against members of the Muslim faith as well as the passing of illiberal laws in ostensibly liberal democracies.
Demagogues have arisen and attempt to gain power in their respective countries through identity politics. In the United States Donald Trump has closed the the gap between himself and Hilary Clinton running on an overtly racist campaign targeting immigrants and Muslims among others while promising “law and order” to oppose what he claims as increased lawlessness in a country where crime has actually been in decline for two decades. In Europe, the AfD finished ahead of the Christian Democrats in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania on a single-issue platform: no refugees. Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, Marine Le Pen of France, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, Norbert Hofer’s Freedom Party in Austria, Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the governing party of Poland, and Sweden Democrats among other individuals and far-right parties who have been able to ride a wave of anti-immigrant/anti-Muslim sentiments and either form national governments or have a serious chance of doing so. Even old relics like Pauline Hanson of Australia, once consigned to the dustbin of history, have re-emerged and now holds the balance of power along with three other members of One Nation in the Australian senate.
Canada isn’t immune from this same demagoguery and identity politics.
During the last federal election and in what turned out to be a failed Hail Mary pass by the former Prime Minister, the Conservative Party floated the idea of creating a hotline in which Canadian citizens could call in to report suspicions that their neighbors were engaging in “barbaric cultural practices.” Aside from the fact that most people are able to call 911 when a crime is being committed, there might be a bit of irony in a conservative political party suggesting a Stasi-style program in which neighbors are asked to inform on each other. Though the Conservative Party denied it the proposed program, which came hot on the heels of the court ruling allowing a woman to take the Oath of Citizenship while wearing a niqab, was targeted towards a specific cultural group. And though ultimately unsuccessful as a means of turning the election in the Conservative’s favor, the genie was let out of the bottle giving rise to a significant Conservative constituency who not only don’t believe Muslim citizens share the values of other Canadians, but who often subscribe to the belief there is a vast conspiracy to enact Islamic Sharia law by the Muslim Brotherhood who have infiltrated our government. It’s not unusual to see people claim that Justin Trudeau himself is a Muslim bent on destroying Canada and paving the way for an Islamic caliphate.
To most Canadians, even those who aren’t happy with the Liberal victory last October, these sentiments are the ridiculous conspiracies of fearful and gullible people. To others though, it constitutes a political constituency.
Kellie Leitch was Mr. Harper’s point person on the barbaric cultural practices tip line proposal during the election. At the time she stated that the Conservative Party was, “not afraid to defend Canadian values” though she never quite spelled out what those values actually were. After the election, Ms. Leitch seemed to apologize (sort of) for her role in the proposed tip line:
Leitch, who is also a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, said her intention was to ensure that if women and children needed to “pick up the phone” to call for help that someone would answer, but admits that “the message was lost.”
“We weren’t talking about race, we were talking about kids … but that message was completely overtaken and I regret that, and I regret that it occurred, and it shouldn’t have been done,” she said.
Now as a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party however, Ms. Leitch has decided that identity politics is a reasonable policy position once again:
Kellie Leitch defends ‘anti-Canadian values’ survey questionHer campaign asks if immigrants should be screened to determine their values
By Catharine Tunney, CBC News Posted: Sep 02, 2016 3:42 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 02, 2016 5:12 PM ETConservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch is defending a contentious survey question from her campaign team that asked supporters what they think about vetting would-be immigrants and refugees for “anti-Canadian values.”
….
“Canadians can expect to hear more, not less from me, on this topic in the coming months,” Leitch wrote in an emailed statement….
Ms. Leitch this time provided a vague understanding of what she believes to be Canadian values:
“Screening potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values that include intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms is a policy proposal that I feel very strongly about.”
Besides the claim that “economic freedoms” constitute a Canadian value (social democrats might not agree with a Conservative Party member over exactly what this value constitutes for example), one has to wonder how many of the Conservative base would pass the tests themselves, at least the, “intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour” part of it.
Because, you see, while Ms. Leitch argues her proposed values test has nothing to do with identity politics and that comparing her to Donald Trump “isn’t fair,” those who’s ears are tuned to dog whistles will hear exactly what she wants that particular constituency to hear:
For example the reaction by members of both Canadians Against Justin Trudeau and PEGIDA Canada were both generally favorable to Ms. Leitch’s position, other than those who believe Muslims would lie and thus support a blanket ban on Muslim immigration. From Canadians Against Justin Trudeau….
Anti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Ezra Levant Not Entirely Certain Soldiers of Odin Are A "Thing"
…. we may have been only able to see one side of the discussion.
Unless we had a second Twitter account. Which, of course, we do.
Now, from this part of the exchange, Ezra seems to be suggesting that the Soldiers of Odin are actually a figment of Mr. Lamoureux’s imagination. However, Ezra does clarify his position that he believes the SOO are exist, but only as a vehicle to entrap poor, dumb, disenfranchised, “old stock” Canadians:
Anti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Halifax Chronicle Herald: The Damage is Done
While this writer was away, a story broke in Halifax that was modified a number of times before it was ultimately pulled. I'm of course referring to the story alleging Syrian refugees at a Halifax elementary school not only bullying female students…
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Goat-Blood Drinking Senate Candidate Barred Entry Into Canada
Last Saturday we wrote about Augustus Invictus, a Libertarian candidate for the senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio who was scheduled to speak in Vancouver yesterday. Owing to his support of eugenics, racism, and desire to precipitate a second Civ…
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: The Goat-Blood Drinking Senate Candidate and the PEGIDA UK Leader Who Was Too Much Even For UKIP
Sometimes we learn about some particularly odd characters when receiving information from our readers:Meet Augustus Sol Invictus, a Libertarian candidate for the senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio.Aside from changing his name to a Latin phrase wh…
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Members of Canadian Anti-Muslim Groups Seem Immune to Irony
Incoherent, irrational, misdirected, anger.Back in November we wrote an article comparing the rhetoric found in contemporary anti-Muslim Facebook groups (focusing specifically on PEGIDA Canada) with that of the Nazi propaganda:Not long after the German…
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: The Aftermath of a Tragedy
One would have to be living under a rock to not have heard about the horrific attacks in Paris that occurred on November 13. A total (as of this date) of 130 dead and 368 injured in what must be described as an act of cowardice by people subscribing to…
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Ezra Is Getting Good At Begging For Forgiveness: Part II
We're working on a few projects that are currently occupying our collective attention, but we thought we would provide an update on our previous post. To recap, Levant's "Rebel Media" ran a book review of Connie Fournier's book excoriating the Harper Conservatives. However, the review was pulled after Richard Warman
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Ezra Is Getting Good At Begging For Forgiveness
So Connie Fournier wrote a book about how much she, her husband, and many of the denizens of Free Dominion feel betrayed by Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party. While we haven’t bothered to read it, a friend did let us know we were mentioned in it, though not by
Continue readingAnti-Racist Canada: The ARC Collective: Ron Banerjee, André Drouin, and Rise Canada
We had mentioned in our previous article that we were working on a new story. In fact, it's a story that sort of fell into our laps, though initially we didn't quite realize how significant it would turn out to be: Before being sent the above unsolicited link we had
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