Canada won't attend anti-racism 'gong show'

[CHIMO]

Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – Canada has withdrawn its support for a UN anti-racism conference slated to take place in South Africa next year, the federal government announced today.

The so-called Durban II conference "has gone completely off the rails" and Canada wants no part of it, said Jason Kenney, secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity.

"Canada is interested in combating racism, not promoting it," Kenney told The Canadian Press. "We'll attend any conference that is opposed to racism and intolerance, not those that actually promote racism and intolerance.

"Our considered judgment, having participated in the preparatory meetings, was that we were set for a replay of Durban I. And Canada has no intention of lending its good name and resources to such a systematic promotion of hatred and bigotry."



Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/296818

[muyojoe]

1. CANADA SEEMS PRETTY AWESOME!

I don't want to move physically, just politically.

I thought they had elected a right wing parliament leader, but I see them saying all the right things. Like putting us on the list of countries that torture.

[Harper_is_Bush]

2. Uh....this decision asside (I haven't had a chance to examine it), you do realize we have Neo-Cons

in our government at the moment?

They held out in Bali.

They held out against the UN declaration on the rights of aboriginals. Refused to vote on it.

They spoke loudly in favor of the Iraq invasion (although thankfully they were not the government then).

Regarding the torture decision, you're not up to date. That was some beaurocratic document...an HONEST document that put the USA on the list of those who may torture. The very next day our Foreign Minister announced that it was a mistake and it would be re-written. And he apologized to the Bush administration, whom they worship.

Please, don't be fooled by Frank Luntz/Karl Rove PR tactics employed by our own batch of rightwingers. We have more than a "rightwing parliament leader", we have a rightwing government with a rightwing Prime Minister.

Think John Howard. Global warming? Yeah, NOW he's saying MOST of the right things on that subject, but he's still talking about "intensity" targets and still saying that China and India need to commit before we do anything. Before he called Kyoto a "socialist scheme" and pledged to wage a war against it.

[muyojoe]

3. WELL SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

You're right, I don't keep up with Canadian politics. My youngest son talks to several adults up there on a regular basis, and I have known a few people from there. In general you seem to have several things over on us, health care, etc... I thought it was hilarious when we were placed on the possible torturers list. I know they took it back the next day, but few other countries in the world have had the balls to do that (tell the truth) to us, even by mistake. Take what little you can get, we haven't had anything decent in over 7 years.