The news services are abuzz with Justin Trudeau's accusation that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen. But, on that subject, something happened in the House of Commons yesterday that should concern us all. Erica Ifill writes:
On Monday, Trudeau rose to address Parliament and inform the nation that Canadian security agencies had been engaged in a weeks-long investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which, The Globe and Mail confirms, “can be linked to Indian government agents.” Nijjar was a Canadian citizen who was gunned down in Surrey, B.C., this past June. He supported Sikh separatism, which raised the ire of the Indian government, so much so they labelled him a terrorist. That may be India’s viewpoint, but here in Canada—unless our constitutional rights were taken away from us in our sleep—we can politically support who we want. And one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter; it’s all a matter of power and perspective. This revelation should expand our lens in analyzing issues of foreign interference, as global powers rearrange themselves amid the breakdown of the post-Second World War international order and the rise of authoritarianism; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi encapsulates the latter, as described by the Financial Times: “Modi has cultivated an image as a macho man—boasting of the size of his chest and of his willingness to use violence against India’s enemies.” As Trudeau stated unequivocally: “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” (The Indian government has denied the allegations.)
Following the prime minister, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rose to address the House, attempting to match the PM’s stateliness, and instead face-planted his unseriousness into a puddle of anti-Black racism. In expressing regrets to Nijjar’s family, he slipped over his last name and said the N-word. With the hard “r.” He quickly corrected himself and everyone pretended that it didn’t happen and proceeded to continue with the issue at hand. The Conservatives didn’t blink, particularly Leslyn Lewis who was sitting adjacent to him and seemed to be accepting of that language, since she didn’t immediately object. And neither did the so-called anti-racism Liberals. And neither did the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
The silence was deafening. It says something about us and our politicians -- and we should be ashamed.
Image: AZ Quotes
4 comments:
Pierre ought to lay off the rap music for a bit. That way the n- word wouldn't spring to mind as easily.
Pierre proved yet again, Cap, that he hasn't the temperament to be prime minister.
A 'better' more careful politician would have stayed focused enough in the situation to learn the right way to say this name.
That said, it's Lil'PP after all. Let him diminish himself; we have more important issues to deal with. His subsequent, smarmy 'come clean' comments, likely cooked up by Modi-loving-IDU-chair Stephen Harper, are far worse and more distracting, imo.)
The 'foreign influence' inquiry will be busy!
Alas, it will likely stay clear of the most pernicious foreign influence from right next door.
The Trump flags on Parliament Hill during the Truckers Convoy were a clear indication that there was an ill wind blowing in from the South, PoV.
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