Canadian government Conservatives declare war on Toronto's Gay Pride celebration

[marmar]

from the Toronto Star:



Pride Week, MP under fire after Tory outcry


By Susan Delacourt
IN OTTAWA
Robert Benzie
IN TORONTO


Toronto's Pride Week may have seen its last cheque from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government after this year's $400,000 contribution provoked a backlash from within the ranks of MPs and Conservative supporters.

And Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy appears to have been disciplined for the controversy, losing her power to announce handouts from the $190 million Marquee Tourism Events Program, which gave money to the event.

Brad Trost, a Saskatchewan Conservative MP, spoke out this week against federal support for Pride Week, arguing that the caucus and Harper's office were caught off guard by Ablonczy's announcement of support for the event.

"The pro-life and the pro-family community should know and understand that the tourism funding money that went to the gay pride parade in Toronto was not government policy, was not supported by – I think it's safe to say by a large majority – of the MPs," Trost said in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, a website founded by the Campaign Life organization.

Darren Cunningham, a spokesman for Industry Minister Tony Clement, confirmed yesterday that future financial help for Toronto's Pride Week was "under review" but said that was not directly related to Conservative dissent. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/662566

[Swede]

1. On CTV this morning they said the event bring in millions of dollars for Toronto.

This is tax money being well spent.

[marmar]

2. True....but it seems the Conservatives hate Toronto period.

nt

[Swede]

3. They hate Toronto & gays.

But that's what you get when the extreme right runs their party.