Garth Turner, who attacked with bigoted comment, CFAC and it’s President, seems to think certain citizens should not be involved in democracy. Local citizens in every riding have the right to be at nomination meetings and to vote. But seems Turner does not like anyone who might show up because CFAC mobilized them. Or because they are of a religion or ethnic group.

So just who does Turner want to show up at his nomination meeting in Halton region? I would have to guess – HIS supporters.

Echoes of this attitude came from Gerald Keddy in Nova Scotia also. Why should anybody from outside of his riding “ tell” anyone who to vote for? he said. Well in fact CFAC does not tell people who to vote for but we do tell people they have a right to vote and chose their next candidate Mr. Keddy. Are you afraid people who will not support your attitude and beliefs might actually get involved? If those people did, you may be looking for a new job after next nomination meeting.

Well gentlemen, mobilizing the grasssroot Canadian has been a goal of CFAC for nearly 10 years now. And it is happening – everywhere. And for your education, CFAC is not just a religious organization – we have many people who hold to no faith set. Democracy works well when freedom allows it. Seems that Turner and Keddy just to name two MPs would prefer that candidates get parachuted in like the Liberal party and even others parties sometimes do. That is not democracy and I do think that one party in Canada needs to protect nomination process freedom. If it does not then CFAC has a lot of work to do to defend freedom and democracy in the Canadian political world. We need parties who have as part of their constitution, invitation for LOCAL people to select their candidate. I once heard a phrase- government by the people, for the people. I liked it, it stuck with me and I defend that principle.

CFAC President McVety has talked with Garth Turner but I have not seen any apology to McVety, to CFAC, nor to the many Canadian offended with Turner’s bigoted comments. If you have apologized Mr. Turner, then send me that apology and I will gladly put it on our site. If you have not, I think one is in order and the right thing to do for an elected official of the government.

-- CFAC

Renegade Conservative MP Garth Turner Calls Ethnic and Religious People Evil Flowers and Taliban

Since elected on January 23rd MP Garth Turner has frequently attacked Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Now he has turned his sights on ethnic and religious people. On television and then his website, under the title “Agenda of Hate” Turner blasted us saying “Call it Defend Marriage Canada. Call it the Taliban, Fleurs du mal (flowers of evil)”.

After a spirited televised debate with me on Friday, May 26th, Garth Turner lost it as he ranted and raved on his website www.garth.ca. During the interview Mr. Turner made the argument that busloads of ethnic and religious people take over nomination meetings and elect candidates that do not reflect society. I protested, “Are you saying ethnic and religious people are not Canadians and cannot participate in democracy? That only the ”elites” should elect our candidates?”

This was enough to trigger a caustic response from Turner, revealing an underlying hatred for people who do not share his religious views or culture. In his writings, paragraph after paragraph Turner castigates anyone who dares challenge his entitlement as a Member of Parliament. “I have no time for groups in our society who try to force their morals, or their culture, on the rest of us.”

He goes on to describe candidates elected by such “unsavory” people as “single-issue monochromatic militant(s)”. In his follow-up article Mr.Turner attempts to justify this slur by saying he not was referring “to people with skins a different colour than mine”.

My question is what does Mr. Turner think single colour actually means? I had the opportunity to have a cordial talk with Garth. He responded saying he was referring to the colour of ideology, not skin. I guess he would also categorize the word “ethnic” as a political description. His followers added to tirade describing us as “waknuts”, “Jehova’s Zombies”, “nitwits”, “crackjobs” that are “dark and spooky”.

In our conversation Mr. Turner acknowledged that he stepped over the line with “colourful language”. I eagerly awaited his promised retraction. On Wednesday evening Garth posted another follow-up article with a new cordial tone however he clearly stands by his accusations and distain for ethnic and religious people. In the world according to Garth we, the vast majority of Canadians, are still evil, single-issue, single colour Taliban. And he is in government.

Dr. Charles McVety