World

In unusual move, Canada raps Trump for proposal to ban Muslims

'It's something that we can't accept in Canada' Foreign Minister Stephane Dion

Reuters December 09, 2015

canada 039 s foreign minister stephane dion speaks during question period in the house of commons on parliament hill in ottawa canada december 7 2015 photo reuters

Canada's Foreign Minister Stephane Dion speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada December 7, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

OTTAWA: The Canadian government, which usually refrains from commenting on foreign election campaigns, on Tuesday took the unusual step of criticizing US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his comments about banning Muslims.

Trump's Muslim comments disqualify him from presidency: White House

"It's something that we can't accept in Canada. We have never been as far removed from what we've just heard in the United States," Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said when asked what he thought of Trump's comments.

Trump on Tuesday defended his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States on security grounds and compared his plan to the World War Two internment of Japanese-Americans.

Muslims make up around 3 percent of the population in Canada, which prides itself on being multicultural.

Go to hell': Trump under fire over Muslim ban call

"No political party here could get anywhere near what's been said in the United States, not even with an Olympic-style pole vault," Dion told reporters.

After Trump made his proposal on Monday, Canadian foreign ministry officials had declined to comment on the grounds that Ottawa did not become involved in election campaigns abroad.

COMMENTS (5)

True | 8 years ago | Reply @PakistaniCanadian: What contributions are we talking about here. Being a Canadian Pakistani look at your Rawal TV channel airing your own people's views who are not open & sane minded but liberal, straight thinking in their lives. I'm not saying because someone abusing Pakistan (& that too a Pakistani) gives me an eternal pleasure. In fact sometimes I feel we should have similar minded people in India as well who can call spade a spade. Just Youtube Rawal TV & start watching. Then we can have a decent chat.

Milind | 8 years ago | Reply @S Hashmi - Don't get to optimistic about Canada remaining attack free. you never know your co-religionists... The ISIS can attack anybody anywhere... France was threatened even though it opposed Iraq invasion.. The peaceful Buddhists were antagonized by blowing up their priceless treasures - the Bamiyan Buddhas for no apparent reason.

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PakistaniCanadian | 8 years ago | Reply ^ Junaid - with respect to you, i'd like to remind you we've had terrorist attacks on our Parliament in 2014 and plots to attack the financial district in Toronto to name a couple. As a Pakistani who has lived in Canada for about 15 years, I can say with confidence that this society embraces diversity of faith, ethnicity and culture. We are free to practice our religion in Canada. Sadly, more free than our native homeland. The real reason Stephan Dion is able to stand on the parliament floor and make the bold statement he did is because the majority (and I mean 99%) appreciate the contributions Muslims make to the society. There were stray Islamophobia incidents after Paris Attacks and the whole society came together to reassure us that there is no place for hate and fear mongering in this country and its politics.

S Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply @Junaid: But the question is why Canada hasn't been attacked? Let me answer this for you. Because: 1. Historically Canada has used its forces for mostly peace keeping missions 2. It does not have a huge military budget for which it would need any domestic fear mongering in order to justify it 3. Canada's policy on muti culturalism appeals to all segments of the society and is promoted even more by this new government

Junaid | 8 years ago | Reply

“No political party here could get anywhere near what’s been said in the United States, not even with an Olympic-style pole vault,” Dion told reporters.

That's because there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Canada yet. One attack and the whole mood will change.

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