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Ontario: A Canadian In America Laments Tim Hudak’s Anti-Gay Election Ads

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In Ontario, the race for Premier — the leader of that Canadian province — has been marred by something very rare: negative campaign ads, and anti-gay marginalization by Tim Hudak. Today’s election will tell who won and who lost, but in the end, all Ontarians lose when politics becomes this ugly. A Canadian in America, Michael Talon, explains.

While Canada has long served as an example of progress socially, both to the U.S. and the world, there has been a slow, creeping yet powerful force that is moving within the borders of the “friendly and nice” country. Conservatism as a whole is not a concept that we as Canadians view in the same right-wing rhetoric based stupidity that we often see exemplified here in the U.S. (Michele Bachmann, the Mormon Church,the Tea Party.)

Canada’s Conservative Party — born through the amalgamation of the Progressive Conservatives and the Reform Party — is one that is fiscally and governmentally conservative. Platforms have long held to reform and a move to a more right of centre model that would allow continued and maintained structure of a country solidly building on a foundation set out in 1864 when we branched off from the British Empire and began to govern ourselves.

Proudly, Canadians boast that we never supported slavery and in fact maintained a free end destination for the Underground Railway, universal healthcare, community-built free clinics and hospitals, employment and housing anti-discrimination, equality and standards that have paved the way for lesbian and gay rights bills and marriage stemming from a Constitution ratified in 1982 that was to keep the federal government out of the bedrooms of the nation.

Overall, as a country that receives more immigrants from varying backgrounds, including strict to extreme Christian, Muslim and other faiths and cultures, progress continues to be made. In fact, former Prime Minister Jean Chretien was proud of the work that we as a people did in support of each other to include protections for all in each step of our evolution. Allowing for same-sex marriage, for example, while at the same time protecting the sanctity of the pulpit and not forcing denominations to perform these marriages as their faith would see fit.

Both sides peacefully and equally co-existing. A shining, at least to the best of any imperfect entities ability, beacon of hope to all that we could be equal and yet maintain the differences that enhance and enrich our world culture.

In the early 1990’s, the election that would see the greatest of losses for the Progressive Conservatives under the leadership of the first woman Prime Minister, Kim Campbell, sweeping in a victorious Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party, there was a shift that many allowed to go unnoticed in the grander scheme. Campbell employed an attack ad, reminiscent of a U.S. election, where they played on the crooked way Chretien spoke, due to Bell’s Palsy. This was the first of many influences divisive messaging would begin to creep into Canadian politics, and by proxy the public’s way of reacting to situations.

As many readers know, MP Tim Hudak of the Ontario PC Party, recently sent out attack ads that painted Liberal Premier McGuinty as keeping parents in the dark about the true education being given to school children. With emphasis clearly on LGBT issues and the anti-discrimination measures put in place for all minorities and socially accepted, vetted groups, Hudak and the PC Party have once again shown the right-wing agenda that is growing. Attack ads of this sort were unheard of in most political races in Canada. Policy and administration are often prime targets, however there is a standard that has long served our country well, you do not attack minorities and you do not bring religion into the mix. Those are personal beliefs and protected welcomed unique attributes that we cherish. Those days seem to be fleeting into the memories of true Canadians, to be
replaced by religiously slanted and immoral rhetoric.

Being born and raised in Ontario, as well as having lived under the McGuinty administration in my province, I would like to disclose at this juncture that I am not supportive nor do I feel McGuinty is doing/has done a very good job with leading the province. However, the attack ads led by the PC Party are inexcusably linked to attacking the LGBT community and the very fabric of a nation that is fiercely proud of all its groups, minorities, cultures and celebrated differences. We accept the right-wing, left-wing and everything in between. Vote to keep your freedoms and vote to allow those freedoms to be extended to others, for you never know when you will be the group in the hot seat.

It is sad to see this change happening and I can only hope that there will be a shift back to the proper and true course of Canada. I have personally extended the invitation to the PC Party in Ontario and in particular to MP Hudak to interview with me and The New Civil Rights Movement concerning the ad and the beliefs of Mr Hudak as well as the Party and the direction they believe the province should be moving.

The completely intolerant and homophobic rhetoric is enough! This is one Canadian who will not stand by and let everything we have built be torn down by easily influenced and semi-reasoning, self-promoting politicians and religiously influenced. U.S. LGBT citizens have seen what happens when complacency and a fear of “rocking the boat” instead hoping for a civil discourse that would valiantly change people’s hearts and minds. While thundering proclamations on behalf of some “loving and all knowing” god fuel bigots and the ignorant, gain sway. We have said that it is enough.

Across Ontario, parents and education boards, trustees and teachers have forced many of the politicians to take more than a step back from this attack ad, they are back pedaling faster than a Bible belt fundamentalist minister caught in the local department store men’s room giving a helping hand. I applaud the fact that there is still a progressive zeal within Canadians to not let those who would tarnish and sully the good work of past generations and woefully negate that progress.

Join your voice with ours, sign this petition on Change.org that is calling for Mr Hudak and the PC Party to explain its attack on the LGBT community, along with its continued bigotry against us, by doing an interview with The New Civil Rights Movement, answering questions from outraged and vigilant advocates for equality, no matter the citizenship.

 

Growing up in Northern Ontario as a Jehovah’s Witness, Michael Talon experienced firsthand the struggle for equality. Now living in the U.S. with his partner, they work with advocates for federal equality, including immigration. Working side by side, Michael and his partner Brad, head of Luna Media Group, help to deliver messages for equality to the nation.

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White House Mum After Classified Info Reportedly Appears on Musk’s DOGE Website

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The White House has yet to comment after classified information reportedly appeared on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency website — information related to one of the federal government intelligence agencies his SpaceX company does business with.

“Elon Musk’s team at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency has posted classified information about the size and staff of a U.S. intelligence agency on its new website, raising bigger concerns about where Musk’s programmers got this information and what they are doing with it,” HuffPost reported Friday afternoon.

“DOGE’s database provides details on the National Reconnaissance Office, the federal agency that designs, builds and maintains U.S. intelligence satellites. Not only are NRO’s budgets and head counts classified, but the prospect of Musk’s tech team meddling in sensitive personnel information is setting off alarms for some in the intelligence community,” HuffPost explained. “Musk can’t claim he wasn’t aware that the National Reconnaissance Office is one of the nation’s intelligence agencies. His company, SpaceX, has a $1.8 billion contract with NRO to build hundreds of spy satellites.”

READ MORE: ‘United States of Extortion’: New Trump Ukraine ‘Shakedown’ Called ‘Cheap Mafia’ Move

A Senate staffer who works on intelligence matters told HuffPost that DOGE sharing this information “is absolutely a problem under the current intelligence standards.”

“These 25-year-old programmers, I don’t think they have enough experience to know what they don’t know,” the aide said. “Really, the question is: Where did they get this information and what are they doing with it?”

HuffPost also reported that a White House spokesperson “did not respond to a request for comment on where DOGE workers got this information, why they are sharing it publicly and if the president is concerned about DOGE workers accessing sensitive data.”

National security and civil liberties journalist Marcy Wheeler directed her ire at U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

“I’m curious if you’re at all alarmed that one of USG’s Satellite Contractors, Elon Musk, just leaked details about satellite intelligence agency NRO on his DOGE site?” she asked in a social media post.

READ MORE: ‘Disgust’: Vance’s ‘Disturbing’ Speech Alarms Europe, Sparks Foreign Policy Fears

 

Image via Reuters

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‘United States of Extortion’: New Trump Ukraine ‘Shakedown’ Called ‘Cheap Mafia’ Move

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Just weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump’s administration is not only grappling with a growing colossus of self-inflicted crises, but is now igniting international tensions as well. The administration is pressuring Ukraine to relinquish rights to half of its valuable precious metals—just as Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to begin negotiations to end Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

“Multiple lawmakers here in Munich told me the U.S. Congressional delegation presented Zelensky with a piece of paper they wanted him to sign which would grant the U.S. rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves,” Washington Post foreign policy and national security columnist Josh Rogin reported Friday afternoon from the Munich Security Conference.

“Zelensky politely declined to sign it,” he added.

Trump has made it clear he expects Ukraine to hand over the rights to its rare earth minerals, which are extremely valuable.

READ MORE: ‘Disgust’: Vance’s ‘Disturbing’ Speech Alarms Europe, Sparks Foreign Policy Fears

“Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion for electric vehicles, cell phones, missile systems, and other electronics. There are no viable substitutes,” Reuters reported. The news outlet also noted that Trump “said on Monday he wants Ukraine to supply the United States with rare earth minerals as a form of payment for financially supporting the country’s war efforts against Russia.”

“We’re telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths,” Trump said. “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things.”

Trump’s expected haul: “close to $300 billion,” or more.

“We are going to have all this money in there, and I say I want it back. And I told them that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion worth of rare earth,” Trump said Monday, CBS News reported. “They have essentially agreed to do that, so at least we don’t feel stupid.”

The New York Times on Wednesday suggested Kyiv may be willing to play ball with the billionaire businessman.

“President Trump says he wants to make a deal for minerals from Ukraine in exchange for aid. That followed a long effort by Ukrainian officials to appeal to Mr. Trump’s transactional nature.”

Earlier this week Bloomberg reported on Trump’s call with Putin, saying, “European leaders, who were broadly aligned with Washington under Biden, were stunned to learn of the call and some said it appeared to signal that Trump was selling out Ukraine.”

“Trump is skeptical of providing more aid,” Bloomberg continued, “and if he does then he wants the US to be compensated – perhaps in the form of access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was in Kyiv today to work on that part of the deal.”

READ MORE: ‘Brazen Criminality’: Allegations of ‘Quid Pro Quo’ Fly After Border Czar’s Admission

Garry Kasparov, the internationally famous Russian chess grandmaster and now vice president of the World Liberty Congress, likened Trump’s demand to that of a Mafia don.

“Trump wants to give Russia something for nothing and expects Ukraine to give America something for nothing. Cheap mafia behavior,” he charged.

Olga Lautman, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and researcher of organized crime and intelligence operations in Russia and Ukraine, deemed the move “extortion.”

“This extortion by the [Trump] regime is outrageous. Europe needs to step up asap and help Ukraine,” she urged.

Professor Roland Paris, director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, doubly mocked the administration: “The United States of Extortion. (Can Google update its maps with this new name?)”

The Atlantic’s David Frum, a Bush 43 speechwriter, declared it, “Gangsterism.”

Jay Nordlinger, a senior editor for the right wing National Review, blasted the administration:

“The United States ought to back Ukraine because it is the right thing to do, morally, and, above all, because it is in the hard U.S. interest to do so. To shake down a country that is struggling for its very existence is, to my sense, repulsive.”

The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser called it simply, “A shakedown.”

READ MORE: Trump Admin Orders Immediate Mass Firing of Some Federal Workers — 200,000 Possibly at Risk

 

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‘Disgust’: Vance’s ‘Disturbing’ Speech Alarms Europe, Sparks Foreign Policy Fears

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JD Vance’s speech on Friday at the Munich Security Conference deeply offended European leaders, drawing widespread criticism and fueling serious concerns about President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.

“Hard to convey the level of disgust with and rejection of Vance remarks,” explained veteran foreign policy journalist Laura Rozen, “which included lecturing Europe to be more open to Musk promoting the German far right party and which ignored Russia.”

Vance’s speech, Rozen continued, “was not about Europe doing more to protect European security. It was telling them how to be internally—more open to right wing/ hate speech/techno oligarchd/Russian election interference.”

“Truly disturbing,” she concluded.

READ MORE: ‘Brazen Criminality’: Allegations of ‘Quid Pro Quo’ Fly After Border Czar’s Admission

The New York Times did not hold back. Its headline reads: “Vance Tells Europeans to Stop Shunning Parties Deemed Extreme.”

A member of France’s armed services committee “could not believe [Vance] did not mention Ukraine/Russia,” Rozen noted, while adding that “the German defense minister was the most forceful in expressing his rejection.”

Indeed, Tom Nutall, the Berlin Bureau Chief for The Economist wrote: Blistering response by Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defence minister, to JD Vance’s speech.”

Nutall quoted the minister as saying: “Democracy does not mean that a vociferous minority can decide what truth is…democracy must be able to defend itself against extremists.” 

Pistorius continued, describing himself as “a staunch believer in the Transatlantic Alliance,” and “a staunch ally and friend of America,” Real Clear Politics reported.

“The American dream is something that has always fascinated me and influenced me, and this is why I cannot just ignore what we heard before, I cannot not comment on the speech we heard by the U.S. Vice President.”

“This democracy … was just called into question by the U.S. vice president. And not just the German democracy, but Europe as a whole, he spoke of the annulment of democracy and if I understood him correctly, he compares the condition of Europe with the condition that prevails in some authoritarian regimes.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is not acceptable. That’s it. This is not acceptable,” Pistorius declared.

Damian Boeselager, a member of the European Parliament, wrote: “JD Vance speech at the MSC was a disgrace. Telling Europe how to run a democracy and free speech while centralizing all power in the hands of a couple of power hungry people is a horrible cynicism.”

READ MORE: Trump Admin Orders Immediate Mass Firing of Some Federal Workers — 200,000 Possibly at Risk

The Guardian reported that the European Union’s “foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, reacting to US vice president JD Vance’s speech, said it felt like Washington was ‘trying to pick a fight’ with Europe.”

Other experts also agreed with Rozen’s remarks.

“This is definitely how most foreign policy elites in Europe interpreted US Vice President Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference,” wrote Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at the London-based think tank Chatham House, and a professor of international relations at the University of London.

“Exactly this. Another disturbing glimpse into MAGA thinking,” added David Hartwell, a former UK Ministry of Defense intelligence analyst.

“Shocking hypocrisy from Vance – lecturing Europe on democracy when he serves as vice president to a man who attempted a coup in the US,” wrote Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times.

“It does not appear,” noted former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, who has a Master of Arts in international and global security studies from Johns Hopkins University, “that Vance, Hegseth or Trump on the same page when it comes to Europe, Ukraine, Russia. No coherent message. The world has no idea what American foreign policy is right now. I don’t think [the Trump] team knows either.”

Watch a portion of Vance’s remarks below or at this link.

READ MORE: ‘Corruption’ Claims Fly Over Musk’s Modi Meeting as Trump Shrugs: ‘I Don’t Know’

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