A New Westminster man is spearheading an online petition to ban Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from Canada, and Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart has agreed to sponsor the petition in Parliament.
New West resident David Black, president of MoveUP (formerly known as COPE 378), wants to keep Trump out of Canada because he called for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
“I think Mr. Trump’s remarks are abhorrent. They are dangerous, and I was appalled by them,” Stewart told the Record. “I think this petition is a good way to express, first of all, these aren’t really the views Canadians hold, and to express a displeasure for someone who’s running to be one of the most powerful leaders in the world.”
Black's petition points states it is illegal in Canada to incite hatred against any identifiable group and that Canada is a “proudly multicultural nation.”
Black doesn't expect the government to actually prohibit Trump from entering Canada.
"I'm very aware it won't force the government to ban Trump from Canada, but it will keep the discussion going and elevate it to official levels," he told the Record.
So far the petition has more than 900 signatures, more than enough to garner an official written response from government. Stewart said it was his responsibility as an MP to sponsor the petition.
“Mr. Black works in my riding and I know him well, and he wanted to put this forward,” Stewart said.
“I think it’s serious. We’ve had various parliamentary leaders, including our leader Thomas Mulcair, say that Mr. Trump should not be allowed to come to Canada. Essentially this borders on hate crime, which is illegal in Canada.”
Stewart is taking the petition seriously.
“It’s not a joke if you’re a Muslim, it’s not a joke if you’re a Mexican, and who knows who's next,” he said.
Stewart is the MP who pushed government to accept electronic petitions. The government’s e-petition site went live on Dec. 4, and a couple from Burnaby seeking a ban on shock collars for dogs was the first to file. Until this month, MPs in the House of Commons would only accept written, paper petitions with a minimum of 25 signatures.
Stewart will table the Trump petition in the House of Commons in April, and by June, the government should have a written response. Stewart is hoping more people sign up to use online e-petitions. To create your own e-petition, go to https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Home/Index
