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Home : Politics : Gay Pride cash may have led to demotion of MP

Gay Pride cash may have led to demotion of MP

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CTV News: Graham Richardson on the details
CTV News Channel: Kyle Rae, Toronto City Councillor who is openly gay, reacts to the controversy
CTV News Channel: Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett wants Harper to respond to the allegations
Canada AM: Graham Richardson on the tourism funding controversy

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Jul. 7 2009 10:22 PM ET

A Conservative MP says federal funding for Toronto's Gay Pride parade may be responsible for junior cabinet minister Diane Ablonczy losing a key part of her portfolio.

Brad Trost, the MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, said Ablonczy's decision to use $400,000 for the popular parade that celebrates homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered culture was not supported by most of the Tory caucus.

Trost told the anti-abortion website LifeSiteNews.com that the decision surprised the Conservative cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office.

He said that responsibility for the Marquee Tourism Events Program, a $100 million initiative, has been given to another cabinet minister. The two-year program helps fund major tourism events such as the Calgary Stampede, which received nearly $2 million or Ottawa's Bluesfest, which took about $1.5 million from the program.

Industry Minister Tony Clement has taken over the program, his office confirmed.

Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett demanded that Prime Minister Stephen Harper explain the reasoning behind the demotion.

"If this indeed has happened . . . the prime minister needs to tell Canadians, did he indeed punish a minister for doing her job?" she told CTV News Channel Tuesday.

Bennett added that if Trost's allegation is true, the decision is "atrocious" as the Pride parade clearly meets the criteria for the funding program.

Bennett slammed Trost for his "boasting . . . one of his colleagues has had a file removed from her because she had the audacity to support a celebration of human rights."

She said Ablonczy was one of the most talented ministers in the Tory caucus. Ablonczy, the MP for Calgary-Nose Hill, was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993.

But social conservatives have hailed the move.

"I think it clears the air a little bit . . . the federal government doesn't support the pride event," Jeff Gunnerson of the Campaign Life Coalition told CTV News.

City Councillor Kyle Rae told CTV News Channel he was "worried that the federal government is failing to be sensitive to the diversity here in Toronto."

"For someone to be shocked by Pride being funded by the federal government, they are in another time."

Not all Conservatives agree with the decision. One emailed CTV News and called the move narrow-minded, saying it might hurt the party's chances in the next election in places like Toronto.

The city's Gay Pride Parade is one of the biggest in the world and of its top tourism events. This year's parade attracted more than one million people. It has been an annual event since 1981.

The controversy represents yet another black eye in the relationship between Toronto and the federal Conservatives.

Transport Minister John Baird and the City of Toronto have been at each other's throats for months. Baird apologized to Mayor David Miller in June for telling the city to "f--- off," which was overheard by a reporter.

Baird then denied the city's application for stimulus cash to fund improvements to the TTC, saying the request did not meet federal requirements.

With a report by CTV's Graham Richardson in Ottawa

Comments are now closed for this story

Buba
said
0 0

Anti-Gay or simply anti-Toronto???
We all know the Harper gov't. detests both.


Jeff, Ottawa
said
0 0

Maybe Ms. Ablonczy foresaw a garbage strike and the money was needed for the cleanup... probably not.


Alex (Edmonton)
said
0 0

The media will try to spin this as the Conservatives being intolerant, but the issue was the money spent.

$400,000 of taxpayer dollars being spent on a parade- any parade- is something that any true ideological conservative would balk at. I think that's what the issue really was.

Geof
said
0 0

Thankfully the conservative government is coming to its senses.


Tammy.P
said
0 0

GOOD! There are kids going hungry,food banks are in dire straights.There are seniors who need medical supplies and are turned down by the gov.Yet they have 400,000 for a PARADE.That 400,000 would buy a lot of wheel chairs, walkers and food for food banks.Its disgusting,she should have been fired on the spot.


dawn
said
0 0

typical Con tactic eat their own.....gotta love it...however at this point i want to say GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY THAT YOU GAVE TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE


Bob
said
0 0

How about using the phrase "pro-life" instead of "anti-abortion"?


Vingoe
said
0 0

Investing in the Parade that draws a crowd of more than a million people is bad? A lot of the people who attend the Parade, are from out of town. I wonder how much money the Canadian Government spent on Canada day. The conservative caucus needs a little un-pruning.

Rick in NB
said
0 0

She was just making up for John Baird telling Toronto to F**k off. Or was the money used for cleaning the streets after the parade?


dawn
said
0 0

Tammy.P
GOOD! There are kids going hungry,food banks are in dire straights.There are seniors who need medical supplies and are turned down by the gov.Yet they have 400,000 for a PARADE.That 400,000 would buy a lot of wheel chairs, walkers and food for food banks.Its disgusting,she should have been fired on the spot.

-------------------------

THEY GAVE MONEY TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE ...i suppose thats ok


Alex (Toronto)
said
0 0

This is one of Canada's largest and most important cultural festivals, generating perhaps $100 million in tourist dollars from outside Canada (not to mention another hundred million or so in local entertainment) at a time when the tourism industry is suffering. Human rights, culture, and jobs in Ontario, that's what the Conservatives are against.

Any "parade" that brings in thousands of foreign visitors and millions of tourist dollars is certainly something the government should be helping.


JG
said
0 0

The Federal Gov't spends money on tourism and cultural events across the country this event is no different.


Ashamed of Tories in Huntsville
said
0 0

Well, with Tony at the helm you can be darn sure Pride, or anything remotely connected to the 10% of us aren't heterosexual, won't be getting a penny! Perhaps Toronto would like to take precautions next year to see that the federal government receives no GST revenue from the millions of dollars gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people spend in Toronto during Pride week. Or perhaps - and I'll be praying for this - perhaps the Cons will be out of power by next summer! Ablonczy, maybe you want to cross the floor to a place where you'll be more welcome?


Sober, Newmarket
said
0 0

Money well wasted.


Jason in Edmonton
said
0 0

And yet Harper wonders why he can't get any qualified women to run for his party. She made a decision that fit perfectly with the criteria given and because it doesn't suit Steve and the old boys club she is demoted...Run away from them Diane and run as an independent or for another party, he will never give you your opportunity because you are an intelligent woman and that threatens him.

elsie underwood
said
0 0

the notion that someone would disregard their mandate is clearly a sign that they lack the integrity to carry on with our trust.


Michael Ribeiro
said
0 0

To everyone complaining it should have been used for "x" please note the money came from the
"Marquee Tourism Events Program". It was already earmakred to go to "Marquee" tourist events.

So lets get it right, money for racing horse's in Calgary until they have a heart attack = OK. Money for celebrating gay culture in Toronto = you've been demoted.


farmer fred
said
0 0

Just curious. How much money did the Calgary Stampede get? My guess as much or more.

The simple fact is Pride is a huge boost to the economy.

The Conservatives have just proven that they care more about intolerance than they do economic growth. Shame on Conservatives trying to pretend this is anything else.


Barry
said
0 0

I am simply making a comment on the use of the phrase "anti-abortion website". Why not call it "pro-life". You the media always refer to the pro-abortion movement, but never anti-life. Way to show your unbiased coverage of stories (note the sarcasm here).


CarlAB
said
0 0

The fund was set up to support Marquee Tourism Events.

This one brings upwards of $100MM to the Toronto/Ontario economy and is one of the most acclaimed of its kind in the world. Whether you are open-minded or not, that's a pretty good ROI.

I just wish the Tories would stop embarrassing themselves.


John
said
0 0

If we spend money on tourism events that attract paying tourists, then their sexual orientation ought not to matter. How many dollars per gay pride participant was spent versus Calgary Stampede attendee (they got five times as much).


Johnny B
said
0 0

The economic benefits of the Toronto Gay Pride Week and Parade on tourism in Toronto have been estimated as:
• $100 Million in direct economic impact
• 650 jobs supported
• $18 Million in government tax revenue.
I think that $400,000 Federal and $300,000 Provincial support is money well spent. This is purely a case of Conservative intolerance. If the Conservatives wanted to, they could easily defend such a expenditure considering the financial benefits.


top480
said
0 0

Who is going to get it for dropping good money on steroid shafted, overbred horses? And isn't TIFF on tap for money too? Someone in the Con cabinet is really going to fry when fancy movie stars are on the red carpet up here. If they ever invite me to a party I will show up in my Chairman Mao best and bring my own rainwater to drink.


jackie
said
0 0

A much wiser investment is the Calgary Stampede of $2 million to torture livestock for our pleasure and amusement. I believe a horse died yesterday of a heart attack after being flogged around a track pulling a chuck wagon. Bravo Conservative Party !


Jay-TO
said
0 0

Just a ploy to talk out of both sides of their mouths. They please Toronto, they please the social conservatives. So what, she lost part of her portfolio. She's still Minister, right?

This two faced speak is why Harper Conservative policy never works, it looks good on paper but is ineffective. Both camps happy again! You can't have it both ways.


Laureen
said
0 0

shameful abuse of taxpayers hard-earned money


Jeff in Toronto
said
0 0

I'm more and more ashamed of our government. I toss my support to Ablonczy and her efforts to support one of the most culturally important festivals in this country. Bravo to you for your recognition, tolerance, and support.
Now somebody PLEASE call en election so we can take out the real trash!


Rick in NB
said
0 0

@Johnny B,
I'm not anti anything, but since you brought up all the money made. Why can't the parade fund itself?


Tomko
said
0 0

Hey Bubba if your right "Good" for Harper


Tëken
said
0 0

Hmmmm 400K for Pride that brings a huge chunk of change to economy... 85+ Mill to bring back Leb Candiands that most went back after last bullet stopped. Yep makes sense


Are our MP's crazy?
said
0 0

It is completely and totally inappropriate that Canadian taxpayers funds support this disgusting demonstration of carnal sex taken to the streets.

What disgraceful and disgusting behaviour. This is not a Canadian value and I don't want to encourage any "tourism" based on this sorted behaviour.

To see Ignatieff giving his ok to this is outrageous. Does he have no shame?

Rob
said
0 0

The money should of been spent cleaning up the garbage and protecting the health of the people in Toronto.


Johnny B
said
0 0

Rick in NB:
Most public events need start up capital to get off the ground every year. In my community we would never be able to hold our little events without some kind of intial capital. However, in the case of the Toronto event in question the Government came out ahead by $17.3 million dollars........ not a bad haul for doing very little, and "WE" the taxpayer benefited BIG TIME. By the way the Gay pride parade beat the Calgary Stampede Parade hands down, however, the Calgary Parade was and is a great event that adds greatly to our Canadiana.


Matt, Toronto
said
0 0

What people need to realize is that $400k may seem like much for a "parade" but in reality it is a stimulus for $100M in spending by tourists and locals on a vitally important week in Toronto. Using this money in other ways may be good as well, but the tax revenue the city, the province, and the federal government make far outweighs any investment. Those tax dollars then fund programs across a number of areas as it goes into the general tax pool.

To simply state that the money spent on a parade is a waste when others are in need is simply ignorant. Spend money to make money. Having more money in the end will help more overall. Simple mathematics and economics.


Tammy.P
said
0 0

The issue is the gay pride parade not the calgary stampede so staying on the issue. I commented on the parade.No I dont support the Stampede ,it is a shameful waste and the exploitation of animals is disgusting. I cant help but wonder if Dawn supports the Olympics.Ya know the olympic money pit that is costing B.C. PROVINCIAL tax payers 6 billion dollars under the liberal dictatorship, all the while schools and hospitals are closing down.Money is seriously being misspent straight across the board.


Doug BC
said
0 0

Hey Barry, pro-choice covers all sides.


Alex, Toronto
said
0 0

I'm getting the feeling that some people seem to think a $400,000 tourism subsidy should've gone directly to feed the children or care for the elderly, rather than to some gaudy jamboree.

To those people: Toronto Pride is not just a celebration of love, family, sexual identity -- and yes, maybe having a little too much to drink -- that benefits only a minority of people; At the end of the day, it's a good investment that pays dividends to our government and citizens as it rakes in a whole lotta dough in tax dollars and economic stimulus with tourists coming from all over the country and abroad to spend, spend, spend.

We need to support these kinds of worldwide draws, not just to celebrate our culture and history, but because they help pay for all the publicly-funded goodness that this country desperately needs to improve.

Isn't that the whole point of a tourist initiative anyways? So why are the Feds hating on the Minister for doing her job?


Qhomme
said
0 0

To Buba:

Stehpen Harper is from Toronto, born and raised so...anti-Toronto?

Anti-gay? As a homosexual, I do not feel it from our PM at all, but just my personal opinion.


David1
said
0 0

I have started to lose my faith in Conservatives. I have been Conservative supporter since two elections. Now Conservatives have walked backward that worries me. So I have not made up my mind to vote yet till Conservative Party has to clean up its acts...


Tom
said
0 0

The Harper government has about $100,000.00 to pay for a makeup artist for Harper?

It has hundreds of thousands to give to church sponsored events in the form of tax breaks?

But no money for the gay pride parade, which is an INTERNATIONAL tourist draw.



Samual
said
0 0

Good to see Harpers Conservatives supporting their gays.


Roger & Diane
said
0 0

Our Canada doesn't include a parade which celebrates homosexual choices and paid for by the taxpayers. Shameful!


Tony
said
0 0

I have witnessed both the gay pride parade in Toronto, and I have witnessed the Calgary Stampede in Calgary. I have many gay friends. I can take my children to the stampede, I cannot say the same thing for the gay pride parade. My gay friends say they would not bring thier children to the gay pride parade either. The debauchery displayed at that parade is offensive.


JCritty
said
0 0

Demoting an MP for approving cash for an event celebrating the cultural diversity of this country is not just a terrible move for a political party, it's un-Canadian.

The only thing that surprises me about this story was that the money was approved in the first place!


jackie
said
0 0

Hey Bob ....let's call it "men who want total control over every woman's uterus " instead of " pro life "


Jerry O'Connor
said
0 0

Make no mistake about this "gay parade".

IT IS NOT, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN NOR WILL IT EVER BE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND IS ABOUT AS FAR AWAY FROM HUMAN RIGHTS AS CAN POSSIBLY BE IMAGINED.

The outright display of public nudity has nothing to do with "human rights".

In fact it is an offense against our "human rights" for what responsible parent would bring a child to a "public" parade to view public nudity.

It is against the law for people to make themselves nude in public and when the police resist from from arresting these offenders...then that my dear friends is a "HUMAN RIGHTS" violation.

The average decent and law abiding Canadian citizen of this country does not condone nor approve public nudity and is in fact...against the law.

ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE LIBERAL MPs AND THEIR LIBERAL LEADER IGNATIUF APPROVE OF PUBLIC NUDITY for the children of Canada to view.

For if this statment were not true then the Liberal party of Canada would publicly dissapprove of this kind of disgusting behaviour and conduct in our public cities.

Liberals through their partisan politics crealy do not mind bringing in children in order to grab a vote at any cost.


Munro - Brampton
said
0 0

The Pride week brings in more money for Toronto then any, any other event. This is very surprising. The government is acting like this is the 70's or something. Someone should be fired; not her for sponsoring such an important event.


Jeff S.
said
0 0

I find it humorous that Carolyn Bennett calls the gay parade "a celebration of human rights". Anyone who has seen a gay parade would know that they are much more a celebration of extreme glam, eccentricism and counter-culture. Any celebration of "human rights" is pretty much invisible.

Please don't waste my tax dollars on this crap.


DonB
said
0 0

Tammy P: How about Harper gives back the $300 million he cost us in election only to have the same result. That would buy a lot of wheelchairs. Or the 22 billion wasted in Afghanistan's war created by the Americans. Harper and any one who supports this move is nothing more than scum of the earth. I am ashamed of Canada with a Reform/Alliance/Conservative government. They are not welcomed here in Canada. If he has a majority, you can bet there will be massive protests. Because his majority of seats WILL not represent the majority of the popular vote, check the results of the last election for yourelf and see that his $300 million election costs actually cost him 165,000 votes...Way to go Harpie.


Canada Goose Whistler
said
0 0

I guess sexy cancer is much more acceptable to Harper, than a gay parade.



PepperPot
said
0 0

Would those who do not know about the Calgary Stampede please stop knocking it. Why should the Stampede not getting funding, it is a tourist event. And for the horse with the heart attack - I lived on a farm and my saddle pony had a heart attack out in a field of grass. It happens just as it does with people - so stop trying to create problems where there is none


Hindusan Rajendran
said
0 0

This is a disgrace our nation. Our homophobic Prime Minister and his conservative lunatics are now showing open acts of discrimination against gays. I have never felt such hatred for a Prime Minister in my life. Maybe its because I only began to understand politics when Paul Martin's term was ending. But I just can't believe Canadians could be stupid enough to elect this man TWICE!!! We shame Americans for reelecting Bush, we should take another look at ourselves!

Mike (Aylmer)
said
0 0

Come on Canada!
See the Con government for what they are: biased, short-sighted, blatantly intolerant partisan bullies.
They would rather make attack ads than support the country in crisis.



Donb
said
0 0

URGENT MESSAGE TO NON-VOTERS: WE NEED YOUR VOTE. Harper has succeeded in one thing only. Dividing Canada and its people. Get involve now, review his work and review it well. His attacks ads only work on the unintelligent or the uniformed. Rise non-voters, SAVE CANADA.


DB, Toronto
said
0 0

I'm not sure if we all know the facts before we can start to say "Harper is anti-this, anti-that, blah blah blah"

Diane Ablonczy is a great minister, and so funding the gay pride parade isn't enough to get fired. (frankly, who gives a s*** whether the gov't funds it or not. The day taxpayer money was totally disrespected was the day politicians started claiming expenses for stupid stuff like underwear and packs of gum. so if the gov't wants to help sponsor this parade, it makes no difference to me, i don't like the parade and i don't go to it, and my tax dollars will surely be wasted for something truly insulting). the conservative caucus is a whole lot more open-minded than you all want to believe. if harper truly hated toronto, the money never would have made it's way here for the parade or any other event. the gas tax money that the liberals were hoarding wouldn't go into buying all those fancy new buses you see on the street.

we need the full story before we can believe this to be true, and; something like this is not enough to demote a minister. if it was, then we really don't know the whole story.

BadP, Edmonton
said
0 0

Brad Trost was not involved in the decision making about the fund, therefore his musings about demotion and gay pride is pure speculation. The program could be moved for million other reasons.
Maybe he should shut up and talk about things he knows.


Andrea in Ottawa
said
0 0

The way I see it is , she was looking at the Return of investment. But at the same time, she gets punished.For supporting an tourism event that is out of their Tory norm. With only investing 400K for the event that creates 100 million in revenue.Makes a difference.

Honestly, I think this is stupid for punishing her for investing something out of the norm. She was only trying to be creative to come up with a way to help pick up the economy by putting money into tourism events.

DB, Toronto
said
0 0

Oh, and, JohnnyB writes: "If the Conservatives wanted to, they could easily defend such a expenditure considering the financial benefits."

Precisely. Why would any PM want any kind of controversy on this? He can stand in the house and say (yet again) that conservatives got the job done, they invested in a highly successful celebration that recognizes diversity, etc etc.

We don't know the whole story. For y'all Harper haters - get the facts first before you start dissing the guy.


Edm Vic
said
0 0

They bgot there money didn't they. So whats the beef? I know if i was handing out the money they would not have got it!!


Matt
said
0 0

I think it's funny for the people that wrote about how spending the federal funds on the gay pride parade would have been a waste of money especially when there are starving children...Well let's hope that it comes to light that federal dollars were not taken for the Calgary Stampede, you know, for the childrens sake.


Don in Calgary
said
0 0

A lot of comparison between the gay pride parade and the stampede, but only from those who have not been to the stampede(I assume). I have lived in both cities, was part of the gay community in TO and I can honestly say that comparing the two is like comparing grapes to watermelons. Don`t get me wrong, I think the 400K for the pride parade is peanuts when it comes to money that is handed out by the government and they should just cough it up. We in Calgary don`t slag your TO culture...please don`t slag ours. It`s not Calgary`s fault you got short changed and we invite you out west to see what the stampede is really all about. Like the pride parade it is very misunderstood by outsiders.


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