Harper Shows Anti-Gay Side

Toronto’s annual gay pride festival is a major event, attracting an estimated 300,000 tourists to the city and ploughing $136 million into the local economy. Last year, it was deemed worthy of a $397,500 grant from Ottawa under its “marquee events” stimulus program. This year, it will get nothing. Pride’s organizers blame “some kind of homophobia” in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Ottawa. Toronto Councillor Kyle Rae calls it a “discriminatory, Neanderthal government.” The federal Liberals say it is a “reckless, ideological cut." The government vehemently denies all this. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Industry Minister Tony Clement in the Commons on Monday. “This is a two-year stimulus program. In year one of this program, almost 75 per cent of the funding went to events in Canada's largest cities. In year two, we wanted to ensure that the money was spread out to some of the smaller cities so they were able to benefit as well.”

It is difficult to determine which statement is false and which is true; however, the Conservative parties views do reflect this choice well. Conservatives are not the greatest supporters of homosexual couples, so it would not be surprising if Stephen Harper did have "some kind of homophobia" That being said, it is not fair to immediately blame "homophobia in office" as the reason the Gay Pride Festival did not receive any payment. Perhaps what Clement says is correct, that they wish to spread money out to smaller cities around Canada. This would not be the first time Canadians have over suspected a political topic. Either way, I believe completely removing the funding from the Gay Pride Festival is unfair. It attracts tourists and money, both attributing to the economy. It's funding is quite minuscule compared to the amount it grosses as an event.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/807480--harper-shows-anti-gay-side