Shameful MP of the Day - October 1

​Vince Gasparro was our Shameful MP of the Day for September 24, for announcing on social media that Kneecap would not be allowed to perform in Canada.  But we’re bringing him back for a curtain call because it turns out that Gasparro  ‘ went rogue’  when he made that announcement.

So, Vince and Mark Carney meet with officials for the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs and three days later Gasparro is on Social media announcing Kneecap’s ban from Canada.  But – without any authority to do so.  It is being reported that,

“The PMO explicitly asked MP Gasparro whether he had IRCC’s authorization to make his announcement — he said yes. That was false. No decision had been made by IRCC or the PMO. His statement was completely unauthorized.”

It is further being reported that,

 Gasparro offered to delete his video announcing the ban, but the PMO rejected the offer on the grounds “it will attract more attention.”

CBC is reporting that Gasparro

…gave no heads up to the offices of the public safety minister or the privacy commissioner of Canada, before he posted the video.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has announced that it “was not engaged in this matter”.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab has declined to comment on Kneecap's ban, citing privacy reasons, but when asked by CBC News whether Gasparro notified her office about his plans to publish a video, she said, "You will have to speak to him."  Gasparro himself is refusing to comment further.

It seems pretty clear at this point that Vince decided to curry favour with the Pro-Israel lobby by making the unfounded claim that Kneecap were banned from entering Canada.  So, Gasparro can go to social media to falsely claim that he was banning Kneecap, but he can’t take a few minutes and a few steps from his office to honour and remember the murdered children of Gaza, by saying their names aloud.

BTW, Vince - it’s been five months since the election…could you please submit the documents required to show your compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act.  Just want to be sure there are no additional false claims there.

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