Watch: Toronto election candidates on Pride controversy
VIDEO / Xtra editorial board interviews with Smitherman, Wong-Tam and Chan
Xtra / Toronto / Thursday, September 23, 2010
Share |

Leading up the Oct 25 municipal election, Xtra will be releasing video highlights of our editorial board interviews with mayoral and Ward 27 candidates.

One question that we posed to all candidates was, "What's your analysis of this year's Pride Toronto censorship controversy?"

>> Click here to read all of Xtra's Pride Toronto coverage

See how the candidates below responded:

Mayoral candidate George Smitherman:



Ward 27 candidate Kristyn Wong-Tam:



Ward 27 candidate Ken Chan:




Share |


Reader Comments


 
time to refocus!
Mr Smitherman is the voice of reason and is truely in harmony with the silent majority of our community. Xtra and protesters should, for the next month, take a rest from all the negative energy against Pride Toronto and focus positive energy on getting George Smitherman elected!
Johnw, Toronto Ontario
09/23/10 8:43 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
SELECTIVE SUPPORT WRONG
Trying to get a potential Mayor or Councillor to come out in favor of one segment of the constituency over another is rediculous. A person qualified for these jobs must look for balace and represent all equally. To chose a side in a Ward issue is to turn your back on the rest of the Ward. Political suicide! A Mayor or Councillor should be impartial and first and foremost obay the LAW and if the LAW is wrong then there are processes to amend the law. Our community has never been so devided on an issue which is Palestine and Isreal, neither of which are in Ward 27. Focus must be on the Ward...or City...all of the Ward...all of the City...you can't be off fighting battles on the other side of the world with out taking time to study. A studied response is fine but a response influenced by a hand full of Lobbiest with a personal agenda is wrong. Odd Kristyn bought into it and chooses one view over another...no balance here. Our city councillors and Mayor will have jurestiction over the running of the city. Our Provincial and Federal Governments may want to engage in Middle East Politics but I for one don't want my people sidetracked by issues overwhich they have no control and are lacking all the facts. Focus on the job your elected to do...serve all even those whith whom you don't personally agree. Our governments serve the Gay community but don't necessarily agree with us. Any Political movement should be seperate and not masquading as Gay Pride. Give us back our victory and if you want to fight another fight...declare yourselve and see if you get followers.
TIM DEVLIN, TORNONTO ONTARIO
09/27/10 1:51 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
FIXING CITY HALL
On October 25th, you can vote for positive, tangible change by electing Ken Chan as your next Ward 27 councillor. His priorities include a city hall that RESPECTS your TAX DOLLARS, a TRANSPORTATION PLAN that KEEPS THE CITY MOVING, SAFER PARKS and STREETS, and a STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY. For more information about where he stands on issues that affect our everyday lives or to volunteer, take a sign or donate, visit www.votekenchan.ca or www.facebook.com/kenchan.workingforyou.
Ken Chan Campaign, Toronto Ontario
09/28/10 9:47 AM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
No Limits of FreeSpeech can be Disaterous
Smitherman correctly warns that a no limits on "Free Speech" policy for Pride, may legally allow any crackpot to voice their opinions in the Pride Parade in the future. "Free speech" is too vast. Technically anyone Gay or Straight should be allowed to be in the parade under the concept of "Free Speech." The QAIA group is a mere detail. We must decide on what is the purpose of Pride and draft guidelines on what types of groups are appropriate to this venue. That may include political protest or whatever--but groups should be on topic. The Pride Parade is huge. It needs parameters and guidelines. Calling the issue censorship was sheer cheap sensationalism.
Smitherman is Correct, Toronto Ont
09/28/10 11:58 AM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
Unprofessional Reporting
The interviewer is argumentatively trying to convince the interviewees to love the QAIA group. Xtra is pushing its own biases under the guise of “Free Speech.” This is unprofessional reporting. Mayor and City Councilor qualifications must be judged for their ability serve a greater purpose than to allow a silly group to march in the parade. I am tired of hearing their name.
XTRA is Biased, Toronto Ont
09/28/10 12:26 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
I'm voting for George
The view of Matt Mills and Xtra is completely at odds with a great number of people in our community. Smitherman is absolutely right and he handled that interview/lecture/propaganda speech very well. Contrary to what Xtra and other supporters of QuAIA and unconditional free speech at Pride claim, the issue is far from resolved. The great fury of Pride 2010 was largely fueled by this publication, and Wong Tam kissing arse to Xtra for their coverage is laughable. If you gave a hundred different groups a megaphone and told them to go nuts, you'd have one hell of a shit show, and that's what Pride is becoming with the emergence of all these non-gay issue groups.
Ryan, Toronto ON
09/30/10 11:52 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
where to draw the line
I agree that unlimited free speech isn't helpful for Pride, however I'd draw the line at banning illegal hate speech only. QuAIA never used hate speech and isn't a hate group, the fact is if it was the policies of any other country besides Israel being criticized no one would have taken notice, just like they don't notice any of the other groups critical of critical of whatever issues in whatever country. I see no reason that Israel should be treated differently than any other country and a ban on criticism of it put in place, that is censorship no matter how much you look at it, you are saying that this speech isn't allowed at Pride, that most definitely is Pride censoring the community no matter how much you don't want to hear what QuAIA has to say. Pride should represent the entire LGBT community in all its diversity and not ban one segment of it because you don't like their politics. It is unfortunate that the issue over QuAIA came to dominate so much of this past Pride but that wasn't the fault of QuAIA but was the sole fault of those who would attack the entire community by working to get Pride shut down for everyone in order to try and silence those whose politics they disagree with. Pride is for the entire community, QuAIA is just one tiny segment of that community, there is no reason they couldn't have opposed QuAIA without trying to get Pride shut down, they did so because they don't care about Pride or the community, all they care about is silencing those with the "wrong" opinion of Israeli policy. I don't agree with everything QuAIA says or does but there's no way I could ever take the side of those trying to silence legitimate political discourse by attacking Pride and by extension the entire LGBT community in Toronto for whom Pride is put on for.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
10/01/10 7:36 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
Why not Pantalone?
Pantalone was the only mayoral candidate who said free speech at Pride was important even if it made some uncomfortable, all the others were ready to cut Pride's funding except for him, even Smitherman didn't stand up for continuing to fund Pride at he time at least. Wavering and saying what you think is politically most advantageous is the best we can hope for from Smitherman. Pantalone is a man of principles who stood up for those principles without worrying about maybe losing votes because he knows its the right thing to do. I admire that about Pantalone. The more I see Smitherman trying to be like Ford the less I think he'd be a decent mayor. Smitherman saw a right wing candidate doing well so he went right wing too, Pantalone, and Ford for that matter, have been the only two candidates who stood firm by their beliefs and haven't change direction with each latest poll. Smitherman is a weasel, Pantalone is a man of principle. I'm hoping Smitherman keeps dropping in the polls and Pantalone takes the lead as the opposition to Ford, with Pantalone we can rest assured our city is in safe experienced hands, with Smitherman who knows what direction he'll take next week, he's already too right wing for me.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
10/01/10 7:52 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
The QuAIA candidates
I assume that QuAIA supporters will be voting for Joe Pantalone for mayor (since he supported QuAIA marching in Pride). In like manner, I assume that QuAIA supporters will be voting for Kristyn Wong-Tam for city councillor (since she owned and paid for the QuAIA website). The remaining question is whether Xtra will formally endorse those candidates. While QuAIA and its support of homophobic Muslim governments in Palestine is the most important issue for Xtra this year, I don't know if Xtra will go that far in pissing off Smitherman and Chan.
Roy, Toronto Ontario
10/01/10 8:59 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
support quaia marching but for george for mayor
I assume those supporting the exclusion of QuAIA in the parade/march will be voting for Ford. I supported QuAIA marching in the parade --the LGBT community is inclusive to exclusive--but probably am not voting for Joe (a nice NDP er who has been at City Hall 29 years & the last 4 yrs as Miller's Deputy--btw Rich, Joe was against QuAIA marching before he was for them marching after PT reversed itslef) but for George as in my opinion he is the most likely to defeat Ford and he is overall a downtown gay progressive politician (though I admit not so progressive on Pride inclusion but no one is perfect). We cannot afford to have country bumpkin (against bike lanes, the arts, and most downtown issues) like Ford as our Mayor. And I favour term limits for Council (two to three terms max) and the same for Mayor. I am divided re Councillor between Christ Tindal (a progressive Green), Kristyn WT (a progressive NDPer) and the indefatiguable & intelligent Susan Gapka (another NDP er). So we don't all think alike on the pro QUaia marching (and I suspect for those on the other side there are other more pressing issues to to consider...)
james dubro, toronto ontario
10/01/10 9:37 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
we are inclusive not exclusive
that should be "inclusive NOT exclusive" above....let's move beyond QuAia marching (they did march and all was fine as I knew it would be) in voting for Mayor and Council--it is not the only or most outstanding city issue. Xtra did a great job covering the controversy (and in covering various political positions now), but it is after all one of many contentious issues--and Ford is on the wrong side of most of them from my longtime (41 years) downtown LGBT point of view.
james dubro, toronto ontario
10/01/10 9:45 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
anyone but Ford
Realistically I'll be voting for whoever has the best chance of beating Ford, I'm just hoping that person is Pantalone and not Smitherman who has shifted too far to the right for my liking, but even he would be far better than Ford and I live in south Etobicoke not downtown, mind you I think south Etobicoke's issues are more in line with downtown sort of issues but regardless not everyone in the inner suburbs likes Ford at all.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
10/02/10 3:09 PM EST
Report this comment to moderator.