Calling out Andrew Scheer's religious extremism - 2019-06-30
Calling out Andrew Scheer's religious extremism June 30, 2019,
Once again Andrew Scheer, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the man who wants to be the country's next prime minister, has refused to participate in Toronto's annual Pride parade. It's the third year in a row that Scheer has declined.
At a time when homophobic violence and abuse has seen a tragic upturn in the west (including Canada) – and when homosexuality is still considered a crime punishable by imprisonment or even execution in numerous countries – the reasons Scheer has offered for his absence have varied. But none have been credible.
There are, of course, a loud number of social conservatives in his party base, but they certainly don't form a majority, and within the parliamentary caucus leading figures such as Lisa Raitt attended this year's parade.