George Galloway finally arrives in Canada

The Toronto Star:

British activist and former MP George Galloway has landed on Canadian soil — 18 months later than he had planned.

Galloway was greeted by about 100 supporters as he arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Saturday evening. Many were holding handmade signs, either supporting Galloway or denouncing Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who put a stop to his planned visit in 2009.

“I’m very happy to be here in Canada and my presence here proves that Canada remains a country governed by laws and not by ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ politicians,” he said.

The outspoken British activist was interviewed by immigration officials for more than an hour on arrival. Galloway said they were thorough, but still, very courteous.

As soon as Galloway walked through the arrival gate, people starting yelling “Welcome back, welcome back.” He hugged and kissed his Canadian legal team and several of his supporters.

Galloway is in Canada with the intention of resuming an anti-war speaking tour that was put on hold 18 months ago.

Initially scheduled to speak in Canada in March 2009, Galloway decided not to come after the federal government said he would likely be turned away.

Kenney declared last year that Galloway should not be allowed into Canada because he had provided support to the Palestinian Hamas government, which Ottawa considers a terrorist organization (Galloway contends the money was intended for aid purposes, and not to support Hamas).

But a ruling from a federal judge last week said the Conservative government had tried to politically suppress Galloway's opinions.

Galloway has lashed out at Kenney, saying the government’s decision to bar him from Canada cost him seat in the British Parliament and put strain on him and his family.

He said he will discuss taking legal action against Kenney.

“I have been defamed in a way which is scarcely possible to exaggerate. For a high-profile politician to be announced to the world as a terrorist . . . (it) placed my life in danger.”

“The issue is free speech, and what the Canadian government believes people can and cannot hear,” said Galloway supporter Fava Zaharuk, from a group called Toronto Coalition to Stop the War.

“I’m here because Mr. Galloway definitely should have the right to speak,” added supporter Ellen Shifrin. She called the earlier decision to bar Galloway “insane.”

“It was clearly a political move,” she said.

Galloway will address a rally at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto on Sunday where he will deliver the message he had planned to deliver back in 2009.