European parliamentarian & CETA critic Jose Bove denied entry into Canada
by Brent Patterson - Council of Canadians
October 11, 2016
Jose Bove, an iconic anti-globalization activist and now a Member of the European Parliament, was barred from entering Canada today. The Council of Canadians had invited him to Canada to speak at several key events about his opposition to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Montreal-based Council of Canadians trade campaigner Sujata Dey says, "Bove was to speak at a public forum in Montreal this evening about CETA. But he was detained at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport for hours - without an explanation - and has now been ordered to leave the country."
Bove must report to the airport tomorrow for a 1 pm flight back to Europe.
Bove has now tweeted (in French): "#Canada Blocked for 3 hours at Montreal airport. Opponents of #CETA are not welcome in this country."
La Presse quotes his political aide Jean-Marc Desfilhes saying,
"No one has yet explained why. It's very curious. In Europe he is one of the most outspoken against the treaty with Canada and then he is blocked at the border. There has to be something political. He has no record, no problem with the law, is an elected member of the European Parliament, and he has a visa."
QMI quotes CSN organizer Louis-Serge Houle who says, "We do not understand why a French citizen is held at customs in this way."
It could be that French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will arrive in Canada tomorrow to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss CETA. Bove had earlier commented in a media release: "It's to Mr. Valls to come and sell you the dream by qualifying the agreement as 'progressive', but it is pure lie. It is urgent to fight against CETA on both sides of the Atlantic."
The Trudeau government has yet to comment on why an elected member of the European Parliament has been denied entry into Canada. The government should also explain how it can trumpet a 'free trade' agreement with the European Union, while at the same time prohibiting a French citizen and an elected European Union political representative from entering this country.
To help get an answer, please tweet - "PM @JustinTrudeau, why was @josebove denied entry into Canada? We join with the @CouncilofCDNs in wanting to hear his concerns about #CETA!"
Bove was also scheduled to be a keynote speaker at The Council of Canadians Groundswell 2016 conference in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador this coming Friday.
For more on the Council of Canadians campaign to stop CETA, please click here.
#StopCETA
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