John Tory is right when he says there is something wrong with the way the City of Toronto funds public events. As mayor he said he would stop funding the Toronto Pride Parade if it continued to allow a float from Queers Against Israeli Apartheid. Every year, the Toronto arbiters of what is acceptable at funded events concludes that this abusive behaviour does not offend the City’s standards. Why not? Would our standards be offended by a group called Queers Against Palestinian Suicide Bombers? Would the City fund the Santa Claus Parade if there was a contingent from Queers Against Homophobic Saint Nick? None of this language is about free speech. All these statements are brazenly-calculated insults which no one would listen to if they had not been inserted into otherwise decent public occasions. The Israeli Apartheid crowd are babblers who can’t make a coherent argument. It’s a sad commentary on the administration of the City that its rigid notion of what’s offensive doesn’t recognize such obvious abuse.
Hear! Hear!