Conservative candidate’s office asks multicultural groups to wear “ethnic costumes” to event
Posted April 13, 2011 9:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, On. – The Canadian Arab Federation said it is shocked by an email sent to their organization by the campaign team of an Etobicoke Conservative candidate.
The email asks members of the Arab community and other multicultural groups to attend a campaign event with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper dressed in “ethnic costumes,” on Thursday.
The Canadian Arab Federation President Khaled Mouammar said the email is incredibly insulting.
“This reminds me of when we had colonizers in Africa – you bring the Chief of the tribes and you take a picture with them, but you are colonizing their country at the same time. It’s really shameful,” he said.
The email was sent out by the office of Etobicoke Centre candidate Ted Opitz.
Opitz told 680News that the e-mail was sent out by a campaign staffer without his knowledge, and he does not support it.
A representative for the National Harper campaign says the email was obviously a mistake and that the National campaign does not endorse the email and feels it is completely inappropriate.
The staffer has since been removed from his position and kicked off the campaign.
In response to the email a rally has been planned for Thursday evening at the Double Tree near the Hilton Hotel where the Conservative event is being held.
Organizers say the Stephen Harper’s ‘Ethnic Costume’ Party & Rally is “In response to this patronizing and offensive event” and they are asking people to come “dressed in your traditional “ethnic costume” – whether you’re Chinese, Arab, Portuguese, Italian, South Asian, Irish, Vulcan, Klingon, Zombie, or Ewok.”
The group says they want to show the Conservatives that “ethnic voters” are not props for photo-ops.
An event has been created on Facebook and has already attracted a number of people. You can find more on the event by clicking here.
