For the second time in three months, federal Conservative leadership hopeful Michael Chong has blasted fellow candidate Kellie Leitch for her “divisive” plans.
One day following the Jan. 29 shooting at a Quebec City mosque that left six people dead, Chong issued a statement condemning Leitch and U.S. President Donald Trump for inciting hatred.
“Demagogues and wannabe demagogues, playing to fears and prejudices, have created the space for hate to grow,” Chong said in a statement posted to Facebook on Jan. 30.
Though he did not mention Leitch or Trump by name, one of his campaign officials later confirmed Chong was indeed referencing the Simcoe-Grey MP and American president.
Four days later, during a debate in Halifax, Chong set his sights on another fellow candidate, reality TV star Kevin O’Leary.
Chong blasted O’Leary for releasing a video in which the Shark Tank magnate blasted automatic weapons at a gun range – on the same day of the funeral for three of the six mosque shooting victims.
“(He) had the audacity to post that video on the very same day we were burying the victims of one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history,” said Chong.
“That video will cost us the next election.”
‘Canadian values’
In his Jan. 30 statement Chong noted many Canadians are worried about the implications of the United States’ ban on immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“Canada and the US did away with race-based immigration policies, and immigration policies based on national origin or religion, in the 1960s. That’s the way it should stay,” he declared.
Chong took aim at Leitch’s plan to screen new visitors, immigrants and refugees for “Canadian values,” which he said is akin to “playing footsie with hate.”
Chong has criticized Leitch’s “Canadian values” proposal in the past, including in November, when Leitch called Trump’s election “an exciting message and one that we need delivered in Canada as well.”
On Jan. 30 Chong stated, “Canada has one of the most robust screening systems in the world.” He also pointed out recent terrorist attacks in Canada were not perpetrated by immigrants or refugees, but rather “native-born Canadians.”
