Conservative MPS dodge prostesting students
A meet-and-greet gone sour
VERONICA CARR STAFF
What was supposed to be an informal meet-andgreet at the University of Manitoba in University Centre between students and staff with conservative federal ministers turned into a gay-rights debate with some liberal-minded students.
Although numerous ministers announced plans to attend the function on Nov. 16 — including Rona Ambrose, Pierre Poilivere, Russ Hebert and Peter MacKay — only Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South, showed up.
“I’m really happy to be talking to students at the U of M today, and I look forward to addressing any issues that may arise,” commented Bruinooge, who appeared half-way through the event.
Same-sex marriage became the topic of the hour and individuals from the Womyn’s Centre gathered together in cheers and dances to express their frustration with the Conservatives trying to bring the issue back to the table.
Bruinooge stood back and watched the heated debate between his assistant, Ryan Schmidt, and students.
“Gay couples already have all the rights and benefits, why do they need to get married? Don’t you think it’s kind of a slap in the face to those who have respect for marriage and who love marriage as it was traditionally seen, as a man and a woman?” commented Schmidt.
Bruinooge, who was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in 2006, is the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and federal interlocutor for Métis and non-status Indians. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba.
“It’s total bullshit that they are even trying to bring the subject up for debate again,” declared Kim Parry, co-coordinator for the Womyn’s Centre and a fourth-year women’s studies student.
Same-sex marriage was legalized across Canada by the Civil Marriage Act enacted on July 20, 2005 by Paul Martin’s Liberal government. Despit this, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a campaign pledge to reexamine the motion and put it up for debate once again after he was sworn in earlier this year.
When it came to the shouting and barking of protesting students, Bruinooge said, “everyone is allowed to have freedom of thought. Unfortunately sometimes people like to suppress other people’s ideas and that’s not something I stand for at all. These people have an opinion and I’m always willing to hear them.”
Dozens of protestors gathered with signs that read “Stop the Misogyny of War,” “Books not Bombs” and “More Dogs in Parliament.”
The signs were planned when individuals heard there was a possibility that Peter MacKay, foreign affairs minister, would be in the university. MacKay alledgedly referred to his ex-girlfriend and Liberal MP Belinda Stronach as “a dog” in the House of Commons in October — an event that wouldn’t be taken too lightly.
“It’s too bad Peter MacKay didn’t show up — I’m pretty sure we scared him off,” remarked Maredith Mitchell, a first-year law student and a radical cheerleader. Mitchell brought dog treats to school on the day of the debate in hopes of getting a rise out of MacKay.
The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) presented Bruinooge with an oversized — and in their opinion overdue — cheque for $1.5 billion that the government failed to give university students last year when the Liberals were still in power.
“I understand your frustration as students, but please understand the Conservative government. We are left with a bill that the last leaders failed to pay and we are doing the best we can with what we have,” Bruinooge responded to the UMSU complaint.
Along with the meet-and-greet, Steven Fletcher, Charleswood MP and CPC Youth Caucus Chair, was out to show his support. Students were invited to a Conservative Youth Caucus reception at the Tavern United pub later that evening.
