- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

In response to last Wednesday's actions in Washington, citizens of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and across Canada have been writing to their MPs and  signing petitions calling for the Proud Boys to be named a terrorist organization. The petitions, also sent to local MPs, say in part:

"The recent events in the United States are deeply disturbing and a clear demonstration of the very real threat of far-right extremism. Radical and violent far-right groups are growing in Canada and this worries me greatly.

One such group – the Proud Boys – are among the worst. They agitate for, promote, and engage in political violence, and they were founded by a Canadian. That is why I am calling on your government to immediately designate the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization."

On receiving the petition, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff replied to one of his consituents, in part:

"I agree with the Hon Erin O’Toole that “the storming of the Capitol Building is an astonishing assault on freedom and democracy. I am deeply saddened to see chaos grip our greatest ally [January 6].

"Further, I agree with Erin’s statement in direct reaction to calls for the Proud Boys to be listed as a terrorist organization that “Canada’s Conservatives have consistently stood against terrorism and extremism wherever it is found and whatever its motivation. We will always support measures to keep Canadians safe from the threat of terror acts including from any group motivated by white supremacy. Conservatives support the listing of various white supremacist groups as terrorist organizations.”

                              - Alex Ruff, MSC, CD,Member of Parliament,Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

Mr. Ruff also expressed concern in his e-mailed reply that the government has not yet acted upon a motion passed in the House of Commons in June 2018 to “immediately designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a listed terrorist entity under the Criminal Code of Canada".

"As such, I’m not sure if the Liberal government will choose to act in this case linked to the Proud Boys and bring forth the necessary legislative changes. We will see as the Minister of Public Safety has indicated in the media they are looking into it."