October 01
MP says comments on aid, religion 'torqued'
Anders accused by lawyer of saying aid workers should push Christianity, English

Jason Markusoff
The Calgary Herald


Wednesday, October 01, 2008



CREDIT: Lorraine Hjalte, The Calgary Herald
Conservative MP Rob Anders, who is seeking his fifth term in Calgary, claims his comments on changing outsiders' language to English and faith to Christianity have been 'twisted.'

CALGARY - A lawyer and humanitarian says Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders told her he believes Canadian diplomacy and humanitarian work should focus on changing foreigners' language to English and their faith to Christianity.

Donna Kennedy-Glans said Mr. Anders made the remarks to her during a private dinner in June -- although the veteran politician insists his comments are being "twisted" by someone with an agenda.

Ms. Kennedy-Glans, a Calgary West constituent, said she has come forward in the middle of the election campaign because she wants fellow voters to understand his perspective.

She recognizes missionary work has value, but as the founder of a volunteer agency that helps train female professionals in Muslim countries such as Nigeria and Indonesia, she believes Mr. Anders' apparent views pose a security risk to Canadians abroad.

"If anybody in the world saw or heard that the MP in my riding was saying that he thought humanitarian agencies should go out and change religions, I am at personal risk and so are the volunteers that get on the plane and go do this work," said Ms. Kennedy-Glans, founder of Calgary-based Bridges Social Development.

Mr. Anders said yesterday her accusations misconstrue his position, noting he's regularly donated his time and money to helping organizations in Tibet, which practise a different religion and speak a foreign language.

Asked several times whether he said or believes in the views attributed to him by Ms. Kennedy-Glans, Mr. Anders said: "She is badly torquing and twisting the conversation we had," he said. "I was privately donating to a Tibetan orphanage that obviously has Buddhist values."

Ms. Kennedy-Glans said Mr. Anders' comments came as the pair and a dinner companion, local doctor and anti-poverty advocate Bob Dickson, were discussing Mr. Anders' opinion that security and defence take priority over "constructive engagement" such as diplomacy, foreign policy and humanitarian development.

"When pushed to explore the merits of constructive engagement, Rob Anders advised that if constructive engagement internationally could enable Canadians to influence 'others' (non-Canadians) to be 'more like us,' then he is supportive of such constructive engagement," Ms. Kennedy-Glans said in a signed statement. "When pressed for details, Rob Anders indicated that 'more like us' had three components: One, ethnicity or race. Two, language, and three, faith. Rob said we couldn't change peoples' race, but we could change outsiders' language to English and faith to Christianity."

The Calgary West incumbent said he and Ms. Kennedy-Glans didn't see eye-to-eye on how the dollars that are freed up for international aid should be allocated, Mr. Anders said.

"She did not believe that missionary work or aid that in any way involved any religious elements and whatnot was appropriate," he added. "I have no problem whatsoever with missionary work or aid that involves religious organizations."

The national Conservative campaign would not comment on the private conversation.

Mr. Anders, 36, has a history of making controversial comments. In 2001, he blocked the House of Commons' unanimous consent to grant honorary citizenship to former South African president Nelson Mandela, branding the Nobel Peace Prize winner a "Communist and a terrorist."

He has also been a staunch defender of liberties of Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetans, harshly decrying the actions of the Chinese government.

Dr. Dickson, a family physician and member of foreign-aid advocacy group Results Canada, said he wanted to meet with Mr. Anders to try convincing the MP that Canada could be a stronger leader on the humanitarian front. The doctor said he clearly recalls Mr. Anders' position and agreed with Ms. Kennedy-Glans' recollection of the conversation.



Blahgzilla's Response

So just when are the good folks of Calgary West going to get it and finally bounce this buffoon? I mean that he says stupid things is old news, so the prople ought to be aware of this by now. My question to Donna Kennedy-Glans is this; why wait until now to bring this out? This dinner happened a long time ago, and the election campaign has been in full swing for a few weeks now. Why the hell could you not come forward with this months ago, and join the growing chorus of voices in Calgary West opposed to Anders? This news, and perhaps your efforts would have served the cause much better then.

In the meantime, to make a change, or at least a statement, vote Kirk Schmidt Calgary West.