Tourism Commission Looks to Woo Gay Couples to Canada

CFRA News Talk Radio ^ | June 16, 2006 | Josh Pringle

[UnbornChild]

Tourism Commission Looks to Woo Gay Couples to Canada Josh Pringle Friday, June 16, 2006

The Canadian Tourism Commission wants to attract same-sex couples to Canada.

The agency has launched an advertising blitz in the United States to woo gay couples to tie the knot in Canada.

If you want to express your objections:

http://www.canadatourism.com/ctx/app/en/ca/contactSubmit.do

I encourage Americans to write as well. You just know American gay couples will use this to get their unions acknowledged by American courts.

[Clemenza]

From what I have seen, the "gay community" in Canada is concentrated in the three biggest cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal), much as in the U.S. (although there are plenty here who are attracted to college towns and resort areas as well).

Gays from the U.S. would rather go to Europe or the Carribbean (Dominican Republic very popular with my gay former coworkers), and increasingly South America (Buenos Aires, birthplace of Cacique, has become increasingly popular on the gay travel circuit). I seriously doubt that they would go out of their way to visit Le Village in Montreal.

[fanfan]

Just teasing, does nobody in Canada have a sense of humor?

I won't presume to speak for Canada, I can only speak for myself.

I have a wonderful sense of humour with people I can trust.

Good evening.

[mkjessup]

The Noob "seasonedtraditionalist" opined:
Stupid Canadians.

Whereupon the esteemed fanfan responded with admirable restraint:
I am one of many Canadian Conservatives on this forum.
Welcome to Free Republic.

Canadians have NO monopoly on stupidity, one needs only to witness the insane and inane antics of the 'Rat Party's leftists like Pelosi, Reid, Dean, et al, to understand that when it comes to stupidity, there are NO border controls.

(Where DO these freakin' people COME from?!?)

[Tall_Texan]

LOL. Best joke of the night.

[conservative in nyc]

According to the Canadian Tourism Commission's website, the commission is a Crown corporation of the federal government and a public-private partnership. 17 of the board's 26 seats are held by members of the private sector, the other 9 are held by public sector officials from the provincial and territorial authorities responsible for tourism. I have no idea who has responsibility to name the public members of the commission, but given that the Librano$ were in power for 12 years before the Tories came to power less than six months ago, I suspect a lot of the members were appointed by the Liberals, if they are appointed.

The commission's Chairman is the Honourable Charles Lapointe, a former Liberal MP and Trudeau cabinet member from Quebec. The commission seems to get some funding from the Canadian federal government - here's a letter from the commission whining to the Liberals that their proposed $80 million funding for FY2006 wasn't enough; they wanted $100 million more.

[Fair Go]

Methinks this will make a lot of Canadians not very happy.

[spatso]

"Gays from the U.S. would rather go to Europe or the Carribbean (Dominican Republic very popular with my gay former coworkers), and increasingly South America (Buenos Aires, birthplace of Cacique, has become increasingly popular on the gay travel circuit). I seriously doubt that they would go out of their way to visit Le Village in Montreal."

Ah, but you miss the reason why this story is so delicate. It is not that the gays want Canada. Canada wants gays. My goodness they are such nice, sweet people. Of course, you know I meant that Canadians are such nice, sweet people.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What does the Koran say about gay marriage?

Topple a stone wall on them, IIRC

[spatso]

"I suspect a lot of the members were appointed by the Liberals, if they are appointed."


Even so, you would think the administration would be able to say, "don't do a special program for gays we don't like how it reflects on the overall image for Canada." I am beginning to think that planning for strategic priorities in Canada is being coordinated by Comedy Central.

[Candor7]

Tourism Canada Selects Theme Song For Gay Tourism Initiative:

Blow th' Man Down

Oh! Blow th' man down, bullies. Blow th' man down. W-ay! Hey? Blow th' man down!

Oh! Blow th' man down bullies. Blow 'im right down. Give us th' time an' we'll blow th' man down!

[Fair Go]

And on what opinion poll do you base this judgement?

[spatso]

"And on what opinion poll do you base this judgement?"

Given all the hostility and danger that exists, especially in respect of the war on terrorism, Canada stands alone as a beacon to the world wanting to cultivate their image in terms of their sensitivity to the gay community. I have come to the conclusion that there is no great merit in any serious discussion on this subject. I tried that before. So, one is just better to laugh about the entire matter.

Have you heard a joke about how many Canadians it takes to change a light bulb?

[fanfan]

(Where DO these freakin' people COME from?!?)

I don't know, but I wish they would go back there.

[Fair Go]

Now come on Professor Spatso. There are gay people in all countries and provided they don't harm anyone elese best leave them alone.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Just teasing, does nobody in Canada have a sense of humor?

Always the last resort of a bully.

[Vaquero]

"bone up"? bad word choice there.

and of course a completely honest mistake in its usage (snicker)

[spatso]

"Now come on Professor Spatso. There are gay people in all countries and provided they don't harm anyone elese best leave them alone."

I hope I don't have a problem with gay people. But, I may have a problem with Canadians. My primary concern is border security and I support the President in his initiative. I am much more security oriented than I am concerned about the immigration issues. So much attention has been focused on southern borders, little on the northern border. When you see Canada developing strategies to recruit gay tourists, it makes you wonder about their priorities. Can they be trusted? When Canadian posters on FR seem totally content with the choices their administration is making on this stuff, you have to wonder if they are they really conservative. Perhaps it is a unique Canadian version of conservative lite?

[kanawa]

...does nobody in Canada have a sense of humor?

No, We have a sense of humour tho'.

[spatso]

"Always the last resort of a bully."

Fair point. I think that the repetitive posting of positive gay stories about Canada on FR may be problematic. It points to a government that does not seem to be able to set its own agenda. Perhaps, I am being a bully when I try to place the problem on the Canadian contingent of FR. Yet, in their silence they appear to endorse their government's overall acquiescence in this matter. I would like to hear some people, other than myself, say the Canadian administration needs to get their priorities straight. And, when they do get their priorities straight they need to communicate those priorities with some real vigor.

[spatso]

"No, We have a sense of humour tho'."

For which, of course, I am deeply grateful.