Conservatives' #BarbaricCulturalPractices pledge stirs reaction
Tweets call attention to missing and murdered indigenous women and 'muzzling' of scientists
The Conservatives on Friday pledged to establish a tip line for reporting "barbaric cultural practices" to the RCMP, bringing a good deal of reaction on Twitter under a hashtag coined by Kellie Leitch.
Leitch and fellow Conservative candidate Chris Alexander said a re-elected Conservative government would establish the tip line and would increase funds to help international organizations stop forced marriages of young girls.
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"The Conservative government is not afraid to defend Canadian values," Leitch said at a press conference in Ajax, Ont. "By contrast, (Liberal Leader) Justin Trudeau and (NDP Leader) Tom Mulcair are more worried about political correctness than tackling these difficult issues that impact women."
Leitch, the Conservative candidate for Simcoe-Grey and the labour minister and minister for the status of women in the Harper government, tweeted ahead of the announcement with the hashtag #BarbaricCulturalPractices.
Very proud to be in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ajax?src=hash">#Ajax</a> this morning w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/calxandr">@calxandr</a> to announce strong new <a href="https://twitter.com/CPC_HQ">@CPC_HQ</a> measures to fight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@KellieLeitchSome on Twitter used Leitch's hashtag to condemn the announcement.
Trying to convince citizens that people of a specific race are toxic. Don't let history repeat itself. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@sincerelysabDividing a nation and cultivating racial/religious animosity in an effort to hold on to power. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@joshlearnThe Canadian media better start calling this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> strategy what it is: racist. And they need to use that word. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@Ian_MosbyIgnoring expert advice on refugee health care, crime prevention, harm reduction and climate change <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@theturnerIs the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> tip line open yet? I'd like to report someone for overusing a dog whistle.
—@Marty_ChanOthers brought attention to missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada.
It's deeply meaningful that a country that has not dealt with residential schools' legacy is introducing a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> bill.
—@elamin88<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> - labeling Indigenous peoples 'terrorists' because they get in the way of unfettered resource extraction <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cdnpoli?src=hash">#Cdnpoli</a>
—@BarbaraXLowYou know what are <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>? Ignoring the plight of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women for YEARS. YEARS.
—@prenerkDisappearing, murdering & targeting Indigenous women & queer people to get our land & then blaming us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMIWG2S?src=hash">#MMIWG2S</a>
—@betasamosakeSome also raised what has been called the "muzzling" of Canadian scientists.
Muzzling scientists so Canadians can't access the information they pay for. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@peterlouweDefunding the Experimental Lakes Area <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@theturnershutting down research libraries and throwing contents in a dumpster <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@ugottabekiddinLeitch's colleague Jason Kenney drew attention to the specific practices targetted by the legislation.
A Conservative govt will do more to help women & girls victimized by forced marriages,female genital mutaltation etc <a href="http://t.co/zpMe1i5TtA">http://t.co/zpMe1i5TtA</a>
—@jkenneyA few used sardonic humour to express their opinion of the move.
72 day election campaigns. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@DPHowatCanadian content laws that force radio to play Nickleback <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@FarAndWideUsing "impact" as a verb. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a>
—@kingdomofevanWhich drew an ironic observation from one conservative commentator.
Losing twitter strategy: trending <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarbaricCulturalPractices?src=hash">#BarbaricCulturalPractices</a> sarcastically, drawing attention to CPC policy that's supported by 86% of CDNs.
—@stephen_taylor