In the good old days, it was New Democrat Party (NDP) city councillor Jack Layton who had Toronto officially declared a "nuclear weapons free zone".
Layton led a well-covered by the media 1987 protest objecting to the docking of the USS Oliver Hazzard Perry, which as things turned out was not carrying nuclear weapons but was only equipped to do so.
Layton is now leader of the federal NDP. In the decades that have passed since he declared T.O. nuclear weapons-free, our fair city has never been hit by a nuclear missile. But any who think that Toronto's never being nuked has anything to do with Layton's official declaration, would likely believe that President George W. Bush really will telephone Prime Minister Paul Martin in the event of a missile ever passing over Canada.
Layton and company are now boldly claiming success for Canada having recently nixed "Bush's Missile Defence scheme".
We thought it was Prime Minister Paul Martin who nixed the scheme, but it could be the mainline media got it wrong.
Meantime Layton and friends will be kicking up their heels tonight at a "Victory Party to celebrate our (emphasis Canada Free Press) win over Star Wars."
The Star Wars victorious will dance the night away at the Cecil Street Steelworker's Hall. "Come dance to the axes of Evil–playing good old rock and roll," say party invitations.
"Saturday, March 19 is the Day of the Major antiwar Rally here and around the world."
"You are invited to say NO to Bush's Ballistic Missile Defence scheme."
Wait a minute. We thought it was a "victory party to celebrate our win over Star Wars."
If victory is already in the bag, why are people still being invited to say NO to Bush's BMD scheme?
Could it be that saying no to the scheme is something like declaring Toronto a nuclear weapons-free on paper?
Canada is part of North america, if only geographically.
Special guests at the victory party are MPP Marilyn Churley, of banning the wearing of bikini Toronto City Council fame and no-nukes-here Layton.
Sponsors include a bevy of government and trade union sponsored pacifists: the Canada Peace alliance, Centre for Social Justice, People against Weapons in Space, the Raging Grannies, Students for Peace in Space, the Toronto and York Labour Councils, the Toronto Coalition To Stop the War, Toronto Danforth NDP, Toronto Centre NDP and Trinity-Spadina NDP.
"all peace groups, riding associations, unions and community groups are invited to share in the victory."
Missing from the group is Panties for Peace, a group that existed in the days when Layton was declaring Toronto a Nuclear Weapons-free Zone.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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