Jason Kenney has doubled-down on his criticism of David Suzuki’s immigration views and what he calls a "profound double standard" at play with the Canadian media.
The federal immigration minister was a guest on Sun News' The Source With Ezra Levanton Thursday, where he continued to slam the environmental icon for recent comments Kenney called "nuts."
"Although it’s the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced," Suzuki said. "Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries by depriving them of future leaders, and we want to increase our population to support economic growth. It’s crazy!"
Kenney took to Twitter on Wednesday to denounce the remarks as "toxic and irresponsible" and repeated much the same sentiment with Levant.
But Kenney also told Levant the fact that, in his view, little fuss was made of the remarks shows the media operates by two sets of rules.
"If a prominent conservative figure who had his kind of profile were to say anything even remotely like this, they would be run out of town on a rail," he said. "They would be stigmatized, marginalized, mocked, fired from any media involvement that they have. This would be called xenophobia and bigotry."
When later asked what he thought would happen if controversial CBC host Don Cherry said something similar, Kenney said Cherry would likely be fired immediately.
Kenney also questioned Suzuki’s reputation as a scientist, accusing him of espousing a "radical version of Malthusian demographic theory" which he called a "joke" concept from the 18th century.
Economist Thomas Robert Malthus predicted in 1798 a future where humans would run out of resources to survive on because of unchecked human population growth.
Suzuki has not publicly responded to Kenney's remarks.
But the key Tory minister also dragged a Liberal MP into the controversy.
Kenney called on Vancouver’s Joyce Murray, who received an endorsement from Suzuki in her failed federal Liberal leadership run, to denounce the environmentalist’s comments.
"Does she agree with David Suzuki that Canada is full?" he asked. "Is she happy to have received the endorsement of someone who has made the most anti-immigrant statements of any high-profile public figure that I can recall? Or will she and fellow travellers of Mr. Suzuki denounce this extreme anti-immigrant sentiment that she is giving voice to?"
Do you agree with Kenney that there is a double-standard with the media’s treatment of Suzuki? Do you feel Murray should denounce Suzuki?
Tell us in the comments.
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