By Joshua Errett

With George’s arrival at the end of the month, the question to participate in the Ballistic Missile Defence System is more imminent than once thought. NDP leader Jack Layton (of mustache fame) and a slim majority of the Canadian public have come leaned toward the NO WAY side of the Missile debate. Prominent Canadians have also opposed using missiles for diplomacy. But, yesterday, Layton may have pushed too far with this “Bush-Martin” mock campaign signs.
As well-intentioned as Layton may be, he is misrepresenting the facts. The plan does not specify putting missiles or any other such weapons in space. PM and our leftist Defence Minister Bill Graham have even gone so far as to tell W. that Canada does not support putting weapons in space. Star Wars, Layton should know, is a Republican idea from the 1980′s, making the NDP’s “Stop Stars Wars” campaign a little outdated.

It goes without saying that the Torontoist is generally opposed weaponry of any kind, and can be counted in the majority opposed to Missile Defence as it has been outlined thus far. It should be noted, though, that Graham has a good record of standing up to the U.S., and perhaps is being more pragmatic than Layton might realise. He’s voted against invading Iraq, even when public opinion was in support of the invasion. He has held the foreign relations federal portfolio before, and seems to know what he’s doing.
He’s also very much in tune with the peace-loving French community, as the former president of Alliance Française de Toronto and purveyor of the French culture in Canada. Furthermore, he has a record for voting against restricting marriage to heterosexuals, and supports all gay rights-related bills. This all might have little to do with missile defence, but at least is a sign that Graham is a clear-thinking individual, Jack.