The Domestic and International Nazi Problem for Canada | Op-Ed
Written by: Jason Unruhe
An uncomfortable reality has revealed itself in Canada. An MP for the Conservative Party has been found taking money from a well-known neo-Nazi. Upon investigation by Press Progress, “Elections Canada records that show neo-Nazi Paul Fromm donated $131 to the Conservative Party of Canada in 2020.”
When reached for comment, Conservative Party Communications Director Cory Hann, did not deny the monetary contribution – but he did say that the donation was directed towards a single candidate who had failed to win a seat.
“This individual donated to Derek Sloan’s leadership campaign in August, not to Mr. O’Toole or the Conservative Party,” Hann said. “As per the leadership contest rules, the party merely processed the donations of leadership campaigns.”
“Mr. O’Toole is outraged that anyone would accept donations from this individual and will be looking into the matter.”
Fromm describes himself as a “white nationalist”, rejecting the term Nazi. He opposes the use of the term because he feels it was “meant to belittle Adolf Hitler’s party”. Despite these linguistic gymnastics, he has been identified as a neo-Nazi by many Canadian anti-hate organizations.
He has also been photographed in support of a terrorist group, “Blood and Honour,” an “international neo-Nazi network”. This label of terrorist was added by the Canadian government last year, and the first time a white nationalist group has been added.
Fromm has publicly supported Sloan in efforts to repeal human rights legislation protecting gender identity, and opposing the use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sloan himself has been a source of obvious racism within the Conservative Party. He has attempted to fight against legislation that would outlaw “conversion therapy”, a form of torture that attempts to force someone into being heterosexual. He has also accused Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, of working for China because she wouldn’t push hostilities with the country over COVID-19, while being Chinese herself. For his efforts, there were unsuccessful calls to kick him from the Party.
However, now that Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has been made aware of the situation, he has initiated the process to remove him from the party.
What I think is important here is that this was the last straw for the Conservative Party. While accusing someone of being disloyal to Canada because of their ethnic origin wasn’t enough. Voting to support legalized torture in the form of conversion therapy wasn’t enough. Despite all the neo-Nazi statements and actions, (which are actually worse than taking the money,) it took crossing this red line to stand up to him.
Consistently the Conservative Party has looked the other way on Sloan’s neo-Nazi ideological affiliation. Intentional or not, it is certainly there.
Since the election of Donald Trump, there has been a surge of white nationalism in Canada. It should frighten other Canadians. These closeted Nazis have been supportive of the Conservative Party and the far-right Wild Rose Party. Support for Donald Trump by the Canadian public has been shockingly high. Not surprisingly, the further right one leans, the greater their support for him is.
Canadians should be much more concerned about white supremacy and neo-Nazi ideology. The Canadian government under Trudeau has been very complicit in the spreading of it in Europe. Despite his “feminist” and “progressive” veneer, he’s been quite supportive of neo-Nazis in Ukraine.
Canadian tax dollars have gone to supporting Nazi groups in Ukraine with the express purpose of undermining democracy in the country that was orientating away from US hegemonic control. During a political crisis in the country, Nazis stormed the capital slaughtering untold numbers of people. Soon after the Nazis came out on top and seized the government. Canada was quick to support the new fascist government as were the United States and the UK.
The primary reason for this was a power struggle in the country. An orientation away from the US in favour of Russia was growing. The east end of the country is ethnically Russian. In the political collapse of Ukraine, people saw an opportunity to join with Russia itself – because they saw the rise of fascist forces. These regions, including the much-contested Crimean Peninsula, voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia.
Canada even deliberately hires neo-Nazis for the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Chrystia Freeland is connected with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC). Both groups glorify the fascist Union of Ukrainian Nationals group and Ukrainian Nazi collaborators. They openly glorify Stepan Bandera, a fascist Nazi collaborator.
Canada has openly supported and funded these Nazis for one simple purpose: Undermining Russian influence in Europe. The geopolitical landscape has been changing. Many countries that suffer under US and UK imperialism have been looking for alternatives in Russia and China. By doing so they remove the exploitative relationship they have with those countries.
This is all part of greater political maneuvering. However, in no way does this justify adding and abetting neo-Nazis. We Canadians have to recognize our own homegrown fascism, and the fascism we enable across the globe... all of it to serve capital.
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