Ban 50 Cent, says Toronto MP
Last Updated Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:24:40 EST
CBC Arts
U.S. rapper 50 Cent should be barred from entering Canada, says Toronto MP Dan McTeague.
The Liberal politician asked Immigration Minister Joe Volpe on Tuesday to deny the artist entry for a Canadian tour scheduled to launch in Vancouver Dec. 3.
Toronto MP Dan McTeague.
McTeague says 50 Cent promotes gun violence, a message he feels Torontonians in particular don't need to hear. A record 48 people have been shot to death in the city so far this year.
50 Cent, who was born Curtis Jackson in Queens, N.Y., has a criminal record and would need a ministerial permit to enter Canada.
"I don't think people in Toronto or any urban centre need or want to hear Mr. Jackson's message right now," McTeague said.
"I think it's time we send a message of our own to those who glorify violence that their gratuitous violence and movies are not welcome in our country," McTeague said. "We need to do a better job at protecting Canadians from people whose message runs counter to all of our efforts of trying to curb gun violence."
50 Cent recently made his movie debut in Get Rich or Die Tryin', a violent semi-autobiographical street drama.
* FROM NOV. 9, 2005: 8 More Miles 50 Cent's cinematic debut
U.S. rapper 50 Cent (AP file Photo)
Volpe's spokesman Steven Heckbert said permits allowing those with criminal records to enter Canada are issued regularly.
"It's permission that's granted typically about 12,000 times a year," Heckbert told the Canadian Press.
"Whether the minister or departmental officials make a decision about intervening or not, it's really not appropriate for us to be talking about it in a public forum," he said.
50 Cent's tour is scheduled to stop in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and Saint John.
