NDP wants Steve Bannon debate cancelled

The federal NDPis calling on organizers of a Toronto debate seriesto cancel an event that is set to include U.S. President Donald Trump's former strategist SteveBannon.

The party said havingBannonparticipate in the MunkDebates is inappropriate after the death of 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue this past weekend.

"I ask theMunkFoundation to cancel its invitation out of respect for the victims inPittsburgh," NDPMP Charlie Angus told CBCNews, in French.

"It isn't acceptable to give provocateurs like Mr.Bannonthe opportunity to present their extreme views," he said.

An NDP spokesperson later confirmed Angus' views reflect those of the party.

Bannonis scheduled to debate conservative commentatorDavidFrum on Friday evening at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall about "the rise of populism."

Bannonwill be arguing in favour of the resolution: "The future of Western politics is populist not liberal."Frumwill argue against. The event was announced in early September.

Angus saidBannon"feed[s] divisions in our society," contributingto a climate where Muslim and Jewish communities are beingattacked.

FellowNDPMP Nathan Cullen would not say if he's against Bannon'sappearance, but noted it raises the difficult issue of protecting freedom of speech while mitigating the possible impact of harmful speech.

"We've seen so tragically the effects of those in politics, in public discourse, when they spread hate that others pick up that language and turn it intoactions," Cullen said.

Critics have attackedBannonfor stoking racial divisions and advocating for far-right ideas, both inside the White House and during his time heading theBreitbartNews Network.

Bannononce describedBreitbartas "the platform for the alt-right." But while admitting the website attracts racists, homophobes and anti-Semites, he has vowed he doesn't hold those views.

'Part of our democracy'

Despite the criticism, the organizers don't appear to be backing down.

Rudyard Griffiths, chair of the Munk Debates, sent a statement Tuesday morning saying the organizationlooks forward to the event. He added that substantive debatehelps the public better understand society's challenges.

"For over a decade, the Munk Debates have provided a neutral public forum to discuss challenging issues and ideas. In this context, the rise of populist politics in western societies was an obvious topic to tackle at our upcoming debate," he wrote.

"We believe we are providing a public service by allowing their ideas to be vigorously contested and letting the public draw their own conclusions from the debate. In our increasingly polarized societies we often struggle to see across ideological and moral divides."

Liberal MP Adam Vaughan, who represents that area of Toronto, said he would have preferred if Bannon hadn't been invited, but addedit's not for politicians to decide who can speak at events.

Vaughan said offeringBannona platform won't help people understand populism. Rather, it "inflames problems and exaggerates issues."

"He's intentionally provocative. We've seen that dangerous people don't need much provocation to do some pretty serious damage," said Vaughan."The attacks against religious institutions even in Toronto are intensifying."

Maxime Bernier, leader of the new People's Party of Canada, sided with freedom ofexpression.

"It's part of our democracy," he said in French. "People who we don't share the same opinion are nonetheless welcome to have a debate."

Bernier said he doesn't share all of Bannon's ideas and that the timing of the event is not very good in light of the events in Pittsburgh.

The interim leader of the Bloc Qubcois, Mario Beaulieu, said freedom of expression should be given precedence though there should be no invitation to hatred or violence.