Conservatives' #BarbaricCulturalPractices pledge stirs reaction

The Conservatives on Friday pledged to establish a tip line for reporting "barbaric cultural practices" to the RCMP. Here's how some reacted on Twitter.

Tweets call attention to missing and murdered indigenous women and 'muzzling' of scientists

CBC News Posted: Oct 02, 2015 5:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 3, 2015

Minister of Status of Women Kellie Leitch stands at a separate press conference following the National Roundtable for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

The Conservatives on Friday pledged to establish a tip line for reporting "barbaric cultural practices" to the RCMP, bringing a good deal of reaction on Twitter under a hashtag coined by Kellie Leitch.

Leitch and fellow Conservative candidate Chris Alexander said a re-elected Conservative government would establish the tip line and would increase funds to help international organizations stop forced marriages of young girls.

"The Conservative government is not afraid to defend Canadian values," Leitch said at a press conference in Ajax, Ont. "By contrast, (Liberal Leader) Justin Trudeau and (NDP Leader) Tom Mulcair are more worried about political correctness than tackling these difficult issues that impact women."

Leitch, the Conservative candidate for Simcoe-Grey and the labour minister and minister for the status of women in the Harper government, tweeted ahead of the announcement with the hashtag #BarbaricCulturalPractices.

Very proud to be in #Ajax this morning w/ @calxandr to announce strong new @CPC_HQ measures to fight #BarbaricCulturalPractices #elxn42
—@KellieLeitch

Some on Twitter used Leitch's hashtag to condemn the announcement.

Trying to convince citizens that people of a specific race are toxic. Don't let history repeat itself. #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@sincerelysab

Dividing a nation and cultivating racial/religious animosity in an effort to hold on to power. #BarbaricCulturalPractices #elxn42
—@joshlearn

The Canadian media better start calling this #elxn42 strategy what it is: racist. And they need to use that word. #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@Ian_Mosby

Ignoring expert advice on refugee health care, crime prevention, harm reduction and climate change #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@theturner

Is the #BarbaricCulturalPractices tip line open yet? I'd like to report someone for overusing a dog whistle.
—@Marty_Chan

Others brought attention to missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada.

It's deeply meaningful that a country that has not dealt with residential schools' legacy is introducing a #BarbaricCulturalPractices bill.
—@elamin88

#BarbaricCulturalPractices - labeling Indigenous peoples 'terrorists' because they get in the way of unfettered resource extraction #Cdnpoli
—@BarbaraXLow

You know what are #BarbaricCulturalPractices? Ignoring the plight of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women for YEARS. YEARS.
—@prenerk

Disappearing, murdering & targeting Indigenous women & queer people to get our land & then blaming us. #BarbaricCulturalPractices #MMIWG2S
—@betasamosake

Some also raised what has been called the "muzzling" of Canadian scientists.

Muzzling scientists so Canadians can't access the information they pay for. #BarbaricCulturalPractices #elxn42 #cdnpoli
—@peterlouwe

Defunding the Experimental Lakes Area #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@theturner

shutting down research libraries and throwing contents in a dumpster #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@ugottabekiddin

Leitch's colleague Jason Kenney drew attention to the specific practices targetted by the legislation.

A Conservative govt will do more to help women & girls victimized by forced marriages,female genital mutaltation etc http://t.co/zpMe1i5TtA
—@jkenney

A few used sardonic humour to express their opinion of the move.

72 day election campaigns. #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@DPHowat

Canadian content laws that force radio to play Nickleback #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@FarAndWide

Using "impact" as a verb. #BarbaricCulturalPractices
—@kingdomofevan

Which drew an ironic observation from one conservative commentator.

Losing twitter strategy: trending #BarbaricCulturalPractices sarcastically, drawing attention to CPC policy that's supported by 86% of CDNs.
—@stephen_taylor

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