A Liberal MP thinks the federal government should investigate a U.S.-based animal rights group under Canada's anti-terrorism laws after a pie was pushed into the face of Fisheries Minister Gail Shea.
Gerry Byrne's outrage follows an incident Monday in which Shea was hit in the face with a tofu cream pie as she was about to deliver a speech in Burlington, Ont.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has taken responsibility for the incident, saying it was part of a campaign "to stop the government's ill-advised sanction of the slaughter of seals."
In interviews Tuesday, Byrne called on the federal government to actually investigate whether PETA is acting as a terrorist organization.
"There has to be a review whether or not PETA has crossed the line now by attacking a federal minister of the Crown for the purpose of public intimidation of an office-holder," Bryne told CBC News.
PETA dismissed Byrne's criticism on Tuesday.
"Mr. Byrne's reaction is a silly, chest-beating exercise," president Ingrid Newkirk said in an email to The Canadian Press.
"It is unlikely to impress anyone who has a heart for animals or who is bright enough to spot the difference between a bomb and a tofu cream pie."
Meanwhile, in an Ontario court, the woman responsible for the pie incident was ordered to stay out of Canada except for her next court appearance.
Emily McCoy, 37, of New York City was taken into custody and charged with assault with a weapon after the incident in Burlington.
McCoy was granted bail on Tuesday.
She'll be back in court Feb. 24.
There is a publication ban on evidence from the hearing, as requested by McCoy's lawyer.
After the tofu cream pie was pushed into the minister's face, a woman started shouting as she was led away by officials.
"Shame on you Gail Shea ... It is a shame on Canada. It is a shame that she has not denounced this bloody seal hunt," the woman yelled.
Malpeque Liberal MP Wayne Easter described the protester's actions as "outrageous."
He said it would have been a much different outcome if it had been an American public official being assaulted by a Canadian protester.
"They constantly misinform the public on the seal hunt," he said.
"And they do these types of things to keep the issue alive and to raise money for themselves."
Shea, who represents the P.E.I. riding of Egmont, didn't require medical attention and returned to the podium after wiping the pie from her face.
Shea said afterward that the incident only strengthens her resolve to defend the hunt.
"If this is what it takes to defend the Canadian seal hunt then I'm very proud to do it," Shea said following the incident.
"This actually just strengthens my resolve to defend this industry."
With files by The Canadian Press, Canwest News Service
Liberal MP calls for terror investigation of PETA
- Published on January 27th, 2010
- Published on June 14th, 2010
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Comments
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- Deb
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:01
Some info in pieing:
The political act of pieing has its origins in the pie in the face gag from slapstick comedy, first popularized on film by movie director Mack Sennett around the year 1914 in his Keystone Cops silent movies. Throwing pies as a comedy staple came into its own in the Laurel & Hardy classic short film, The Battle of the Century (1927)[1] which reportedly required the use of four thousand pies. Pie-throwing became a convention of early shorts made by the Three Stooges,[2][3] and was also utilized by Charlie Chaplin, Bugs Bunny, Soupy Sales and Monty Python. The 1965 comedy, The Great Race, reputedly had the largest pie fight in cinematic history. -
- MP Byrne May B Right
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:24
Given some of the Reports re: PETA found on the Web MP Byrne may have a point.
http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/21-people-for-the-ethical-treatment-of-animals
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petasdirtysecret.cfm -
- Sean
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:31
Well SHAC sounds alright. I didn't say I totally disagree with their ideas, however I eat meat but I don't like cruelty to animals. Does that make me a bad person?
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- John
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:50
Gerry Byrne needs to be commended and PETA needs to be heald accountable. In fact, organizations such as PETA and GreenPeace need to be blacklisted. Emily McCoy needs to be made an example of and banned from any future entry into this country. The U.S. would do so in a heart beat. Rest assured, had she breached security and approached someone like Barak Obama she would have most likely been shot dead.
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- To Sean
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:21
Maybe you should visit the first Link Provided in the (MP Byrne May B) Comment.
Apparently they are also associated with the SHAC Group. -
- To Sean
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:23:52
What did you read? Try the following link! And I wasn't referring to cruelty to animals or Vegan Diets. Personally, I don't care what others eat. I believe everyone has a right to make their own life choices including PETA. However, I don't believe that includes assault even with a Pie!
http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/21-people-for-the-ethical-treatment-of-animals
TO SELCAN7
When are people going to get updated with regard to the Seal Hunt?? Baby Seals have not been hunted or Killed for years here!!! It doesn't happen! It's a piece of PETA Propaganda!
As far as Terrorism - You can call me a Wing Nut, Nut Bar, Wacko or what ever makes you feel better - but Today I do not believe anyone can take anything for granted! Especially when your dealing with Associations so bent on promoting their cause!
How could anyone know what might be in a Pie? Canadians can't afford to become complacent. We've been very fortunate to date but it would be unwise to believe because we're known as Peack Keepers and Peace Loving people no harm will befall us! I belive it's time we ramped up our Security and practiced an age old Motto - Be Prepared! -
- SelCan7
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:30
While I am in tune with PETAs efforts to bring an end to the commercial seal hunt, I do think pie-tossing is counterproductive and a poor way to get a point across. A pie in the face is nothing more than an assault. To call it terrorism shows that some lesser Canadian politicians will go to any length to justify atrocities like the seal hunt. An assault with a pie is considered to be an act of terrorism, but bashing a 4 week old young seal on the head with a hakapik is legal and okay? What sick values! Unbelievable! The loss of human character that results from something so spectacularly brutal appears to merit little consideration by Canadas political leaders. One must ask why a custom that causes such immense pain and suffering does not cause all Canadians to question their humanity.
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- Jay
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:07
Pie should have been made of shea butter
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- In My View
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:03
Given the Dignified and Professional manner by which our Minister Shea handled this unfortunate situation, I don't believe she requires any assistance from MP Byrne!
My next question is, why is MP Byrne so interested and concerned about an incident regarding a Conservative Minister?
In my view Byrne's Terrorist Perspective on this issue is way Over Blown and will only serve to create Media Hype that is not needed or warranted! OH BUT I guess some consider any Press Coverage as a Bonus! -
- nitpicker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:40
Over Board: The fact that she is conservative is quite irrelevant. Byrne is speaking to the issue of someone assaulting a federal minister.
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- Over Board
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:24
Gerry Byrnes outrage is Outrageous!
I believe Minister Shea and our PM Harper are more than able to handle this issue!
Just another Liberal making a Mountain out of a Mole Hill! 4 Media Attention!
The Reason I'm a Conservative!
When did Liberals become so devouted to their Conservative Rivals? And why is he is even speaking to this issue regarding a Conservative Minister??
Minding one's own Business is always a Good Practice I have found! -
- American
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:07:15
This very thing did happen in the USA. the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was hit with some eggs. He wiped them off his jacket and kept on walking. No one was charged with terrorism! A tofu cream pienow thats still unacceptable behavior, but youve got to admit, thats funny. Lighten up folks!
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- mra
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:19
this was an attack on a federal official, and should be that as such.if terrorism could be used go for it.peta and other groups are no more than poor little rich kids with nothing else to do but stir up the pot.
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- Take great care with
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:50
.
.
RE: ''It is unlikely to impress anyone who has a heart for animals or who is bright enough to spot the difference between a bomb and a tofu cream pie''
This begs the question, has anyone analyzed the so called ''tofu cream''?
Anthrax and Ebola come to mind as possible additives to this so called benign ''pie''
When dealing with the Looney left tree huggers, nothing is off the table! -
- That is abuse of power
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:53:12
A pie in the face while speaking to a tv camera is certainly insulting, but in no way is this terrorism. And this person wants to put policies in place to take revenge on the pie thrower because they could have been a terrorist. Such abuse of power and policy shows Mr. Byrne as a petty man, who would seek to silence others over such a minor embarassment, and a man undeserving to represent the voice of the people.
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- sensible shoes
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:39
Dear Over Board. I think the point Mr. Byrne is making is that a minister of the crown was attacked. Were that pie to contain a lethal substance, the outcome would have been different. The PETA representative comes from a different nation...the USA, where they take any kind of an action of an assault nature seriously, and take extrodinairy measures to ensure the protection of their public officials. I can assure you and others who make light of the action, that a Canadian performing the same pie-throwing action on US soil would be behind bars, listed as a terrorist, and likely be on a no-fly list as well as listed at any border crossing into the USA. Now, considering all of that, do you think that the person from NYC (site of the 9-11 disaster) felt she could attack a public official and walk out of the room without consequences? Double standard. The PETA group has attacked in PEI before, and will continue to do so. Ironically, the seal hunt is NOT out of PEI, but the group figures we are small and friendly and it would be a good place to bring negative imagery to Canada to build their funds. Who amongst any of us KNOWS where their funds go? How do they spend the millions that innocent people with hearts of gold send them? How do you know they are not really a terrorist organization using baby seal pictures to get money?
I would gladly allow some of my tax dollars to go into investigating them, investigating the NYC pie-thrower, and bringing strong charges against both the organization and the woman who has for the second time assaulted a Canadian on Canadian soil.
What is good for the citizens of the USA in security matters, is good for the citizens of Canada in security matters. She crossed the line. -
- John
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:25
We don't need the stratospheric costs of a terror investigation that will place more PETA members in front of more tv cameras, chanting inane and moronic slogans. PETA wants to be in the news cycle - that's why one of their members assaulted Ms. Shea with a tofu cream pie. But Ms. Shea said that she thought it was shaving lotion - and she's probably right, shaving cream would be less expensive than tofu. Everything that PETA does is an attempt to be on the front page of a newspaper, or the lead story on radio/tv news. They would like the idea of being investigated by the federal government.
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- bob
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:13
Tie Emily Mccoy to a seal and then see how much she likes them.
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- Simple
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:42
The Prime Minister of Canada gets PIE on PEI and a Minister from PEI gets a PIE.........Hmmm???? Maybe it has something to do with the acronym for Prince Edward Island. I can feel a song in there somewhere.
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- Head Shaker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:58
OMG
If you can't see someone who you know is an activist directly in front of you, at a distance of no more than 5 feet, sitting there with a pie, you are too stupid for me to get upset about being the but of an old vaudville prank.
I can't believe so many people can't see the obviousness of this. She HAD to know that was going to happen before, and either was involved in planning it or decided to allow it to happen.
And there is a difference between a tired old clown prank and a suicide bomber. -
- Larry
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:43
PETA a Terrorist Organization? Who else would Mr. Byrne like to classify as a terrorist organization? The Humane Society? David Suzuki Foundation. I am a card carry member of the Liberal party of Canada and Mr. Byrne you made a fool of yourself. I would suspect his party caucus members are telling him to be quiet and stop embarrassing the party. I think the woman should be charged with assault, but to say they are a terrorist organization would be border line insane. Gail Shea at least came across looking the hero for her cause.
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- K
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:18
PETA FTW! Animals have rights too!
Worry about actual terrorism and not pie, My god you people complain way to much. Seriously, calm down, its pie. -
- Dick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:39:36
Miss McCoy should be severely punished for her crime and if they can incorporate terrorism into the whole thing, then great....go for it. If this incident happened to an American government official by a Canadian protestor, the US would be calling for the person's head and the protestor would be facing major charges and be in court for months and months. I think we, as Canadians should take this incident the same way Americans would. The US blamed terrorism for 9/11 and it was the US who knocked the Twin Towers down themselves, so how can that be terrorism??? If they can call that terrorism, then we can call a pie to the face terrorism. Terrorism doesn't automatically mean bombs and bearded Afghans blowing stuff up, it means someone performing an act of terror of any kind. Keep McCoy out of Canada and if she comes back into Canada for any reason other than her court appearance....she should be thrown in jail. PETA protests things like this that they know nothing about. They are very uneducated in the seal hunt so anything they say about it, means nothing....they are just looking for media attention.
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- Sean
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:29
If you read about PETA online, it says in many places that they also fund and support an extremist group called the ALF, (Animal Liberation Front?), which apparently is used to torch animal testing labs and the like and view themselves as another French Resistance or Underground Railroad type of group.
And in my OWN experience with them, they spam and bully even online. They are just a bunch of undernourished complainers. -
- Ron
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:40
Jerry Byrne should lighten up. Typical knee jerk reaction from a Newfoundland MP concerning the seal hunt. The attack was no more than a symbolic show of disrespect for a controversial issue. It was not a terrorist act. Byrne's attemp is nothing but pie in the sky.
