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A couple of days ago I published an email response to a debate invitation where I declined the invitation because the person I believed I would be debating was swapped for Kevin J Johnston.
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A couple of days ago I published an email response to a debate invitation where I declined the invitation because the person I believed I would be debating was swapped for Kevin J Johnston.
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Since that time, I’ve received more than a few inquiries as to on what basis I made the statements I did, and because I believe strongly in transparency, I’m entirely comfortable sharing my work.
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In my email, I said that Mr. Johnston was found guilty of using hate speech. To be clear, I was referring to the libel lawsuit where the judge found him to have committed defamation by using “hate speech at it’s worst”.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kevin-johnston-paramount-2-5-million-mohamad-fakih-1.5134227
/3">https://www.cbc.ca/news/cana...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kevin-johnston-paramount-2-5-million-mohamad-fakih-1.5134227
/3">https://www.cbc.ca/news/cana...
To be clear, while there are charges before the courts regarding Mr. Johnston’s alleged use of criminal hate speech to promote hatred, he has not been found guilty.
https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/8965954-mississauga-mayoral-candidate-kevin-johnston-charged-with-hate-crime-against-muslims-case-returns-to-court-after-election/
/4">https://www.mississauga.com/news-stor...
https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/8965954-mississauga-mayoral-candidate-kevin-johnston-charged-with-hate-crime-against-muslims-case-returns-to-court-after-election/
/4">https://www.mississauga.com/news-stor...
I also referred to the pending criminal charges that stemmed from him being charged with allegedly assaulting the manager of a No Frills in Dawson Creek. The current details are here.
https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/amp/local-news/johnston-appears-for-no-frills-assault-charge-3671251
/5">https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/amp/local...
https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/amp/local-news/johnston-appears-for-no-frills-assault-charge-3671251
/5">https://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/amp/local...
In regards to his racist comments and the monetization of racism, I was referring to his “Wasted Native” coffee, which included the slogan, “Forget gas, huff this”. A good summary is here.
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/it-is-concerning-racist-coffee-ad-sparks-outrage-in-calgary/
/6">https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-...
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/it-is-concerning-racist-coffee-ad-sparks-outrage-in-calgary/
/6">https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-...
Finally, in regards to his threats and denigration against paramedics, that was based on a video link that has been circulating in the EMS community of a video Mr. Johnston did on April 10th.
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In that video, Mr. Johnston stated that ambulances no longer transport patients to hospital to be revived if they are “dying or hurt or injured”. He then included the accusation that “every one of you are a bunch of murderers.”
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I am extremely proud of the people that I work with, and the implication that any paramedic would not do everything in their power to provide the highest level of patient care is profoundly offensive.
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I hope that this thread clarifies my remarks and their sources, and I stand by my original assertion that for those reasons, I am not willing to engage in any debate with Mr. Johnston.
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