CBC News
Controversial speaker Peter LaBarbera was scheduled to appear at the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association's provincial convention this weekend.(Americans For Truth About Homosexuality)
A controversial U.S. speaker who had planned to speak at a pro-life conference in Weyburn this weekend says border officials at the Regina airport have denied him*entry to Canada.
Peter LaBarbera*said he wanted to give a speech critical of "homosexual activism" but on his Twitter feed and blog*Friday he said he was stopped at the airport*and told he would be barred for violating Canada's "hate propaganda" law.
"The Orwellian experience at Customs dragged on for more than three hours as a formal document was issued outlining my denial of entry under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (citing the Hate Propaganda code)," LaBarbera said on his website.
He said customs officials*questioned him about the purpose of his scheduled presentation at the Saskatchewan Pro Life Association conference on Saturday.
They went through his luggage, which LaBarbera said contained*numerous books and literature "related to homosexuality (pro and con)."*
He said a preliminary decision was made to deny his entry into Canada on the basis that his planned speech in Weyburn*violated the country's "hate propaganda" law.*
LaBarbera said after being detained, he was released at 1 a.m. He planned to return later in the day*to appeal the decision.
LaBarbera's*planned*visit sparked an outcry around Saskatchewan earlier this month. Some say*his anti-gay views constitute*hate speech.
A protest*had been planned in Weyburn for today.
LaBarbera,*president of a group called Americans For Truth,*responded by calling his critics "Canadian Homo-Marxists"
According to the group's website, Americans for Truth's*mission is to*oppose*"the radical homosexual agenda"*and "stand for God-ordained sexuality."
