goguen-thumb-1.png
goguen-thumb-1.png This article is more than 9 years old

Conservatives invoke right to remain silent over disgusting gang rape joke

It seems like everyone wants to get on the public record their disdain for gang rape comments made by a Conservative MP – except Conservative MPs. Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice,actually asked a victim of gang rape, who was appearing as a parliamentary witness this week as an advocate against sexual slavery (she […]

It seems like everyone wants to get on the public record their disdain for gang rape comments made by a Conservative MP – except Conservative MPs.

Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice,actually asked a victim of gang rape, who was appearing as a parliamentary witness this week as an advocate against sexual slavery (she herself had been forced to work as a prostitute in Toronto), if her “freedom of expression” would have been breached had police “broken in and rescued you.”

Goguen, trying to score political points during a rare summer sitting of the House of Commons Justice Committee to study the government’s prostitution bill, pressed on with his intellectual gibberish:

“What I’m saying is you weren’t freely expressing yourself by being raped by three men … If you were rescued, you wouldn’t feel like your rights were violated? You don’t get it. OK.”

On Wednesday, Ottawa Citizen writer Kate Heartfield put Goguen in his place:

“His stupid and cruel use of a victim of gang rape to help him score a cheap rhetorical joke was an offence not only to the woman who had to live through his glib hypothesizing about her experience, but also to the dignity of Parliament.”

Too bad Goguen’s colleagues appear to be invoking their right to remain silent about his deeply offensive performance.

Here’s a sampling of what a few of his fellow Conservatives at the Justice Committee have found time to comment on while taking a pass on the elephant in the room:

Meanwhile, people have been trying to get other members of the Conservative caucus to comment, but no luck so far:

 

Photo: cpac.ca

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Donate
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

South Asian Studies Institute NEWS

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

NEWS

“Where is Our Museum?” asks Punjabi and broader South Asian Canadian community in BC

View the post
NEWS

Toronto Police Arrested A Striking Worker At York University. Labour Experts Are Concerned Police Infringed on Charter Rights.

View the post
NEWS

Take Back Alberta Founder Vows to Fight Election Watchdog’s Investigation Into Donors

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.