South Surrey–White Rock Liberal MP Ernie Klassen has explained why he chose not to join a standing ovation in the House of Commons for U.S. political activist Charlie Kirk, who was recently assassinated. While Klassen condemned political violence, he said he could not support a tribute that overlooked Kirk’s history of hate speech and discriminatory rhetoric.
Why Klassen Did Not Stand
In a statement to constituents, Klassen said:
“The answer is no, I did not stand. Neither did many of my Liberal colleagues.” He added that while he strongly opposes political violence, he is equally opposed to hate speech and discrimination, both of which he said were present in Kirk’s work.
Reaction from Constituents
Klassen reported that his statement received “more interactive reaction than anything else” he had ever posted online, with supportive messages outnumbering critical ones by roughly 20 to 1.
Although many MPs applauded Conservative MP Rachel Thomas’s remarks, Klassen noted that about half of Liberal MPs did not. Those who did stand, he said, explained later that they were applauding freedom of speech, not Kirk himself.
Criticism of the Tribute
Klassen argued that Thomas’s speech presented a one-sided view of Kirk, describing him only as an advocate for faith, family, and freedom.
“I couldn’t believe that (Thomas) only spoke about what they thought were good things to say about him,” Klassen said.
He added that some of Kirk’s remarks could qualify as hate speech under Canadian law.
Broader Context
Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. His death has since fueled political tensions and escalated violent rhetoric in Canada, Klassen said.
“Ignoring the harms that hate speech and harassment inflict on vulnerable communities means abandoning those who fear for their safety in the face of that rhetoric,” he wrote.
Klassen emphasized that he would continue to reject both political violence and hate speech, stressing that the two should not be conflated.
