Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: Mr. Baird is absolutely right; a Russian law enacted in June that is essentially a crackdown on homosexuality is indeed hateful and mean-spirited. Its also true, as he asserts, that such laws and the attitudes that underpin them beget intolerance, hate and, if unchecked, violence. Consequently, Canadians should be encouraged by their governments vocal stance in defence of the gay, lesbian and transgendered communities in other countries, according to Globe and Mail. Last week Vitaly Mutko, the Sports Minister, made not-so-veiled threats against Olympic athletes who engage in homosexual propaganda whatever that is at the 2014 Games, suggesting they will be brought to responsibility and Unvarnished honesty and boldness are increasingly rare commodities in todays politics, particularly when it comes to the world stage. So Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is to be commended for denouncing Russias treatment of gays in the strongest possible terms. Moscows hardline stance on gay rights and other recent developments invites the question: What is the Russian government up to? As the country prepares to bask in the spotlight at the Sochi Winter Olympics in less than seven months, the authorities have made a series of gestures that are redolent of the countrys totalitarian past and carry a vague Cold War whiff. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.