The founder of the group “Diagolon,” Jeremy Mackenzie, has clarified that he is not affiliated with the federal Conservative Party (CPC) or its leader, Pierre Poilievre.
Mr. MacKenzie emphasized, “I have been and will continue to be a vocal critic of state power, including Mr. Poilievre and his team.”
The Liberals have been criticizing Mr. Poilievre for participating in a carbon tax protest at the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border where a Diagolon symbol was displayed on an RV.
This issue was raised again in the House of Commons on April 30, with the Tories questioning the Liberal government about drug decriminalization in British Columbia as requested by the provincial government.
In response, Mr. Trudeau accused Mr. Poilievre of associating with Diagolon.
“The leader of the Opposition has yet to explain why he continues to align himself with extreme white nationalist groups like Diagolon,” Mr. Trudeau remarked.
Mr. Poilievre, in his rebuttal, urged the government to reconsider its stance on drug decriminalization, criticizing Mr. Trudeau for allowing drugs to harm individuals in hospitals and public transport. He questioned, “When will we put an end to this misguided policy by this prime minister?”
Following this exchange, House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus requested Mr. Poilievre to retract his statement. Mr. Poilievre agreed to replace the term “wacko” with “extremist” or “radical,” but the speaker insisted on a full withdrawal, ultimately expelling Mr. Poilievre from the House for the rest of the day, with the Tory caucus leaving in solidarity.
Regarding the Diagolon symbol displayed on the RV, Mr. MacKenzie explained that it was a flag drawn by his partner during the Ottawa convoy protest over two years ago.
“My partner drew a Diagolon flag on his trailer door during the Ottawa protest more than two years ago,” he clarified. “It was a gesture of support, nothing more.”
He stressed that any connections between the groups were coincidental and that he had no involvement with the recent protest organizer.
“There was no collaboration, and I have instructed [the protest organizer] to remove the drawing immediately,” Mr. MacKenzie added.
Mr. Poilievre had previously condemned Mr. MacKenzie for offensive remarks aimed at his wife.
“It is evident to my audience, as well as the CPC and Mr. Poilievre, that we are not on friendly terms,” Mr. MacKenzie stated in the video. “In fact, there is a strong mutual dislike between us.”
He also clarified that the “Diagolon” group primarily consisted of listeners of his podcast.
“At its core, it is a closely-knit community of individuals who appreciate my podcast and commentary.”
Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
“The mouse was chased around the house by the cat.”
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