Coulter's Canadian stops a mixed bag

Ann Coulter, a controversial extreme right-wing author from the U.S. who has been accused of promoting hate speech, recently delivered her first speech in Canada; right here in London.

Ann CoulterThe speech at the University of Western Ontario was the first of three scheduled stops on her three-day “Coulter Over Canada” tour. She was open to doing more than three events, but only three Canadian cities showed interest in hosting her; London, Ottawa, and Calgary.

In London, Coulter was reportedly paid $10,000 by the International Free Press Society for her hour-long appearance, and spoke to a packed 800-person lecture hall. Present were both supporters who gave her a standing ovation and critics who heckled and booed her. Surprisingly, other than heckling and pointed questions, there was very little resistance to Coulter's first Canadian event.

Even as Coulter proposed “month-long moratorium's on all things gay,” “more invasions and occupations of Muslim countries,” and cracked numerous racist jokes, the majority of people applauded. Her supporters even stood up and cheered Coulter on as she told a young Muslim student that she shouldn't be able to fly and that she should ride a camel to travel.

The next night in Ottawa, nearly two thousand protesters, disgusted by these and other comments, swarmed the venue to voice their opposition to her presence in their city. Understanding that she would not be speaking to a supportive audience she cancelled the event.

The following evening in Calgary she spoke once again to a packed audience of mostly supporters. There she claimed to be a victim, and accused Canada of not protecting her right to free speech from others who were exercising theirs. She has now returned to the U.S. leaving Canadians debating free speech laws in this country.