After 2 weeks, why the Kneecap ‘entry ban’ in Canada remains unclear

Conservative and NDP MPs are now demanding answers from the government and say they are open to pursuing investigations into Gasparro, and whether his announcement was approved.

It’s been two weeks since a Liberal government official said the controversial Irish hip-hop group Kneecap was barred from entering Canada, and it remains unclear if the group is truly banned — or if the official went “rogue,” as some critics have questioned.

Kneecap’s management says it never received official word that its electronic travel authorizations had been denied after Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combatting crime, announced the apparent ban on social media on Sept. 19.

Conservative and NDP MPs are now demanding answers from the government and say they are open to pursuing investigations into Gasparro’s conduct, and whether his announcement was approved by immigration and public safety officials.

Gasparro has repeatedly declined to comment further on the matter and has deferred questions to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The department has declined to speak about Kneecap’s specific case, citing privacy reasons.

Here’s how the past two weeks have evolved.

In a social media video on Sept. 19, Gasparro said that “on behalf of the Government of Canada” the members of Kneecap had been deemed ineligible for entry ahead of scheduled concerts in Toronto and Vancouver, based “on the advice of our officials.”

Gasparro said Kneecap — who have been vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause and critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — has “publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas” that goes beyond artistic expression and free speech.

His post remains online.