Now free to travel in Canada, Tommy Robinson arrives in Toronto

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Tommy Robinson has arrived in Toronto.

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Turns out the controversial British figure, whom critics consider a far-right activist, is welcome in Canada and allowed to travel freely within the country after all.

The Canada Border Services Agency – after arresting him Monday, taking away his passport and, after a short time in custody, releasing him with conditions to stay within Calgary’s city limits – has reversed its decision and is permitting Robinson complete the rest of his speaking tour.

His first stop is Toronto, where he is scheduled to speak Sunday and also appear for a taping of Dr. Jordan Peterson and his wife Tammy’s podcast.

“I don’t know why they did what they did but it all worked out in the end,” Robinson said Saturday at Pearson Airport. “It’s great to be in Toronto. I have always wanted to come here. I was surprised I was delayed but grateful it worked out.”

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Robinson, who has criminal convictions in his past for assault, mortgage fraud and attempting to gain entry in the United States using his friend’s passport, stepped off a plane Saturday afternoon after getting the news he can continue his visit in Canada.

He was given his passport back and while the CBSA said it does not comment on individual cases, it has been confirmed Robinson has a flight booked to return to England once his Toronto commitments have been met.

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“I’m unbelievably happy. We won,” Robinson reported on X, before teasing, “I am now able to go wherever I want as an honorary Canadian.”

Born as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the 41-year-old co-founder of the English Defence League who has been widely criticized by Muslim groups in Canada and around the world, didn’t hold back on giving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a verbal shot.

“To all my detractors, my haters, and supporters of Castro’s illegitimate man baby, have a wonderful day. I will,” Robinson wrote on X.

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Ouch.

This kind of stuff gets under the skin of those administering today’s woke society where words are considered violence by some, and differing opinions thought of as blasphemy.

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Certainly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford did not appreciate his MP Goldie Ghamari meeting with Robinson over their shared view of human right’s violations in Iran and at the urging of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, who said there is no room for “hate or Islamophobia” in Ontario, removed her from caucus.

Everybody has a boss and Ford is entitled to make this decision based on what he feels is best for his party.

Robinson, however, is his own boss and entitled to hold his own views and express them as long as they don’t cross over into hate speech as defined by the criminal code.

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Robinson has not been charged with any crimes in Canada. What he has shown is that in Canada, no matter how it might be offensive to some, every person has free speech.

Sometimes, however, you have to fight for it.

Rebel Media’s Ezra Levant, who organized some of Robinson’s speaking events during the tour, hired top Calgary immigration lawyers Michael Greene and Navi Dhaliwal to do battle on the grounds that this man’s views or opinions are not enough to restrict his travel.

Eventually the lawyers were able to convince the CBSA, and Robinson was given back his passport. And although he ended up missing his planned stop in Edmonton, he was permitted to fly to Toronto.

“I was surprised but I am pleased. It’s like David beating Goliath,” said Levant, who, like Robinson, said the Calgary officials were very respectful and merely following orders coming from their superiors in Ottawa.

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What this does show is Canada still has due process, which is vital to a free society.

Robinson is a character and not everybody’s cup of tea, but with thousands of illegals crossing the border into Canada every year not getting the same scrutiny, it’s important to ensure there are no double standards or two-tiered enforcement going on.

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Robinson, who says his past criminal convictions are the result of a trumped up witch hunt, told the Toronto Sun he is peaceful, respectful and was never intending to cause any trouble in Canada – he was only here to do his speaking commitments, meet some great fellow activists who have done battle with the government like Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Peterson, see the “beautiful country” and meet “wonderful Canadians.”

“I do think I am misunderstood,” Robinson said at the airport. “We should be free to express our opinion on crime as a result of mass migration or any issue we want to.”

It was good to see them loosen the restrictions. Holding back someone from moving around freely, blocking them from speaking or censoring their thoughts only draws more attention to the situation.

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So credit as to be given to the CBSA, which made a mistake originally in overreacting but got it right in the end by finding a reasonable compromise. People are free to not agree with Tommy Robinson, but that does not mean he loses his freedom of speech or movement.

Interesting because while Robinson’s arrest was a big story in the United Kingdom and in Canada, the new developments of the CBSA decision being reversed has so far not been.

“Zero media outlets have picked up on that news,” Robinson commented on his X account.

Well, not zero.

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