Skip to main content
protest fallout

Right-wing firebrand Ann Coulter, who cancelled her speech to the University of Ottawa Tuesday night over fears for her safety, says she's the victim of a hate crime under Canadian laws.

She said she's hired Canadian conservative activist Ezra Levant to prepare a human-rights complaint that will test how equitably these hate-crime laws are applied.

In an interview with The Globe, Ms. Coulter suggested the University of Ottawa's provost, Francois Houle, is partly responsible for the angry crowds that opposed her speaking Tuesday night. He is the official who warned her in advance to watch what she said lest she incur criminal charges for hate speech.

The tribunal should take her complaint seriously, she said, "because either Francois [Houle]has created a climate of hate against me based on my membership in an identifiable group - or the whole human rights commission is complete horseshit."

Ms. Coulter said her aides told her protestors had been advised by some of her opponents to give her a rough welcome. "The liberal blogs were saying bring rocks and sticks and tar and feathers and don't let Ann Coulter escape unharmed today."

The American conservative shock jock said Ottawans missed a "boffo speech" and the boisterous demonstrations only helped her prepare her human rights complaint.

"I would like to know if any Muslim has been treated this badly, at least since the Reformation, because I am drawing a blank," Ms. Coulter told The Globe.

She also took a swipe at Canadians, saying this country has lost its edge.

"You guys used to be so cool. You were smokers. You had epic hockey fights. We had half our comedians from Canada. Now you're all a bunch of girls named Francois."

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe