If all publicity is good publicity, then George Galloway should have ample promotion for his upcoming Canadian speaking tour.
The controversial Scotsman and anti-war activist is scheduled to land in Montreal next week, for the first of 10 scheduled engagements in Canadian cities. The tour also includes stops in Yellowknife, Vancouver and Halifax.
It's an abrupt change of fortune for a man who was barred from travel to Canada for more than a year.
Toronto lawyer Barbara Jackman represented Galloway in Federal Court since he began fighting that ban last year.
In an email, Jackman explained that Galloway's problems began when he received notice from the Canadian High Commission that he appeared to be inadmissible to Canada.
That came at the same time that Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was publicly indicating Galloway was "inadmissible, would not be permitted to come into Canada, and the Minister would not give him a special permit to overcome his inadmissibility," Jackman said.
It was alleged that Galloway had financially supported Hamas. But Galloway and his supporters were adamant from the outset that the ban was not justifiable and that he was not and has never been a terror supporter.
Defending his decision in the press, Kenney said he believed "folks that are supporting and promoting and helping terrorist organizations are not needed to visit Canada."
But Galloway's spokesperson, Ron McKay, told CTV.ca in a recent telephone interview that the reasons for the ban were "nakedly political" in nature.
Galloway fought the issue in Federal Court, which eventually led to a judge declaring that the main reason the former parliamentarian was denied entry was because the government "disagreed with his political views."
Now free to fly into Canada, Galloway will travel here for a forthcoming Nov. 16-27 tour that is being billed as "Free Palestine, Free Afghanistan, Free Speech."
Controversy, yes. Crowds, maybe?
How many people will attend the speaking engagements is unknown, but McKay is sure that it will be more popular as a result of the controversy spawned by the failed ban.
If Galloway had been let into Canada last year, only "a few hundred die-hards" would have turned up, McKay said. Now he predicts people "will be turned away."
Those organizing local tour stops for Galloway told CTV.ca that they have booked local facilities that can accommodate hundreds at each event.
"Tickets are selling quickly, and we're encouraging people to get their tickets early to guarantee a seat," Dylan Penner of the Ottawa Peace Assembly said in an email.
Nelson Wiseman, an associate professor in the department of political science at the University of Toronto, said the barometer of Galloway's wider popularity would have to be based on who shows up.
"Even when you talk about crowd size, you have to take an account of who the crowd is," Wiseman said in a recent telephone interview.
If the crowd comprises mostly groups that sought to bring Galloway to Canada, it suggests his influence on the general public is quite limited.
Galloway's Nov. 23 stop in Calgary could prove the most interesting on the tour.
The city contains Kenney's home riding and Galloway has repeatedly said he intends to challenge the minister "to a public debate" while he is in Canada.
McKay admits that no formal offer has been made in writing to the immigration minister, but believes that with so much coverage of the tour, there is no need "to actually send an email or letter" to Kenney to formally invite him to debate.
Kenney's office did not immediately respond to a CTV.ca request on Friday morning for comment on whether the minister had received such an offer.
In any case, Wiseman doesn't see the minister facing off with Galloway.
"Kenney would be absolutely foolish to give Galloway equal time on the stage," said Wiseman.
He predicts that the minute Galloway leaves Canada "you won't hear about him any more."
