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5h ago

Carney Government Pressed to Clarify Whether Kneecap Was Ever Barred From Canada

Opposition MPs are seeking written answers on the existence of a formal refusal, including who authorized the public claim.

Hip-hop trio Kneecap perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, on June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combating crime and a Liberal MP from Toronto, said in a video posted to X two weeks ago that the members of the Irish group Kneecap were “ineligible to enter Canada.”
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Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, a member of the Irish language band Kneecap, celebrates after he left Woolwich Crown Court in London, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.

Overview

  • Kneecap’s manager says no official notice was received about any electronic travel authorization denial or revocation, despite a Sept. 19 video from parliamentary secretary Vince Gasparro declaring the group ineligible to enter.
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency have declined to confirm any decision, citing privacy rules and noting applicants are notified electronically of visa outcomes.
  • A London court dismissed a terrorism-related charge against band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh on Sept. 26 after prosecutors missed a filing deadline, undercutting a rationale referenced in Gasparro’s announcement.
  • Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman and NDP MP Jenny Kwan have demanded clarity, with Kwan pursuing formal written questions and potential committee scrutiny of how the announcement was made.
  • Some Canadian tour dates, including Toronto shows, are listed as canceled, as advocacy group CIJA confirms it had raised concerns about the band’s planned appearances prior to the government statement.