The True Post (Web News)Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the Pride event in Vancouver on Sunday. Before joining the parade, he met with British Columbia Premier David Eby and officials from the Vancouver Port Authority.
Carney walked for about a kilometer during the parade. He stated that the event reflects the “essence” of Canada, celebrating diversity in a “very positive way.”
“This is Pride, it’s a celebration, and that’s what makes our country great,” Carney said. “I’m incredibly happy to be a part of it.”
Spectators along the parade route welcomed him enthusiastically, and he crossed from one side of the street to the other several times to greet the public, while his security team remained close.
According to event organizers, around 100,000 people were expected to attend this year’s Pride event, which includes the annual parade and several other festivities. The Vancouver Police Department increased security for the occasion.
Constable Tania Visintin told 1130 News Radio: “We’ve deployed additional officers along the parade route to manage traffic and respond to any possible incidents.”
However, this year’s Pride parade is taking place under financial uncertainty, as the Vancouver Pride Society faces a significant drop in sponsorship compared to previous years.
Morgan Oger, secretary of the board, stated that last year sponsors contributed approximately $900,000, while this year the amount has dropped to around $500,000.
She explained that the Vancouver Pride Society is a nonprofit organization that depends on business realities such as insurance, permits, and government grants.
“If we receive half the funds, our budget gets cut in half. And if city expenses don’t decrease, we simply won’t be able to run everything,” said Oger.
She noted it’s not yet clear why there’s been such a steep decline in sponsorship, but one possible reason could be the rising anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) sentiment in the U.S., which may be influencing Canada as well.
According to Oger, reports suggest that American government contractors are under pressure not to participate in or sponsor equity-related activities.
It’s worth mentioning that last year, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in the Pride event, shaking hands and taking selfies with the public.
