Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has yet to receive any official communication from the federal government confirming its ban from entering Canada, it told CBC News, after an announcement by Liberal MP Vince Gasparro in a widely shared social media video on Friday.
“Nobody has instructed Kneecap that they can’t travel to Canada except Vince and his social media video,” said band manager Dan Lambert in an interview.
CBC News reached out to multiple government departments, but hasn’t received details about the decision beyond Gasparro’s initial post where he said he was making the announcement “on behalf of the Government of Canada.”
Gasparro said “the group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas.”
He also said Kneecap “has engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government.”
“We’re pretty shocked that this could happen in Canada,” Lambert said, adding the band has played here multiple times, and the only country where it currently has a travel ban is Hungary.
One of the band members, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is facing terrorism charges in the U.K. after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag onstage at a November 2024 gig in London.
Lambert said that case is due in court on Friday, and he fully expects that the band will prevail in court.
The band rejects all of Gasparro’s allegations and said in a response to his video that it intends to sue him.
Kneecap’s Canadian tour dates scheduled for next month have been cancelled.
IRCC won’t confirm group’s status
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would not tell CBC News whether it has taken a decision about barring Kneecap from entering this country, citing “privacy reasons.”
“All persons seeking to come to Canada must meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” the department said in a statement.
It also said cases are assessed individually, and entry may be refused for a number of reasons, “including concerns related to security, human or international rights violations or criminal activity.”
It did not answer follow-up questions about why Gasparro, a parliamentary secretary assigned with assisting the secretary of state for combatting crime, posted his video.
Gasparro did not return a request for comment. Neither did the Justice Department nor the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Public Safety Department referred questions to IRCC.
On Friday, Justice Minister Sean Fraser was unable to explain the government’s decision or react to the news Kneecap intended to take legal action, when asked by journalists during an unrelated news conference.
“I’ve only just become aware of this in the minutes before I’ve come out to the microphone,” Fraser said. “I would point you to the appropriate department to provide an answer.”
Under Canadian law, the federal government may deny someone from entering Canada for a number of reasons, including:
-
Participating in espionage, attempts to overthrow a government or engaging in violence or terrorism.
-
Committing or having been convicted of war crimes or crimes against humanity.
-
Having criminal convictions, or having committed crimes, including for driving while under the influence.
-
Being a member of an organized criminal organization.
-
Having a medical condition that endangers public health or puts excessive demand on the health-care system.
-
Being unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and your family.
-
Lying on your immigration documents.
-
Having an inadmissible family member.
