Tweak, weak, Tweak
In terms of the free speech issues and some of the activities of human rights commissions, I think that everyone has had some concerns about this. This is a complicated area of law, balancing what most people understand to mean by free speech with obvious desire to not have speech that would be intended to incite hatred towards particular groups or individuals. I think some of the most egregious cases, if you actually look at this, are in provincial human rights commission and obviously, you know I can’t control or comment on that. I think there has been some – I think the Canadian human rights commission has been moderating some of what – some of its practices a little bit recently to respond to some of these concerns and I hope that will continue. stephen harper
This is just “a little bit” short of Fire. Them. All.
Frankly, conservatives (and members of the CPC which is not the same thing), need to be pushing Harper hard on the repeal of s. 13. “Moderating their practices” is not in any way satisfactory. It is back to the “tweaking” the Bernie Farbers of this world want for the CHRC.
(And for fun, pop over the National Post’s Full Comment where Bernie Farber comments on Kevin Libin piece on censorship and has his head handed to him in the comments. I mean the poor bastard even has redacted letters from the chekists at the CHRC thrown at him. It really is hilarious watching Bernie dip his toe into the river of real public opinion and have his leg torn off by crocodiles.)
Update: Ezra weighs in and suggest that we write the Prime Minister. Polite, forceful and very clear – s. 13 must be repealed. Now!
October 30th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yea it’s been a hoot;)
October 30th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Yeah, Harper’s going to spend some of his political capital to make sure Nazis can attack Jews and immigrants on the Internet.
Don’t. Hold. Your. Breath.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:34 am
Yeah, and to make sure immigrants can attack Jews on the internet, too!
Ooops.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:41 am
Well I read the redacted letters and for all your hoopla they really do not tell us too much. One thing is pretty clear, death threats were made and people have every right to find ways to protect themselves, their family and community. If it were me and my address was blogged by the leader of the American Nazi Party with orders to go to my house and kill me, you bet I would go to whoever including the CRTC to have it stopped.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:37 am
true, you make an excellent point in an uncharacteristically crude way. Mr. Harper, in my opinion, is an uncommonly far-sighted and rational man. When it comes to weighing the chances of a majority government against what is so far an almost invisible constituency, I think there will be tinkering but no massive retooling at the CHRC. When he does achieve the almost god-like powers of a Commons majority, however, things may be different. I expect a comprehensive review of immigration policy, among other desiderata.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:13 am
Well, while the timorous Tories tinker, the courts, RCMP and Privacy commission will rip into. Also a new charter challenge is needed to clarify definitions and boundaries…who will step up for that?