The Shotgun Blog
« You Read it Here First | Main | Guns, girls and gold: an Olympic dream comes true »
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Globe and Mail says repeal "vague" sections of the Human Rights Act
From the Globe & Mail:
"In the end, though, human-rights commissions should advise their respective legislatures to repeal these dangerously vague sections, so that those who exercise the freedom of speech and press are no longer harassed by such complaints."
That's their editorial, entitled "Beyond dismissal, repeal."
The Globe and Mail. Unbelievable.
Posted by P.M. Jaworski on August 9, 2008 in Current Affairs | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b5d69e200e553f460fb8834
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Globe and Mail says repeal "vague" sections of the Human Rights Act:
Comments
The G&M editorial seems somewhat late and a tad tepid in regard to the issue of the Federal and Provincial HRC's and their over reach.
A context story ABOVE THE FOLD on the G&M front page about Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn HRC sagas would carry some weight with Rob Nicholson and the PM.
Half hearted mush won't do it.
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2008-08-09 8:08:53 AM
The Globe and Mail. Unbelievable
Well, maybe not really.
Now that the Probe and Fail has had a chance to see the arbitrariness of the allowing of complaints and the appallingly inept way the HRC appointees rule on them, based on nothing but their own whims it would seem--certainly facts and truth are no defence as they are in a real court room--they may be feeling a little heat being held at their own feet.
The complaints against Maclean's, Mark Steyn, and Ezra Levant have shot a powerful salvo across the bow and it would be only a very drowsy mate who didn't notice it.
Fortunately, this wake up call seems to have got the MSM's attention. Now, what are they going to do about it?
Posted by: batb | 2008-08-09 8:10:10 AM
I took the "leftie" morons at the various MSM establishments a long time to realize that eventually THEY would become the hunted .
Posted by: Brian | 2008-08-09 8:34:47 AM
I don't know if we can call them "Leftie morons" although they do exist. I think we could call the activities of the HRC's straight up Communism and the MSM's willful ignorance of it might be seen as subtle endorsement. I think its because people like those on this blog have made a lot of noise that the politicians and media are giving it some attention. Remember always that Canadian politics is poll driven and reactionary. But they (Parliament) aren't going to be relinquishing any special powers of control any time soon, so don't expect much more than "lip service".
Posted by: JC | 2008-08-09 8:51:23 AM
...maybe the Slop and Pail are finally recognizing they are as useful idiots as they thought.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2008-08-09 9:06:31 AM
WHOOPS, I mean 'aren't as useful idiots'
...Freudian slip eh.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2008-08-09 9:07:23 AM
Jaws: "The Globe and Mail. Unbelievable."
Joe: "The G&M editorial seems somewhat late and a tad tepid"
batb: "Unbelievable. Well, maybe not really.... they may be feeling a little heat being held at their own feet."
What a lot of nonsense! The G&M has been a consistent supporter of free speech from waaaaay back. On June 19 1993 (yes, fifteen years ago) when the province of British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to create a significant hate speech ban in human rights legislation, the G&M wrote one of the first editorials condemning it by saying: "The Supreme Court has been mostly unwilling to allow the Criminal code to be used to stifle free speech, so now Canadian human rights law is being twisted, distorted and stood on its head in a bid to accomplish the same thing".
On February 6 2008 the G&M voiced support for Keith Martin's motion to eliminate section 13 saying: "It is encouraging to see at least one of this country's elected representatives stand up for a key tenet of democracy." On May 2 2008 they published an editorial calling on Stephen Harper to "Tame these [human rights] commissions". On June 7 2008 the G&M called on the BCHRT to declare the hate speech section of the Human Rights Code unconstitutional. On June 23 2008, the G&M called for the elimination of section 13 of the CHRA.
So this new editorial is nothing "new" and only surprising to someone who suffers from ideological and pathological blindness. Unbelievable? No. Not even a little bit.
Posted by: Fact Check | 2008-08-09 9:26:32 AM
Thanks for that background Fact Check.
It does not help one's argument to distort the facts or call one's ideological opponents "leftie morons" and such. Believe me, I have my issues with the biases of the Globe and Mail, but we should be giving them full credit for being on the right side of this issue.
Posted by: Steve | 2008-08-09 10:23:08 AM
Just out of curiosity (and I should perhaps already know this since I tend to vote CPC (holding my nose...)), but has there been any concrete CPC support for Keith Martin's bill, and/or have any CPC parliamentarian indicated any other action in this area?
Posted by: Johan i Kanada | 2008-08-09 1:05:00 PM
Johan: Tragically, the CPC has been fairly quiet on this issue. One exception is Brad Trost, from Saskatoon-Humboldt. Check out the post from June 25 here: http://www.bradtrost.ca/news/bradtrost.php
But the silence is deafening.
Posted by: P.M. Jaworski | 2008-08-09 1:25:17 PM
If the G&M are so supportive of genuine human rights in Canada, why have they been largely silent about the treatment of the Revs. Boissoin and de Valk, Scott Brockie, the BC Knights of Columbus, Mark Steyn, Maclean's, and Ezra Levant?
It's all very well to write an editorial once in a while supporting the concept of human rights, but when individuals' rights of expression, speech, and religion are in the HRC Dock, why wasn't "Canada's National Newspaper" reporting on their cases and how preposterous and dangerous they were--because any one of us, especially if we're right of centre or Christian--could be next?
Most Canadians get their information from news outlets, and IMO the G&M, amongst many other MSM, have fallen down on the job.
About the silence of the CPC, I am clear there is a very good reason for it, as unfortunate as the optics are. Can't you just see the headlines in the G&M, the TorStar, and on the CBC, CTV, Global, etc.: headlines blaring "HARPER AND HIS CPC AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS IN CANADA."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a brilliant strategist, is biding his time. He's keeping his powder dry and holding his fire until the CPC has a majority. If I'm wrong about this, I'll be letting him and his party know of my disillusionment.
Until then, I trust PMSH and the CPC more than any of the other political parties. They have accomplished amazing things in the past few years, of benefit to all Canadians, not just a cadre of lib-left Librano cheerleaders. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, because I know how the MSM loves to negatively and maliciously spin CPC policies...
Posted by: batb | 2008-08-09 2:21:03 PM
batb- "if the G&M are so supportive of genuine human rights in Canada, why have they been largely silent about the treatment of the Revs. Boissoin and de Valk, Scott Brockie, the BC Knights of Columbus, Mark Steyn, Maclean's, and Ezra Levant?"
EXACTLY - Touché !!
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2008-08-09 2:35:21 PM
Unfortunately, the G&M does not call for a repeal of the "dangerously vague" Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is in fact the most "dangerously vague" bit of legal mumbo-jumbo known to man (and to woman, too).
Posted by: Grant Brown | 2008-08-09 3:10:07 PM
batb,
There is overwhelming support for getting rid of or at least diminishing the CHRCs.
Harper has no excuse, it's a no-brainer and it might likely boost his support.
You did note that even all the lefties are on side on this issue.
You are treating Harper like American Leftist idiots treat Obama.
Remember this; Harper is a politician first ... that means control-freak. We already know that he has an extra dose of control-freak in his DNA.
Wise up. We the people are on our own with this one and will need force this issue probably through the courts.
Ezra is the shining knight here, not Harper. Send him a few bucks he is fighting for your freedom of speech too.
Posted by: John V | 2008-08-09 3:34:41 PM
in the space of 15 years the globby snail posts a couple of minor editorials. right.
Anyway, donating to ezra and any others is the only course that is realistic. Harper, dion, and them are there to divide and conquer to stay in power.
Posted by: reg dunlop | 2008-08-09 6:58:39 PM
Harper likes the law the way it is, just fine.
More power....get it? He's a Neo Con.
Posted by: JC | 2008-08-10 5:45:20 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.