Toronto Star: Canadian Human Rights Commission Deserves A “B”

Toronto Star – Hate speech and the Canadian Human Rights Commission: B

Any restriction on speech has to have a clear social benefit, and so we recognize the Canadian Human Rights Commission for its decision in the Lemire case to deem the hate speech provision of the Canadian Human Rights Code to be unconstitutional.

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Examiner – Don’t expect Commissioner Lynch to bring about change to way the system works, at least not in anyway that protects and respects the fundamental freedoms Canadians cherish such as free expression…

Asking Ms. Lynch this week about changing well documented problem behaviours in the CHRC, she tried to tell me that they are rated as one of the best places to work by civil servants and that they are continually improving.

“We are proud of how we accomplish our work,” says Lynch. I just wish the rest of us could say the same.

Law Prof: Studies From 14 Years Ago Prove Today’s Human Rights Commissions Are Great

Emphasis ours.

StarPhoenix - There are good reasons why the Court of Queen’s Bench is not a good replacement option for the human rights tribunal.

Three comprehensive reviews of provincial human rights systems have said just that, for reasons of access to justice, expertise in human rights, and representativeness of different sections of the community. The Ontario Human Rights Code review task force, Achieving Equality: A Report on Human Rights Reform, 1992; B.C. Human Rights Review: Report on Human Rights in British Columbia, 1994; and the report of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, Renewing the Vision: Human Rights in Saskatchewan, 1996.

Human Rights Defenders! Assemble!

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) announced plans last month to close its regional offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax, a move some critics are calling an attack on the human rights system…

Taylor says the closure of the offices will actually deliver better service, because the CHRC is “taking management positions and turning them into front-line positions.”

Canadian Human Rights Commission: Time To Straighten Out The Immigration And Health Bigots

Gazette – Here’s something to chew on: the Canadian Health Coalition estimates that Canada needs 5,200 more doctors. Okay, that probably won’t come as a surprise to many – particularly to those looking for a physician.

But what will come as a surprise – shock, more likely – to many is that there are countless doctors who were trained in other countries, who have passed all their Canadian qualifications, but who are being denied from practising in this country.

Why? Many of those being denied were trained in Africa, as well as in other parts of the planet. Could racism be at play? The Canadian Human Rights Commission considers that there is enough evidence of discrimination to warrant an investigation.

A Canadian’s Philosophical Dilemma

National Post – I can’t make up my mind which I want to come back as in my next life, a thin-skinned lesbian or a serial pedophile.

Video: Anatomy Of A Shakedown

Awesome. The Human Right Not To Be Searched At The Border

Times Colonist – A Canadian woman who was strip-searched at the Ottawa Airport after returning from her grandmother’s funeral in Jamaica has decided to launch a human rights complaint.

Charmaine Archer, who holds dual citizenship with Jamaica, said she hopes her complaint will result in an investigation to prove that a report that traces of heroin and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, were found on her toothbrush was fabricated to justify the strip search.

Putz Uses The “Thesaurus Defense”

National Post – In another case, [Dean Steacy, Canadian Human Rights investigator] said, “Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don’t give it any value” (a commission spokesperson said this quote has been taken out of context and that if the question had been about freedom of expression, one of the freedoms guaranteed in the Charter, the answer would have been different).

The Year Of Living Jenny: What Recession?

Jennifer Lynch, QC, Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Travel Expenses, 2009: $27, 629.60

Jennifer Lynch, QC, Spends 4 Days In Ireland, Blows 8 Large

The Ireland Trip:

Flight: $6,055.79

Accomodation: $1,561.85

Total after food and other transport: $8,336.64

Jennifer Lynch, QC: Canadians Still Bigots, But The Struggle Continues

Earth Times – “Canada’s approach to promoting and protecting human rights is a model for the world,” said Jennifer Lynch, Q.C. “Our open, inclusive and culturally diverse society is the foundation of our social, cultural and economic prosperity, yet much remains to be done. We must continue to push through the barriers of discrimination and show our unwavering commitment to equality, dignity and respect.”

“Privilege” Doesn’t Come To Mind, But We Get Your Drift

Camrose Canadian – As Canadians, we take great pride in touting the notion that we live in a free country, where freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed as a fundamental right entrenched in our society. But are we as a people truly committed to upholding this principle in all cases, or would it be more accurately described as a privilege?

Better Late Than Never: MPs Look At Human Rights Commission Abuses

Montreal Gazette – Senator Doug Finley led a call Tuesday to scrap a section of Canada’s Human Rights Act that he and other Conservative senators say is being used to stifle free speech in Canada…

“Despite our 400-year tradition of free speech, the tyrannical instinct to censor still exists,” Finley said. “We saw it on a university campus last week. And we see it every week in Canada’s misleadingly named human rights commissions.”

Tsk, Tsk. Don’t Bring Up America

Calgary Herald – American comedian Lenny Bruce showed long ago that anyone who walks into the arena of a comedy club leaves the polite confines of normal society behind.

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Dean Steacy, Canadian Human Rights Commission investigator, quoted in the National Post, 2008 – “Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don’t give it any value.”

Enough With This Talk Of Justice, On With The Witch Hunt

TGET:

Relax. Bitching And Moaning Still Available

Toronto Sun - Let’s put the brakes on right here. This is silly.

As indicated by the commission itself on Friday, it’s just part of a restructuring.

And there will be plenty more as the feds trim the public service.

It’s a major headache any time local government offices close. Filing complaints will indeed be a tad tougher.

But let’s be honest. It’s not the catastrophe they are making it out to be.

Bloggers Celebrate. But Not So Fast.

Five Feet of Fury – Yep, this is an amazing coincidence, but let’s have fun with it anyway: the government is finally closing down three Canadian Human Rights Commission offices!…

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DWE – Great News. Justice Minister Says Human Rights Commission Answers To No One

Great News. Justice Minister Says Human Rights Commission Answers To No One

Examiner – Gordon puts the closures and job cuts, which have not been confirmed in public by Commission staff, squarely at the feet of the Harper government. Yet a spokesperson for Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says “The Canadian Human Rights Commission is an independent agency that administers the Canadian Human Rights Act without interference from the Government. This internal re-organization was a decision made by the Commission without direction or input from the Government.”

Canadian Human Rights Commission Achieves Punch Line Status

Vancouver Sun – Inflammatory right-wing pundit Ann Coulter took aim at a University of Ottawa administrator Monday night, saying an e-mail from the school warning her to use “restraint, respect and consideration” when addressing Ontario students during a speaking tour this week made her a victim of a “hate crime.”…

“I’m sure the Human Rights Commission will get to the bottom of it,” Coulter said to loud cheers from the 800-strong audience. “I think I’m the victim of a hate crime here. Either what (Mr. Houle) did was a hate crime, or the whole commission is BS.”

Fired? Plenty Of Options

CleoNet – It outlines the steps to follow if dismissed from employment, such as taking precautionary measures, calculating or estimating termination pay, and dealing with the former employer. Finally, it deals with choosing the best legal process for enforcing rights, including the Ministry of Labour, Small Claims Court, Human Rights Tribunal, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The Shotgun Method: One Out Of Three And You Have A Winner

Standard Freeholder – At the centre of the human rights case is a claim by Teiohontathe Fallan Davis. She alleges that because of her age, race and gender, the CBSA led an unjustified search and X-Ray of her vehicle at the Cornwall Island Port of Entry on Nov. 18, 2005. She was 23 at the time.

The Human Right To Better TV Coverage

Toronto Sun – The 2010 Paralympic Games kicked-off Friday night with a two-hour opening ceremony, but unless you get CTV’s Vancouver feed, you couldn’t watch it live…

Laurie Beachell, the national co-ordinator for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, said his organization has already contacted the Canadian Human Rights Commission about CTV’s coverage of the Olympics, which included live web streaming that wasn’t captioned for people with vision impairments.

Jennifer Lynch, Q.C.: Canada Closer To Recognizing Disabled People As People

Marketwire – The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) congratulates the Government of Canada for its ratification of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is pleased that this comes with the unanimous support of all the provinces and territories.

“This ratification was necessary to ensure that Canadian society recognizes the invaluable contributions of persons with disabilities and strengthens the momentum towards securing their equal rights,” said CHRC Chief Commissioner Jennifer Lynch, Q.C.

Steyn to “Human Rights” Commission: Eat Me

Steyn Online – I’m freer than I’ve ever been in Canada. I can say what I like and no “human rights” commission will accept a complaint against me ever again. Go on, try it. Because they know that, if they do, it’s not about me, it’s about them…If you stand up to the state enforcers and you fight them nimbly and publicly, they lose. When you go Magna Carta on Jennifer Lynch’s medieval ass, she can’t take it, and like all bullies she’ll slink off to kick around an easier victim.

National Post: Shutting People Up OK, As Long As There’s Safeguards

National Post – As such, the authorities don’t need a human rights commission to go after Mr. Hossain. They can simply apply Sections 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code, which target, respectively, anyone “who advocates or promotes genocide” or who “promotes hatred against any identifiable group.”

We have our reservations about Sections 318 and 319. But at least they contain a lot more safeguards to prevent procedural abuse than do human rights codes. Moreover, as the facts of Mr. Hossain’s case show, they are well tailored for prosecuting the very worst hatemongers our society has to offer.