Damn Canadian Judges Dig This “Free Expression” Thing

Ontario Superior Court Of Justice, May 3, 2010. Click to read full ruling.

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.

Epic Fail: Paper Tries To Stand Up For Free Speech, Ends Up On Its Knees

Bold ours.

Chilliwack Times, Open Letter to Readers – There has been much discussion lately about “free speech” in Canada. I use parentheses [sic] to denote a term that causes many individuals to have a gag reflex as they consider the term to be a uniquely American concept that has no relevancy with our sense of Canadian values. Call it “freedom of expression” or what have you, but I do have concerns about our willingness to acquiesce to seemingly arbitrary standards of conduct and speech imposed by quasi-judicial bodies. Their willingness to take away your right to expression should concern all of us.

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

“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.”

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, Reporters, Finally Do Homework

Toronto Sun – In an effort to be more efficient, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is closing three regional offices later this year…

And that’s what worries Ezra Levant, a free speech advocate and critic of the commission.

“My fear is that … they are just shutting down wasteful costly branch offices to regroup and be even more brutal out of their Stalinist bunker in Ottawa,” Levant said Friday. “Instead of spending money on rent and phones and things like that, they’re going to put more money into abusing our human rights.”

CHRC Rep: Silly Bloggers And Reporters Still Don’t Get That We Answer To Nobody

Vancouver Sun – A decision by the Canadian Human Rights Commission to close offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax is not an attack on human rights, nor is it being done on orders from the Conservative government, says a top official with the commission…

Mosher rejected the charges and said there was no government involvement. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s office also issued a statement saying it had no input into the “internal reorganization” by the independent agency.

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.”

Public Service Alliance Of Canada: Now Nothing Can Stop The Racist Horde

Vancouver Sun – The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents CHRC workers, said in a statement that closing offices in Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver will make it harder for Canadians facing discrimination — especially new immigrants and racial minorities — to file complaints.

Disaster: CHRC Free Ride Feeling The Axe

CNW – The Public Service Alliance of Canada condemns the Harper government’s decision to close Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax. The union maintains that the closure of the three offices will make it substantially harder for individuals from marginalized groups to launch human rights complaints.

The three offices slated for closure received 70 per cent of all signed complaints to the CHRC in 2008.

Update: Not what you think.

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.

Your Plan Is To Just Ignore Them? We…Like It

Ottawa Citizen – In a 2007 decision hailed as historic, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the federal government to stop discriminating against a group of federal nurses it had been underpaying for more than three decades.

But nearly two-and-a-half years later, nothing has changed. The government, said the nurses’ lawyer, has “completely ignored” the tribunal order.

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.