Low-Calorie Free Press

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

2:37 PM We’re going through an interview Awan gave on Mike Duffy Live. He tells Duffy that this isn’t a case of free speech versus minority rights. Rather, he says, Maclean’s can go on publishing what it likes, Steyn can write whatever he likes, just so long as “the Muslim community” gets a right of reply. (I’m paraphrasing. The video of the interview is here.) So really, what they’re proposing (he explains in the interview) is anextension of free speech. 

I think I see his point. Every time Maclean’s wants to publish an article some group doesn’t like, they just have to give them an equal amount of space in the magazine. Double the space, at twice the cost to Maclean’s – but zero cost to the complainants. That is ”free” speech.

The rest.

Human Rights Tribunal Rules Blogs Relevant Before Reading Them

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

1:42 PM … And we’re back. The tribunal has decided to admit the blogs. The whole wide internet is their domain! They can’t hear complaints about blog posts, but they can take them into consideration in assessing questions of “impact.” Ezra is ecstatic.

Mind you, having admitted them, the tribunal is surprised to discover it hasn’t got ‘em. The printouts, Faisal Joseph informs the panel, are “five minutes away.” Not to self: perform Google Maps search on “Kinko’s.”

The rest.

Anything Goes, Everything’s Relevant

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

[Vancouver, BC, Canada] 11:45 AM The hearing now turns to readings from various blogs I’ve never heard of: The Brussels Journal…

vs.

[Brussels Journal, description on their website] The Brussels Journal is written by Europeans, living in as well as outside Europe. The Brussels Journal is published by the Society for the Advancement of Freedom in Europe (SAFE), a Swiss non-profit organisation.

The Bureaucrat’s Answer To Everything: Did You Fill Out The Paperwork?

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

10:16 AM: …Uh-oh. The chair seems pissed. If you weren’t happy with their disclosure, did you bring an application for further and better disclosure?

+

11:13 AM And we’re back… Chair ruling on McConchie’s relevance and disclosure objections… Admitting the UN report — in its entirety, not the selected passages submitted — but not the other two. The late disclosure is “unfortunate.” Disclosure did not meet rules, and was inadequate. But respondents could have sought further and better disclosure. Respondents’ interests will not be “prejudiced” by it.

The rest.

Note To Bloggers: Are You On Trial Today?

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

9:36 AM Faisal Joseph up for the complainants. He’s promising to treat us to a tour of some of the seamier parts of the blogosphere. No guilt like guilt by association. He dumped a bunch of material on the Maclean’s side only last night — and apparently some more stuff this morning — which would ordinarily be out of order but not, as by now you will have guessed, here.

The rest.

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Addiction As Disability Case

[Fort McMurray] “The drug testing policy was not found to be discriminatory against Mr. Chiasson as a recreational user. The court left open for another day whether or not drug testing policies which adversely affect drug dependent individuals are in contravention of human rights legislation.” 
If there is a disability caused by drug use, the commission would be looking into accommodation for employees, she added. 
When Chiasson was fired, he complained to the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Committee, saying he had a “perceived disability,” launching the six-year court battle. In 2006, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench ruled Chiasson should have been treated the same as someone with a drug addiction, which is considered a disability under human-rights case law.

The rest.

Massive Research Project: Peterborough Full Of Racists

[Ontario Public Interest Research Group] A survey conducted with 64 university students shows that racism exists in Peterborough. Conducted between January-April 2008, this survey demonstrates how racism is experienced in specific places in the city. The study investigated a variety of spaces which include: downtown bars, public spaces, shopping areas, university library, residences, bathrooms, campus bars, and the bus.

…

Research supervisor, Dr. Paula Butler says, “As an academic who teaches about racism and anti-racism in Canada, these findings do not surprise me…”

The rest.

Finally Done With 20th Century Bigotry

[New Statesman] Last month the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force. It may not be a snappy title but it marks an important development in disabled people’s pursuit of equality. Sixty years after the original UN Declaration on Human Rights was launched, disabled people have finally gained their own charter and full recognition that they too have human rights.

Disabled people are one of the last “vulnerable” social groups to be given the protection of a specific human rights convention. While women, ethnic minorities, children and migrant workers all received one years ago, disabled people have had to wait until the 21st century for this moment.

The rest.

See, She Wasn’t All Bad

[Reuters] Some Islamic and African countries in the Council, which have a majority when backed by their frequent allies Russia, China and Cuba, have frequently been angered by [UN human rights chief] Arbour’s views, although she has also often spoken out against Israeli policies.

The rest.

Expert Legal Opinion

[National Post] “Strict rules of evidence do not apply” in cases before the Tribunal, noted its chairwoman, Heather MacNaughton. A lawyer and a veteran of human rights inquiries, she made the comment yesterday afternoon, when allowing an Ontario law student — yet another non-B. C. resident — to deliver for the complainant testimony about the “Islamaphobic” Steyn excerpt.

The rest.

Canadian Mainstream Media Fires Dud

Headline, Canwest, June 2nd:

Human rights panel hears claim Maclean’s article denigrated Muslims

Now we know how Canwest is going to play it for the rest of the week.

From The Canadian Press, headline:

Canadian Islamic leaders argue “anti-Muslim” article in Maclean’s fostered hatred

Looks like the CP is following the same line.

Human Rights Tribunal: YouTube Comments, Blog Posts Can Be Used As Evidence

What, you thought this would stop with magazines? Why do you think we call this webpage Down With Everybody?

This is about precedent, baby. Get people used to that big, bad net. Shut ’em up good.

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog on the Maclean’s/British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal hearing:

3:50 PM
Back from a break, as the tribunal members wrestle with yet another ruling on admissibility in the absence of rules of evidence. They’ve decided again to sort-of admit questioning about the “impact,” not of Steyn’s article, but of various, mostly obscure blogs who were allegedly “inspired” by Steyn’s piece. Understand: we’re now to be subjected to the state’s inquisition, not for anything that appeared in the magazine, but for whatever lunatic ramblings might appear anywhere in the blogosphere!

3:58 PM
And of course, as [Maclean’s magazine lawyer] McConchie is pointing out, the tribunal has already ruled that it doesn’t have jurisdiction over internet posts…

3:59 PM
Overruled.

4:10 PM
Now we’re into, not even blogs, but comments left on a YouTube post. Is bathroom grafitti next?

The rest.