Monday, November 24, 2008
Canada - The federal Liberal MP Keith Martin of British Columbia present a motion to repeal the powers of censorship
Dr. Keith Martin, Liberal MP representing the riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, presented two notices of motion following the House of Commons:
M-153 - 19 November 2008 - Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) - That, in the opinion of the House, subsection 13 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights should be deleted from the Act.
M-156 - 19 November 2008 - Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) - That, in the opinion of the House, the government should hold public hearings as part of a review of the Canadian Human Rights Act of the person, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and its tribunal.
Article 13 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights is the provision that allows the Canadian Human Rights Commission to investigate complaints of Internet dissemination of place likely to expose persons members identifiable groups to hatred or contempt. It is under this article that Maclean's / Mark Steyn have been prosecuted as a result of a complaint from the Canadian Islamic Congress.
We encourage you to show your support for MP Keith Martin by sending an email to his Ottawa office:
martin.k@parl.gc.ca
It is a non-partisan issue. Press freedom and freedom of expression are issues that concern all citizens, whatever their political allegiance.
As recently wrote journalist Paul Schneidereit Nova Scotia:
In my world, freedom of expression is the cornerstone that supports all other rights. I can not remember who invented this formula, but I remember it said essentially this: "Remove me all my rights, but leave me freedom of expression. With this freedom I can regain all my other rights."
Or, as eloquently said Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, director of the project on freedom of expression of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association during the debate Saturday at King's College: "We can not seek the truth, fight for a just society, protect the interests of minorities, expose injustice, without a free press and freedom of expression stored in our back pocket in case we would need."
Link
Labels: Canada, Freedom of expression
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 10:05 PM 
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]