Those who’ve been paying attention in the Canadian blogosphere are likely well aware of this issue.  For my readers who may not float around politically slanted blogs as often as I do this may be new.

I may not read some of these authors frequently (or in some cases, at all).  I certainly don’t agree with everything written by those I do read.  However, there are many aspects of this lawsuit and the underlying concept that speech should be censored that should be of concern to us all.  Since there’s already so many postings on the topic of the Canadian Human Rights Commission behaviour of late [here, here, here, here, here, and here for starters], I’ll skip over Warman’s association with the CHRC and the battles in which he’s currently embroiled as plaintiff in that arena.

What does concern me is the pattern of behaviour that has been in evidence since the early-to-mid 1990’s.   For how much longer will we allow this to continue in Canada?

First step: silence dissenting opinions – bloggers, publishers, authors and columnists of national magazines and newspapers – no one is safe.

Second step: censor books.  Remove from public libraries materials that some might find offensive.  Oh wait, that’s already been tried.  The BC Gov’t had to draft and enact a law specifically designed to protect libraries from being forced to comply with requests to remove books from their  shelves by public citizens who happen to be suing the book’s author.

Third step: dictate what we’re supposed to think and feel and how we are to behave?

Section 2, Fundamental Freedoms, of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms guarantees all Canadians “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication“.    The absolute right to free speech is limited to politicians statements within the House of Commons.  All other Canadians share limitations on what Section 2b of the Charter will cover.  Despite what has been bandied about in past CHRC tribunals regarding the concept of free speech, it is as much of a Canadian value as an American one.  The Canadian right to free speech may not be as old or ingrained as the US right – the Canadian charter wasn’t made official until 1982 – and does not protect “Hate speech”.

‘Twas (I believe) Voltaire who stated: ‘I don’t agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’  Many military members I’ve met over the years have spouted this same phrase as an underlying defense for why they willingly go or do whatever the Canadian government tells them to – despite their personal beliefs.

Keeping all this in mind, I’d ask those of you who aren’t already aware of the battles being fought to take a few minutes to visit those being sued to learn more about the accusations.   If you’re able, please consider donating to their cause.

• Ezra Levant
• FreeDominion.ca
• Jonathan Kay of the National Post
• Kate McMillan of Small Dead Animals
• Kathy Shaidle of FiveFeetOfFury.com

h/t to the broomking

It’s a few days past the big election here and we’ve recently been swamped with news stories about low voter turnout in the cities. After listening to weeks and weeks of “human interest” stories burbling on about how so many people want to see change in the political landscape we see the PC party gain seats rather than lose them. The NDP lost 50% (2) of their seats and are on the cusp of losing official party status. The Liberals lost seats as well. Rather than change, we’re in for more of the same.

Not that I’m complaining as I’ve yet to really find any government appealing at the moment…

However, I’m stunned by the excuses people are giving on the news for their missing votes. “I was out shooing pool“, “I had a hair appointment“, “I was watching the latest episode of XX TV show“, etc. Despite these pathetic excuses people still feel it’s their dawg-given right to complain about the election results.

Of special interest to me are the students. Yep. You know the ones – constantly complaining about the high cost of student loans and education but who can’t be bothered to show up and vote. It amazes me how any student can consider their issues important enough to complain about everywhere (verbally, blogs, student newspapers, TV and radio interviews) but can’t take the 10-20 minutes to show up at a polling station and VOTE.

Note: Been there, done that. Paid off the student loan after 7 years and am now paying for my degree course-by-course while working full time.

Even better, I’m tired of hearing “I don’t know enough about the political process, parties, platforms, etc.” excuse from students. You’re attending college or university. You have access to computers and libraries – and in some cases poli. sci. courses – there’s no reason on dawg’s green earth why you can’t take a few minutes to RESEARCH parties and their platforms or read about the provincial political system!

Political parties know they can ignore student issues because students don’t tend to vote. According to posters placed all around campus prior to the election (provided by the student union) less than 5% of eligable students voted in the last election. Lucky me. In a few decades my future will be in the hands of these students. I wonder how much lower the voter turn out will be then.

If you want change, if you want to make an impact on the world around you, if you want issues that matter to you to be taken seriously you can stop complaining and start with the simplest of tasks. Change your own behaviour. Get out and vote. Take instruction from Gandhi and “be the change you want to see“.

The Alberta election is schedule to take place in a few weeks and I’m busy watching (ok, listening) to the leader’s debate on television tonight. I’m full of vim, vigour and cynacism when it comes to politics in Canada and I’m really struggling to get into the mood to vote this time around. Of course, I’m a good little girl who will definitely vote – I can’t carry on the tried and true Canadian tradition of complaining about politics if I don’t – but I’m really struggling to find an issue to feel passionate about in the upcoming election.

I know what I don’t want. I don’t want money thrown at issues when no coherent plan is in place to generate a permanent resolution. I don’t want politicians to get raises when those incapable of caring for themselves struggle to keep a roof over their heads. I don’t want my taxes raised without a good justification for increased spending.

I also know what I want. I want everyone to have somewhere to live and food in their belly. I want the “justice” system overhauled to include expectations of increased accountability and responsibility for criminal’s actions. I want victims to stop being victimized by the “justice” system that is supposed to be there to protect and assist them. I want to be able to continue to pay my bills and attend university on my small salary so I don’t have to leave my job and search for a better paying one.

So far, nothing I’ve heard tonight is ringing any bells regarding the items on my want list. Luckily the night is early and the leader’s debate continues…

Over the weekend Robin dropped by for a visit. Over the course of many bottles of water and rants about the heat, the topic of poligamy and some recent documentaries surrounding the phenomenon was raised. I can’t remember how or why we started discussing it – but I defintely remember the giggles that ensued.

Due to his dyslexia Drew sometimes pronounces things differently than normal. He has a tendency to pronouce them as he reads them – so probably becomes probadly, etc. Occassionally he’ll make up entirely new words, such as poligmatism.

So, there you have it, the members of the community in Bountiful, BC (also here) don’t need to challenge the Charter or Rights and freedoms to gain permission to continue to live a poligamist lifestyle in Canada (already allowed limited status), they need only fall back on the newly discovered disorder poligmatism. This rare sight disorder that stops one from differentiating one wife from another. I can hear the defence now: “Honest officer, I thought they were all the same woman!” and “What’s wrong with carrying on the family tradition of renewing our wedding vows every year using a new name for the bride?”

Perhaps we shouldn’t take the topic so lightly but sometimes, when it comes to politics in Canada, we have to laugh to keep from crying.

I’m sputtering mad but Sean Incognito does a far better job describing the irony in his chutzpah post than I ever could.

I’d like to say it’s hard to believe this is the same group that put together the insulting campaign ad during the last election (watch it here) but I shouldn’t be so surprised. Considering the types of cuts and financial difficulties many of the longer serving members had to live through as part of the Liberal governments’ effort to quash our military heritage, this is doubly disgusting.

Sure, Canadians have proven we have short memories when it comes to holding politicians on all sides of the spectrum accountable for their actions (or in-action), but do they really think we’ve all forgotten?

h/t: Dust my Broom

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