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

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