The Calgary Herald, weighing in on Red Deer pastor Stephen Boissoin’s Court of Queen’s Bench appeal against the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, argues Alberta’s top court not only has a ‘golden opportunity’ to vindicate Boissoin, but to strike down the law that gives the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission jurisdiction over matters of free speech. The beleaguered pastor (a key recipient of ECP Centre support) is scheduled to have his appeal heard September 16 and 17. As the Herald argues:
“No society which calls itself free should tolerate an individual being ordered by a semi-judicial body using no rules of evidence, to stop making ‘disparaging remarks’ in perpetuity about anyone or anything. Boissoin ended up being punished, even though the commission’s decision specifically stated its goal is ‘ameliorating the effects of discrimination, rather than punishing the perpetrator’. Muzzling someone’s right to free speech ameliorates nothing – quite the opposite, in fact. It erodes basic Charter freedoms, and erosion of those freedoms is something which cannot be considered to have an ameliorating effect in a democratic society.”
The Herald concludes, noting: “It is up to the court now to restore to Boissoin his right to free speech, and to declare unconstitutional the section of the Alberta human rights code that allows for such an intolerable undermining of the guarantees specifically laid out in the Charter.” An opinion heartily applauded by social conservatives and faith-based activists across the country.
Public date: July 28th, 2009
July 28, 2009
The Calgary Herald is just as much into censorship as the Alberta Human Rights Commission is. They print articles, editorials and public opinion that freely makes opinions on my 2002 lettera and distorts my context. They allow comment that likens me to Nazi’s and those that support genocide but when I try to comment in return, they never post it. Today I attemtped to comment three times and they failed to post each time.
There is no excuse for this, it is blatant censorship.
It’s great that they have positive articles on freedom of speech but I see this same crap in so many circles. Sure, advocate freedom of speech but limit opinion.
Robert Hurron sees the some of the same:
Backing down
Calgary Herald
June 25, 2009Be the first to post a comment
Re: “CHRC seeks more powers,” Editorial, June 21.
The Herald seems to pride itself on pompous editorials about free speech. Sadly, when it comes to backing up its empty words, for example by publishing Stephen Boissoin’s letter to the editor, or the Muhammad cartoons, the Herald backs off and you waffle pathetic excuses about why you didn’t. Depending on the Herald, readers would never be allowed to decide if Boissoin’s letter was “hateful.” The Herald decided for its readers that the Muhammad cartoons, for which people around the world were killed, beaten and threatened, were not acceptable to show.
Publishing these items would not have prevented the Herald from providing comments from those who had different opinions. The Herald decided to limit the speech on its own.
Your behaviour was exactly what the HRCs are seeking. No prosecution necessary, the Herald falls into line. So please spare us your lectures on free speech and human rights.
Your newspaper is part of the problem. Internet bloggers and people like Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn are those who will make a difference.
Robert Herron, Cobble Hill, B. C.