From: "Ezra Levant" Subject: Fw: Correspondence from the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 14:13:18 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_05A0_01C8C25F.52D399E0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_05A0_01C8C25F.52D399E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ******************----- Original Message -----=20 From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit=20 To: [redacted]=20 Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:58 AM Subject: Correspondence from the Minister of Justice and Attorney = General of Canada Dear Mr. [redacted]: The office of the Prime Minister has forwarded to me a copy of your = correspondence concerning the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). = I regret the delay in responding. Freedom of expression is a fundamental freedom enshrined in the Canadian = Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which, in a free and democratic society, = may be limited only when such an action is justified. The Government of Canada is committed to the protection and promotion of = human rights. To that end, the Government has introduced in Parliament = Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, which calls = for the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) to apply equally to all = Canadians. Bill C-21 would repeal section 67 of the CHRA, which = currently shields some actions of the federal government or First = Nations entities from the application of the CHRA. The repeal of = section 67 would extend the rights of First Nations people, primarily = those living on reserve, to file complaints with the CHRC. Canada's record on human rights is second to none; it is a record of = which all Canadians can be proud. As you may be aware, the CHRC, which administers the CHRA, operates at = arm's length from the Government of Canada and reports to Parliament = independently. However, I would like to inform you that my caucus colleague Mr. Rick = Dykstra has tabled a motion that the House of Commons Standing Committee = on Justice and Human Rights examine and make recommendations with = respect to the CHRC, including its mandate, operations, and = interpretation and application of provisions relating to section 13 of = the CHRA, which addresses hate messages. I look forward to that review. Please be assured that your concerns have been given proper = consideration. I appreciate having had your comments brought to my = attention. Yours truly, The Honourable Rob Nicholson ------=_NextPart_000_05A0_01C8C25F.52D399E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ******************
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Ministerial=20 Correspondence Unit
To: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:58 AM
Subject: Correspondence from the Minister of Justice and = Attorney=20 General of Canada

 

 

 

 

Dear Mr.=20 [redacted]:

 

The office of the Prime = Minister has=20 forwarded to me a copy of your correspondence concerning the Canadian = Human=20 Rights Commission (CHRC).  I regret the delay in=20 responding.

 

Freedom of expression is a = fundamental freedom enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and = Freedoms,=20 which, in a free and democratic society, may be limited only when such = an action=20 is justified.

 

The Government of Canada = is=20 committed to the protection and promotion of human rights.  To that = end,=20 the Government has introduced in Parliament Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights=20 Act, which calls for the Canadian=20 Human Rights Act (CHRA) to apply equally to all = Canadians. =20 Bill C-21 would repeal section 67 of the CHRA, which currently = shields=20 some actions of the federal government or First Nations entities from = the=20 application of the CHRA. =20 The repeal of section 67 would extend the rights of First Nations = people,=20 primarily those living on reserve, to file complaints with the=20 CHRC.

 

Canada=92s record on human = rights is=20 second to none; it is a record of which all Canadians can be=20 proud.

 

As you may be aware, the = CHRC, which=20 administers the CHRA, operates at arm=92s length from the Government of = Canada and=20 reports to Parliament independently.

 

However, I would like to = inform you=20 that my caucus colleague Mr. Rick Dykstra has tabled a motion = that the=20 House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights examine = and make=20 recommendations with respect to the CHRC, including its mandate, = operations, and=20 interpretation and application of provisions relating to section 13 = of the=20 CHRA, which addresses hate messages.  I look forward to that=20 review.

 

Please be assured that = your concerns=20 have been given proper consideration.  I appreciate having had your = comments brought to my attention.

 

Yours=20 truly,

 

The Honourable Rob=20 Nicholson

 

 

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