From: "Kevin Sorenson" To: Subject: FW: HRC gaffes Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 16:43:28 -0600 Dear Mr. McCormick: Thank you for your e-mail in which you express your concern with the Canadian Human Rights Council and the application of section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), which prohibits hate messaging, and its possible effects on freedom of expression. First, could you please advise me of your address in Kirriemuir, as your name does not appear on the latest database of our constituents, as provided by Elections Canada. I assure you that the Government of Canada is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. Canada's record on human rights is second to none. It is a record for which all Canadians can be proud. That being said, I want you to know that I also have grave concerns with these troubling actions of the Commission, and look forward to receiving a copy of the response you receive from Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson. The Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal are independent agencies that administer the Canadian Human Rights Act, according to procedures specified by the law, without interference from the government. The Department of Justice continues to monitor the Commission and Tribunal to ensure that our human rights system remains effective. Enacted in 1977, the original purpose of section 13 was to deal with "telephone hate lines". The legislation was extended in 2001 to cover hate messaging on the Internet (s. 13(2)). Section 13 provides: 13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination. 2) For greater certainty, subsection (1) applies in respect of a matter that is communicated by means of a computer or a group of interconnected or related computers, including the Internet, or any similar means of communication, but does not apply in respect of a matter that is communicated in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a broadcasting undertaking. For further information I refer you to the Canadian Human Rights Commission's website which has very detailed information pertaining to its mandate, discrimination and harassment, dispute resolution and much more: http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/about/default-en.asp I suggest you contact the CHRC directly with your complaint, through the "Contact Us" section on the website. Again, I thank you for sharing your concerns, and I look forward to any follow up information relating to the issue. Sincerely, Kevin Sorenson, MP Crowfoot 1-800-665-4358 -----Original Message----- From: Sorenson, Kevin - M.P. [mailto:Sorenson.K@parl.gc.ca] Sent: May 14, 2008 8:07 AM To: mpsorens Subject: FW: HRC gaffes -----Original Message----- From: Sean McCormick [mailto:meadowlarkpc@gmail.com] Sent: May 12, 2008 1:25 AM To: Harper, Stephen - P.M.; Nicholson, Robert Douglas - M.P.; Sorenson, Kevin - M.P. Subject: HRC gaffes Dear Sirs, As a voter living in the Crowfoot riding in Alberta, I am writing to express my dismay over the revelations of wrongdoing and corruption by Human Rights Commissions both at the provincial and federal levels that Canadians have been witness to these past few months. I am disgusted and angered by what I have seen. This fiasco runs contrary to my values and spits in the face of my grandfather, a war veteran who served this country in WWII. We've seen dishonest and flagrantly illegal behavior on the part of Human Rights Commissions and their employees. That Richard Warman continues to be allowed to make Section 13 his own personal plaything destroys any notion of our country having a working justice system (Mr. Nicholson, I'm speaking to you if you can hear anything from that cave you've been hiding in). This is the ONLY issue I'm voting on come the next election. My vote goes to the candidate/party that is doing the most to shut down these HRC boondoggles, or at the very least, repeal Section 13 of the human rights act. I am also willing to volunteer my time and put my money (the maximum contribution allowed by law) behind the candidate that best represents my values on this issue. I normally vote along conservative lines, but I'm willing to cross the floor on this issue, even if that means voting for one of those granola-crunching Green Party freaks. So far the Liberals are in the lead for getting my vote thanks to the efforts of Dr. Keith Martin. If you want my vote and support back, you know what you have to do. Sincerely, Sean McCormick Kirriemuir, Alberta www.neutralhillsstills.ca