From: "Ezra Levant" Subject: Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 18:08:49 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0473_01C8BB6D.BA8E5AA0" 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_0473_01C8BB6D.BA8E5AA0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Rajotte, James - Riding 1=20 To: =20 Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:10 AM Subject: Canadian Human Rights Commission Dear Mr. [name redacted]: =20 Thank you for taking the time to contact my office in regards to human = rights commissions. =20 Recent developments in Canada have made it apparent that human rights = commissions operating at various levels of society are in need of major = reform. In particular, the authority of these bodies to challenge the = right of freedom of expression on grounds of offensiveness, without = evidence, must be curtailed. Recent complaints lodged against Mark = Steyn of MacLean's Magazine and Ezra Levant of the Western Standard = Magazine are indicative of the baseless nature of many complaints lodged = under the authority and legislative mandates of these commissions.=20 =20 Freedom of speech is one of the most fundamental freedoms in Canada, and = it should not be eroded be special interests or legalistic wrangling. A = motion recently put forth in the House of Commons by MP Keith Martin, = M-446, will be an important first step in making the needed changes to = human rights law in Canada. This motion calls for the repeal of Section = 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act, a section that forbids "any matter = that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt" = [Canada Human Rights Act, Section 13]. This section allows complaints = to be filed before unelected officials without any evidence, and it = forces defendants to mount a legal defence on the basis of the = perception of discrimination. Similar provisions exist within Canada's = Criminal Code for the protection of human rights, yet the Criminal Code = stipulates that the burden of evidence must fall on the plaintiff and = due process must be accorded.=20 =20 In my opinion, these human rights commissions have overstepped their = original mandates in recent cases, and as such I will support motion = M-446 when it comes up for debate in the House of Commons. The human = rights protections legislated in the Criminal Code are effective and = fair, while Section 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act allows the erosion = of Canadians' freedom of expression. This very freedom is an integral = part of Canada's national identity and motion M-446 will ensure that it = is protected from unfounded attacks in the future.=20 =20 Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with me. I hope = this information is helpful to you. Should you have any further = questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. =20 =20 Yours truly,=20 =20 James Rajotte, MP Edmonton-Leduc Phone - (780) 495-4351 Fax - (780) 495-4485 =20 Privacy and Confidentiality Notice The information in this email is intended for the named recipients only. = It may contain privileged and confidential information. If you have = received this email in error, any use, copying or dissemination of its = contents is prohibited. Please notify the sender immediately by return = mail or telephone at the number indicated on this page to arrange = destruction and/or return of the email and any attachments. Your co-operation is appreciated. Thank you. =20 If you would like to be added to our email list and receive timely = updates and announcements, please contact this office at = rajotj1@parl.gc.ca or telephone at (780) 495-4351. =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0473_01C8BB6D.BA8E5AA0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
-----=20 Original Message -----
From: Rajotte, = James -=20 Riding 1
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:10 AM
Subject: Canadian Human Rights Commission

Dear Mr. [name = redacted]:

 

Thank you for taking the time to contact my = office in=20 regards to human rights commissions.

 

Recent developments in Canada=20 have made it apparent that human rights commissions operating at various = levels=20 of society are in need of major reform.  In particular, the = authority of=20 these bodies to challenge the right of freedom of expression on grounds = of=20 offensiveness, without evidence, must be curtailed.  Recent = complaints=20 lodged against Mark Steyn of MacLean=92s Magazine and Ezra Levant of the = Western=20 Standard Magazine are indicative of the baseless nature of many = complaints=20 lodged under the authority and legislative mandates of these = commissions.=20

 

Freedom of speech is one of the most = fundamental=20 freedoms in Canada, and it should not = be eroded=20 be special interests or legalistic wrangling.  A motion recently = put forth=20 in the House of Commons by MP Keith Martin, M-446, will be an important = first=20 step in making the needed changes to human rights law in Canada.=20  This motion calls for the repeal of Section 13 of the Canada Human = Rights=20 Act, a section that forbids =93any matter that is likely to = expose a person=20 or persons to hatred or contempt=94 [Canada Human Rights Act, Section = 13].=20  This section allows complaints to be filed before unelected = officials=20 without any evidence, and it forces defendants to mount a legal defence = on the=20 basis of the perception of discrimination.  Similar provisions = exist within=20 Canada=92s Criminal Code = for the=20 protection of human rights, yet the Criminal Code stipulates that the = burden of=20 evidence must fall on the plaintiff and due process must be accorded.=20

 

In my opinion, these human rights commissions = have=20 overstepped their original mandates in recent cases, and as such I will = support=20 motion M-446 when it comes up for debate in the House of Commons. =  The=20 human rights protections legislated in the Criminal Code are effective = and fair,=20 while Section 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act allows the erosion of = Canadians=92=20 freedom of expression. This very freedom is an integral part of = Canada=92s national = identity and motion=20 M-446 will ensure that it is protected from unfounded attacks in the = future.=20

 

Thank you for taking the time to share your = concerns=20 with me.  I hope this information is helpful to you.  Should = you have=20 any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my = office.=20  

 

Yours truly,

 

James Rajotte, MP

Edmonton-Leduc

Phone - (780) = 495-4351

Fax - (780) = 495-4485

 

Privacy and Confidentiality=20 Notice

The information in this email is intended for = the named=20 recipients only.  It may contain privileged and confidential=20 information.  If you have received this email in error, any use, = copying or=20 dissemination of its contents is prohibited.  Please notify the = sender=20 immediately by return mail or telephone at the number indicated on this = page to=20 arrange destruction and/or return of the email and any=20 attachments.

Your co-operation is appreciated.  Thank=20 you.

 

If you would like to be added to our email = list and=20 receive timely updates and announcements, please contact this office at=20 rajotj1@parl.gc.ca or telephone at (780) 495-4351.

 

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