Law
Jul 28, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Commentary
While the Canadian Human Rights Commission has concluded that Mark Steyn's controversial October 2006 Maclean's piece was "calculated to excite and even offend certain readers," the commission ruled that doesn't make it hate speech. Vancouver Sun columnist Ian Mulgrew says the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal should reject a similar complaint against Maclean's and, like its federal counterpart, initiate a study of the hate-speech section of its enabling legislation. Haroon Siddiqui, writing in the Toronto Star, argues that hate laws are a reasonable limit on free speech and what's needed is to exempt media reports from human rights laws -- and for the media to exercise self-restraint by refusing to publish "racist cartoons and anti-Semitic rants."
Read Mulgrew's column.
Read Siddiqui's column.
Read the CBC report on the commission's ruling.
While the Canadian Human Rights Commission has concluded that Mark Steyn's controversial October 2006 Maclean's piece was "calculated to excite and even offend certain readers," the commission ruled that doesn't make it hate speech. Vancouver Sun columnist Ian Mulgrew says the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal should reject a similar complaint against Maclean's and, like its federal counterpart, initiate a study of the hate-speech section of its enabling legislation. Haroon Siddiqui, writing in the Toronto Star, argues that hate laws are a reasonable limit on free speech and what's needed is to exempt media reports from human rights laws -- and for the media to exercise self-restraint by refusing to publish "racist cartoons and anti-Semitic rants."
Read Mulgrew's column.
Read Siddiqui's column.
Read the CBC report on the commission's ruling.
Jul 28, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Commentary
England has abolished the ancient common law offence of blasphemous libel, but the crime remains on the books in Canada. Until the offence fell into disuse in the 1920s, anyone who made "contemptuous," "reviling," or "scurrilous" statements about God, Jesus Christ or the Church of England could be prosecuted, although Canada's Criminal Code exempts statements made in "good faith and conveyed in decent language." Jeremy Patrick, a doctoral student at Osgoode Hall Law School, argues it's time for Parliament to abolish the offence in a July 2008 commentary published in the Toronto Star.
England has abolished the ancient common law offence of blasphemous libel, but the crime remains on the books in Canada. Until the offence fell into disuse in the 1920s, anyone who made "contemptuous," "reviling," or "scurrilous" statements about God, Jesus Christ or the Church of England could be prosecuted, although Canada's Criminal Code exempts statements made in "good faith and conveyed in decent language." Jeremy Patrick, a doctoral student at Osgoode Hall Law School, argues it's time for Parliament to abolish the offence in a July 2008 commentary published in the Toronto Star.
Jan 29, 2008
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Commentary
Ezra Levant of the now-defunct Western Standard and Maclean's columnist Mark Steyn have been hauled before Canadian human rights commissions. The issue, Halifax journalism professor Kelly Toughill writes in her Jan. 26, 2008 column in the Toronto Star, is not whether Levant should have published controversial cartoons about Muhammad, or whether Maclean's has been fair in depicting Muslims. The issue is who gets to decide what the press can publish and what the public gets to read.
Ezra Levant of the now-defunct Western Standard and Maclean's columnist Mark Steyn have been hauled before Canadian human rights commissions. The issue, Halifax journalism professor Kelly Toughill writes in her Jan. 26, 2008 column in the Toronto Star, is not whether Levant should have published controversial cartoons about Muhammad, or whether Maclean's has been fair in depicting Muslims. The issue is who gets to decide what the press can publish and what the public gets to read.
Nov 08, 2007
- Posted by Heather
McCall
Courts and journalism are inextricably linked to democracy -- a free press and democracy cannot be separated, says The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. The chief justice spoke at the inaugural event in the annual lecture series, Democracy and Journalism, on October 31 at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto. Visit the Canadian Journalism Foundation site for more details, including a video of the event.
Sep 25, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
News
Toronto (August 13, 2007) -- The murders of Somali journalists Ali Sharmarke and Mahad Ahmed Elmi, of the radio network HornAfrik, are a blow to press freedom in Somalia and a great loss to the journalistic community, says Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Read the group's press release.
Toronto (August 13, 2007) -- The murders of Somali journalists Ali Sharmarke and Mahad Ahmed Elmi, of the radio network HornAfrik, are a blow to press freedom in Somalia and a great loss to the journalistic community, says Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Read the group's press release.
Sep 25, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
News
Ottawa (July 30, 2007) -- One year after relations between the Parliamentary Press Gallery and the Harper government hit rock bottom, some observers see signs that restrictions on media access to politicians is forcing journalists to dig deep and produce better political stories. Sharda Vaidyanath reports in The Epoch Times.
Ottawa (July 30, 2007) -- One year after relations between the Parliamentary Press Gallery and the Harper government hit rock bottom, some observers see signs that restrictions on media access to politicians is forcing journalists to dig deep and produce better political stories. Sharda Vaidyanath reports in The Epoch Times.
Jun 20, 2007
- Posted by Heather
McCall
Following two recent back-to-back rulings striking down publication bans, Sun Media's Kevin Martin poses two questions for consideration: Should the media be forced to continually bear the costs of challenging laws, or fighting bids for publication bans in a nation which constitutionally guarantees freedom of the press? Or should our politicians take a more proactive role in examining the general issue of lifting the veil of secrecy often dropped over judicial proceedings?
May 23, 2007
- Posted by Dean
Jobb
Nearly two-thirds of the Earth's population live in places where the press is not free or only partly free, according to the annual global survey of press freedom released by the New York-based think tank Freedom House. Read the May 1, 2007 news report in Editor and Publisher.
May 11, 2007
- Posted by Heather
McCall
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1981. The organization promotes press freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal.
May 09, 2007
- Posted by Heather
McCall
Canadian journalism organizations are celebrating a judge's decision to quash the subpoena ordering Derek Finkle to turn over his notes about the Elizabeth Bain murder case to the police. On May 24, a group of journalism, writing and free-speech organizations hosted a fundraiser to offset the legal costs of fighting the subpoena. The website set up to promote the event still serves as a great backgrounder for the case.
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