All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. —Lord Acton I expect politicians on the left of the political spectrum to despise free speech. It's a foundational tenet of their belief systems - that only approved speech must be permitted and leftists are, naturally, the only ones capable of being the arbiters of 'permitted speech'. Justin Trudeau's … [Read more...]
CCF WIN: Section 91 of the Canada Elections Act is Declared Unconstitutional
On February 19, 2021, in another free speech win for the Canadian Constitution Foundation, Justice Davies ruled: I find that section 91(1) of the CEA violates section 2(b) of the Charter and is not saved under section 1. Pursuant to s. 52(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, section 91(1) of the CEA is of no force or effect. The decision, Canadian Constitution Foundation v. … [Read more...]
Justin Trudeau: I Will Always Defend Approved Speech
Section 2 (b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is clear. Canadians have the right to freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. The lesser son of the man who brought Canada the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is, sadly but predictably, utterly incapable of defending this bedrock principle of the Canadian Constitution. Trudeau's pathetic mewling started after … [Read more...]
Free Speech: Tulsi Gabbard, Google and the First Amendment
On July 25, 2019, Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard – the most searched-for candidate on Google for about 15 seconds last year – sued the tech giant for $50 million for violating her First Amendment rights. In a decision published on March 4, 2020, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson shot down Gabbard’s lawsuit, leaving nothing but a smoking ruin … [Read more...]
Free Speech – Does It Mean What You Think?
What does “Free Speech” mean? Not what a lot of people think it does, unfortunately. This column is sparked by a comment published on ChristopherDiArmani.com earlier this month and the US Court of Appeals decision, Prager University vs. YouTube, delivered on February 26, 2020. “Hey. I dont agree with your post but i will defend your right to post it. I would expect you … [Read more...]
The Canadian Government’s Scheme to Censor the Internet
Freedom of Speech is a fundamental right of all human beings. If this Liberal government wants me to give up right to free speech and beg for their permission to speak they'd best come with a bevy of armed Thought Police thugs because the only way they will shut me up is if they kill me. George Orwell's classic 1984 is not an instruction manual. It's a dire warning about … [Read more...]
Washington DC Judge Shuts Down US DOJ Fishing Expedition
Cops love vaguely-worded search warrants with a wide-open net. Why they love them is no secret. These kinds of search warrants are fishing expeditions. These search warrants are massive gill nets tossed into the ocean of humanity in search of a crime to prosecute. They don't even care which crime. Any crime will do. That's the type of broad warrant the US Department of … [Read more...]
The Social Justice Warrior Worldview
If you think you're crazy because of all the politically-correct nonsense in our world, you're not. If you think the world is being turned upside down by childish crybabies who cannot comprehend a moral right from a moral wrong, you're correct. If you believe your right to free speech trumps the screeching and wailing of social justice warriors who are too intellectually … [Read more...]
Jordan Peterson: It’s not safe to speak and it never will be
Professor Jordan Peterson made international headlines last fall for his staunch refusal to kneel at the feet of the Pronoun Police. That infuriated the intolerant ones, all of whom insist there can be only one opinion: theirs. All others must be silenced. Professor Peterson refused to be cowed by those "clouds of gnats" and stood his ground. Despite a 20+ year record of … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to Jati Sidhu, MP (Mission — Matsqui — Fraser Canyon)
Dear Mr. Jati Sidhu, MP (Mission — Matsqui — Fraser Canyon) I write to you, my elected representative to Parliament, to urge you to vote against Iqra Khalid's Motion M-103 "Systemic racism and religious discrimination" this week. My rationale is simple. Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees my right to freedom of speech. That right includes the right to … [Read more...]
Raif Badawi: Our Right to Free Speech must not be taken lightly
Here in North America we take our Right to Freedom of Speech for granted. We criticize our government with abandon and gusto, confident we are safe from retaliation; that there is no price to be paid for speaking our mind. We forget the rest of the world doesn’t take so kindly to criticism. In Saudi Arabia, for example, criticizing the government comes at a very high cost. … [Read more...]
BC Attorney General Suzanne Anton too Cowardly to Answer for Topham Prosecution
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Bureaucrats are, generally speaking, a cowardly bunch, but the response given to Joseph Hickey, Executive Director of the Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA) about Arthur Topham’s Freedom of Speech case is truly pathetic even by that low standard. Joseph Hickey's letter was written directly to the Honourable Suzanne Anton, … [Read more...]
Are you offended by something I said? Get over it already.
The problem with some folks is they can’t accept the fact an opinion exists of which they don’t approve. The problem with politicians is they feel compelled to pander to the people who cannot accept another's point of view. Combine the two (incessant whiners and politicians) and you get nightmares like the Canadian Human Rights Act and Section 318 of the Criminal Code, both … [Read more...]
Flashing Headlights to Warn of Speed Trap is NOT a Crime says Oregon Court
It's a simple, common-sense ruling, and one founded in that most basic right of all, Freedom of Speech. Just like honking your horn as you pass by people holding a sign like "Honk if you Support Our Troops" is legal, so is flashing your lights to warn oncoming drivers of police in their path. So says Oregon Judge Joseph Carter. Hauling a truckload of logs to a Southern … [Read more...]
Arthur Topham’s Continuing Legal Battle for his Right to Freedom of Speech
As I’ve written many times before Quesnel, BC, resident Arthur Topham is embroiled in a battle for his Right to Freedom of Speech. Those who dislike what Arthur has to say used both Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (now repealed) and the Criminal Code section against “hate crimes” to attack him and strip him of that precious right. While Section 13 of the Canadian … [Read more...]
Thought Police Compare Publisher with Child Pornographers and Sexual Predators
The Arthur Topham criminal “hate speech” case here in British Columbia continues to leave me scratching my head in amazement that we actually pay Crown Prosecutors good money to act like such idiots. I’m specifically talking about Quesnel Crown Counsel and (president of Quesnel Bar Association) Jennifer Caroline Johnston’s antics in court. Johnston, Arthur Topham relates in … [Read more...]
Arthur Topham’s Legal Woes Continue for Daring to use his Right to Freedom of Speech
From the beginning Arthur Topham’s case puzzled me. Charging Mr. Topham with “wilfully promoting hatred” under Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada seemed excessive given he already faces charges under Section 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. What makes Arthur Topham so scary? In today’s world, where we value “hurt feelings” over our Charter Rights and … [Read more...]
Prince Rupert School District Despises Freedom of Speech; Orders Teachers to Remove T-Shirts Promoting Section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Imagine it... a school district, supposedly in charge of educating our children, deems the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to be “inappropriate”. No, I am not making this up. Prince Rupert School District No. 52 recently banned teachers from wearing a T-shirt with “2(b) or not 2(b)?” on the front, and the text of section 2 of the Charter on the back: 2(a) … [Read more...]
Freedom of Speech? Not if a politician is nearby!
The old saying that “Truth is stranger than fiction” rang through my head as I read the report that the United States Congress had passed a law making it illegal to protest anywhere near a politician. Naturally President Obama signed it into law immediately since, if it should be illegal to protest near any member of the Political Class, obviously that should be the “God of … [Read more...]
Guy Earle appeals BC Human Rights Tribunal discrimination decision
On April 20th, 2011 Guy Earl was found guilty of "hurting the feelings" of lesbian Lorna Pardy, who had the audacity to claim she suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result. Pardy obviously has some pretty big balls, making such an absurd claim. The BC Human Rights Tribunal showed just how ridiculous and out of touch with the real world they are when they made this … [Read more...]
A Historic Day for Freedom of Speech: Geert Wilders
Dutch filmmaker Geert Wilders was cleared of charges of inciting hatred today in what I can only call a historic decision. Had Wilders been found guilty, freedom of speech would have been dealt a lethal blow, and one it would likely not recover from, at least in The Netherlands. Dutch Judge Marcel van Oosten ruled that Wilders' speeches, writing and movie Fitna did not … [Read more...]
Phyllis Morris despises Free Speech, sues everyone she can think of for $6 million!
Freedom of Speech is one of the foundational principles of Canada. It is essential that individuals are able to freely speak their minds without being afraid of some dumb-ass politician filing a $6 million lawsuit against them. Phyllis Morris is [allegedly] one of those dumb-ass politicians. Former politician, to be exact. She was the mayor of the Town of Aurora, Ontario, … [Read more...]
Bankrupting the Jaworski’s for Daring To Host a Freedom Conference
Property Rights... they don't actually exist in Canada under Trudeau's Charter. Most don't realize that. Worse still, Canada's Supreme Court has upheld this fact in the Authorson v. Canada (Attorney General), 2003 SCC 39, [2003] 2 S.C.R. 40. In that case, the SCC upheld Parliament's right to steal veterans pensions, because Parliament had made clear its intent to do … [Read more...]
Freedom of Expression? No Thanks, we’re Canadian…
In 2008, the township of Russell, Ontario, passed a bylaw requiring all posted signage to be bilingual. Embrun, Ontario, businessman Jean-Serge Brisson challenged the law in court, believing the law violated his Right to Freedom of Expression. For the record, I agree with Mr. Brisson. However, Ontario's Superior Court sided with the town, and upheld the bylaw, stating … [Read more...]
Blackberry vs United Arab Emirates over who controls communication
Canada's Research in Motion (RIM), the company that gave the world the Blackberry smart phone, has been embroiled in a battle with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the use of Blackberries inside their borders. Like all good totalitarian regimes, UAE is demanding complete access to all encrypted communication over the Blackberry network or it will suspend all Blackberry … [Read more...]