“Canada is becoming a dark place.”

That’s because it’s run by dim individuals.

In January, Canada’s then foreign affairs minister, John Baird, signed a memorandum of understanding” with Israeli authorities in Jerusalem, pledging to combat BDS, describing the movement as “the new face of anti-Semitism.”

Also in January, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly stating that Canada has taken a “zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination including rhetoric towards Israel, and attempts to delegitimize Israel such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.”

Asked to explain what zero tolerance means, and what is being done to enforce it, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney replied, four days later, with a detailed list of Canada’s updated hate laws, noting that Canada has one of the most comprehensive sets of such laws “anywhere in the world.”

It seems obvious to anyone, of sound and sane mind, that Ottawa is signaling the use of hate crime law towards anyone, or group, who participates in the BDS movement, which it defines as an anti-Semitic act against Israel. Interesting that choosing to boycott, divest, or sanction products or services from any country should be matter of personal choice for each of us to make. It can be an effective act of “passive resistance” towards a country, company, or entity that we may not agree with, nor support.

Are we now at a fascist and dictatorship state where; should we disagree with Israeli foreign policy, and we decide, as a matter of conscience, not to purchase their goods or services, that our government considers us to have committed a hate crime? The United Church of Canada, the Canadian Quakers, the Ontario chapter of CUPE, a range of other Canadian groups, and student organizations at various universities… all support BDS fully, shunning any contact or commerce with Israel. No doubt these organizations should be very nervous, as should any independent thinker residing in Canada. After all, anyone who would dare think differently from, or dare oppose, any official Harper Government position, could be charged with a hate crime. To all you sleep walking people out there; Harper’s thought police are coming… and they will be knocking on your collective doors shortly.

I strongly recommend that anyone who is critizing Canada’s hate laws, read ALL of section 318, and 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code. This will give them a good insight into what and how these laws apply.

This process of cherry picking a part of a piece of legislation that fits one’s idea’s while ignoring the rest of what is happening can not be considered good reporting.

As a point. Hate laws cannot be brought against an individual or group without the consent of the Attorney General of the Province where the incident took place. There is much more to these laws, that safe guard individuals and groups from over zealous Governments.

Lets try to stick with the facts when possible.

Cherry picking is the name of the game totally ignoring the fact Israel is surrounded by countries and violent murderous terrorist organisations that have vowed to destroy Israel. That is probably okay with the cherry pickets also ignoring the fact Israel is the only democracy in the region.

The sound of the harperettes singing his praises. You guys love dicitorial thought police so much ,why don’t you move to North Korea . Then you can all think alike and you won’t need to worry about loosing your dear leader in one of those pesky elections . One man , one thought , one ballet . Parrot heaven , no ?

‘The sound of the harperettes singing his praises. You guys love dicitorial thought police so much ,why don’t you move to North Korea.’

That’s patently ridiculous. And it’s ballot, not ballet, duh.

I have spell check turned on . I did not mean ballot . I meant ballet . You see in prk, there are not ballots .DUH.

Ataloss. As I said. Read the legislation. Broaden your mind.

I sincerely doubt that Canada’s hate crime legislation was even brought in by the Harper Government.

****The one thing that is a bar against all learning and that will keep you in everlasting ignorance, is contempt prior to investigation****

There are NO ballots . Sorry for the confusion vor . I can see how easy that is to do .

Palopu , what makes you continue to believe that I have not read it ? Is that because it is so obvious that you haven’t ? You seem as confused about it as does Bob , whom I suspect has also not read it .

Ataloss. I believe you have not read it, because there is a lot of good legislation in Sec 318 and 319, and you have mentioned none of it.

All you have done is criticize the Harper Government which leads me to believe that you are a one dimensional thinker, with limited options.

Palopu, I agree with your opinion, it is easy to criticize, but a totally different matter to do something that may be controversial.

I see that 250 is quickly turning into another version of the Tyee. I miss those days when this site was full of news with a local slant and not so many of this “opinions” that parrot the opinions found on a dozen other news sites.

axman, true 250 does appear to be mirroring the Tyee , which I haven’t read or looked up for 4-5 years now, in fact this site was the replacement of the Tyee. It would appear the Rebel will soon be my next choice.

Am I missing something. Harper is taking all the flack here, anyone who even thinks they might think the bill is a good idea is labelled a clone/harperette, etc., but pretty sure Justin and the Liberals voted for it too, so if it’s that patently evil, it’s amazing that the Liberals supported it – because after all, Harper could have passed it without their help, so, does that mean the Liberals are facists in the waiting as well? Does it mean the Liberals are all Harper clones as well? Or, is it really a pretty decent piece of legislation that will likely be adjusted along the way, and the more draconian measures will get struck down by the Supreme Court in any event.

I’ve read sections 318 and 319 and while I’m no lawyer, in section 319 I think there are actually two very relevant defences that could be used:

(3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2):

(a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;
(c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds he believed them to be true;

A couple of thoughts:

– If someone simply supports the BDS movement, are they technically communicating statements (this is required in order to be guilty)?
– If they are seen as communicating statements, would they be exempt because of 3(a) or 3(c)? It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that those could apply given the subject matter we are talking about.

What boggles my mind is not the governments chance of success with prosecuting someone under this legislation (I think the odds of that hapenning are slim to none), but rather, why they would feel the need to modify it to include “national origin” in the first place? Are there really any types of hate speech that would be covered under “national origin” that wouldn’t be captured under the previous criteria?

Personally, I think this is largely a political move so that the reformers can puff their chest a bit and show that they are being tough against people they see as their opponents and being supportive of those in their base.

Just my opinion.

NMG; changing the hate laws to include “national origin” has many of us who champion freedom of expression and free speech nervous. Bill C-13, the so-called cyberbullying bill, received royal assent on Dec. 9, 2014. In that bill, Canada’s hate laws were amended to include “national origin,” along with race and religion, as criteria for groups that could be targets of hate speech.

In Canada, any group / organization who supports the BDS movement against Israel, such as the ones mentioned in my earlier comment, are justifiably afraid their actions will be interpreted, by a “zero tolerance” Harper Government, as hate speech (anti-Semitic action taken) against Israel, where Israel could be interpreted as a place of “national origin”.

This goes to the very heart of free speech, and freedom of expression, in our country. Should I, or a group of like-minded individuals like myself, decide to boycott, divest, or sanction any Israeli products, services or investments, then we are participating in a, Harper Government defined, anti-Semitic act that could be subject to the application of the “most comprehensive hate laws in the world” which exist here in Canada.

Our National Anthem mentions the words “God keep our land glorious and free”, how free is a country where its citizens are no longer allowed to undertake acts of “passive resistance” because in doing so, those acts of passive resistance could be construed as a violation of our newly amended hate laws? IMO, we are marching towards a fascist state, and a significant number of us are sleep walking right into it.

@ Palopu; I responded to your comment under the Harper government – Biggest peddler of hype story, but it does not seem to post… perhaps it is due to the hyperlink I inserted in it, which may require moderator review and approval first?

The statement **most comprehensive hate laws in the world** were made to show that Canada is very strict when it comes to hate, discrimination, etc;. These laws protect people in all walks of life, and all ethnic groups. I am absolutely amazed that someone could take the statement **most comprehensive hate laws in the world** which is a good thing and somehow try and make it a bad thing.

When I was a kid we were told on numerous occasions to use our heads for something more than a **hat rack**. I suggest that a number of people posting here might want to consider doing that.

To suggest that Canada is marching towards at fascist state is naïve, we couldn’t be further from a fascist state. There is nothing happening in this Country that would support such a naïve statement. Perhaps some people should refer to past history regarding Nazism and Fascism, and also refer to a Webster Dictionary to get the meaning of words, before they start making inane statements.

I see your point Sophic Sage, but I highly doubt that the current government would be so bold (foolish is probably the better descriptor) as to venture down that road. I personally think it would result in all all out revolt. I’d even bet that there is a significant number of Conservative MP’s who would start a mutiny within the party if it was ever attempted.

IMHO, it’s all for show.

Well I must say you have a very aggressive, in your face, commenting style Palopu. The number of comments you post, across so many topics on the news blog site, leads me to believe you are a long time registered member of this site, and comment board. Your comments, seem to exhibit some Alpha male qualities, whether you are Alpha or not, is beside the point; you are most definitely male and of an advanced age… my guess would be over 65 years old.

At any rate, enough about you, lets address your comment; “**most comprehensive hate laws in the world** were made to show that Canada is very strict when it comes to hate, discrimination, etc.;. These laws protect people in all walks of life, and all ethnic groups.”

Your display of patriotism, while noble, is not well grounded in reality. If having the most comprehensive hate laws in the world shows how strict Canada is about hate and discrimination, etc. perhaps you could show the rest of us how this applies the next time a news story related to Aboriginal peoples appears on this news blog site? Of course there would never be any kind of hateful or discriminatory comments which would appear, given how serious and strict Canada is about these sorts of things; right Plaopu?

The other part of your comment mentions; “To suggest that Canada is marching towards at fascist state is naïve, we couldn’t be further from a fascist state. There is nothing happening in this Country that would support such a naïve statement.”

How about this dose of reality Palopu; “Internationally, our Five Eyes intelligence allies (Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the U.S.) and the majority of our NATO colleagues, all have oversight capability on national security matters. Their systems of governance allow for cleared legislators to evaluate the effectiveness of their government’s decisions, resources, training and plans. The absence of oversight in Canada is rather unusual among Western democracies and presents a glaring difference between us and our allies.” * Thestar.com Anyone else see the big red flag?

Sophic Sage.

As I understand it posts with links in them get trapped in the site’s spam filter and have to get posted on the site manually.

My experience in getting posts with links in them posted on this site since they changed to their new format (operating system) late last summer is that it can vary from a few minutes to many hours.

Sophic Sage.

1. Canada does have oversight we just don’t have sufficient oversight in some areas. This can be fixed over time if necessary.

2. The Countries that you mention may have oversight, however how effective is it??? Especially the USA. Usually their oversight comes into effect after the fact.

3. I would stack Canada and its form of Governance against any of the five Countries you mention any day of the week.

4. The hate crime legislation is the law of Canada. If you are aware of people who are advocating hate for different groups, take some action to have it stopped. I recently told an individual that his comments on First Nations and others could be construed as a hate crime, and he could end up cooling his heels in the slammer if he continued. He seemed totally unaware that things have changed over the years.

5. Many people in this Country over the age of 65 were taught by the Government of the day to hate the Japanese, and the Germans, etc. People like soldiers need to be reprogrammed after a war, to change their ways of thinking.

6. Its rather interesting to note that our enemies of 1945 ie; Japanese, German, Chinese, Vietnamese etc; are now our friends, and our new enemies are now the Russians, and some mid Eastern Countries.

7. Will to-days enemies be tomorrows friends. I expect so. Such is the way of the world.

Sage as for oversite well that did not work well with your five eyes, the invasion of Iraq caused by piss poor intelligence.