Ezra Levant, who has had an ongoing battle with the ironically named Canadian Human Rights Commission, reports that the tide has turned against the thought police. The CHRC famously prosecuted Mark Steyn this year, eventually caving to reality. Its less well-known targets do not fare so well, as in the case of Stephen Boissoin who was ordered to pay reparations to the non-existent victim and never to disparage homosexuals again.
Richard Moon, designated to review CHRC’s conduct, was supposed to be a reliable ally. But instead, he has called for the repeal of the “hate speech” provision.
The CHRC was surprised, too, and obviously not pleased. Although Moon’s report used the word “repeal” 11 times — it was his primary recommendation — that word appears nowhere in the CHRC’s press release announcing his findings.
It’s no longer even a matter of serious debate in Canada. The entire political spectrum has rebelled against section 13, with critics as diverse as Egale, the gay rights lobby, PEN Canada and the Toronto Star joining the National Post, the Canadian Association of Journalists, Noam Chomsky and even TV’s Rick Mercer calling for section 13 to be repealed. The only people who don’t seem to get it are those with a personal stake in censorship — the bureaucrats and lawyers who make a living off the law; as well as the community groups that support them, such as the Canadian Jewish Congress and Canadian Islamic Congress.
The left’s penchant for regulation of hate speech has always been a bad idea. The movement gained a foothold in Canada and Europe while our First Amendment has constrained it primarily to college campuses.
Levant suggests that a bipartisan effort to repeal the measure may be in the offing. Let’s hope that’s the case. But I would think the left is more likely to amend it instead, taking the position that it was a good idea that was merely applied incorrectly. Expect any amendments to make it worse still.
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