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Liberal MP Motion Calls for Public Examination of Human Rights Commission

Canada Family Action Coalition calls for removal of Ontario's chief human rights commissioner Barbara Hall

OTTAWA, June 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Last week, Dr. Keith Martin introduced a motion in the House of Commons calling for a public examination of the Canada Human Rights Act and the Commission and Tribunal that stems from it. The motion calls on the Federal Government to hold public hearings across Canada on this matter. This follows a letter Dr. Martin wrote to the Justice Committee requesting that they do a study and hold public hearings on the CHRA.

The purpose of this motion and the letter was to give the federal government two further options on how a fair and open public examination of the CHRA can occur so that solutions can be offered by the Committee to modernize the Act's mandate.

"I just returned from the Canadian Association of Journalists AGM in where I attended a debate with a member of the CHRA. After the debate it became even more obvious that the Act needs to be modernized. The CHRA member had little understanding of the deep flaws and misuses of the Act by the Commission and the trampling of free speech that the Commission sometimes engages in," said Dr. Martin.

"There was no recognition of the problems inherent in Section 13(1), nor was there any recognition of the absurdity that Section 13(2) of the Act exonerates some people for saying the same thing that the CHRA can use 13(1) to prosecute other people for. In fact he even suggested that the act needs, "more laws to protect against hate speech".

The motion and letter will enable all Canadians to see the current workings of the CHRA and offer solutions that will protect free speech, while protecting people from hate speech.

Meanwhile, the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC) is calling for the removal of Ontario's chief human rights commissioner Barbara Hall, saying, “Her actions on two recent cases are grounds for dismissal.”

Hall first denounced MacLean’s magazine even though the Commission decided it did not have authority under the Act to investigate MacLean’s.

CFAC's Executive Director, Brian Rushfeldt said, " the troublesome fact is that Barbara Hall made such comments even though this same case is still before the federal Commission and going before the BC commission today."

The second case is that of Christian Horizons. The commission did investigate and rule on that case. Again Ms. Hall made comments beyond the ruling.

"Before the deadline for appeal, Hall overstepped her boundaries and made comments that could jeopardize the court case", said Dr. Charles McVety, President of CFAC. Since her comments were made an appeal has been filed.

CFAC asks Ontario citizens to call Premier McGuinty and ask him to remove Commissioner Hall immediately.

To contact the Premier:

Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Fax -(416) 325-3745

Internet Response form:
https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp

Ottawa Constituency Office
Hon Dalton McGuinty
1795 Kilborn Ave
Ottawa ON K1H 6N1
Tel 613-736-9573
Fax 613-736-7374
   
Email:

To contact the Members of the Legislature
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/member_addresses.do?AddType=CONT&locale=e...

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