VANCOUVER, July 20 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Campaign Life Coalition BC President John Hof has asked for $25,000 in damages from BC Minister of Women’s Equality Joan Smallwood for public remarks she made associating him directly to the stabbing attack on abortionist Garson Romalis. On July 12, NDP Minister Smallwood told the media: “We know that Mr. Hof, as an example, has attended a conference in the United States with some of the radical groups that have targeted service providers, trying to provide databases with their names, that kind of thing. So we’ve been very concerned about it. We’ve been watching that for some time now.”
When media personnel said the connection was “tenuous,” she responded: “I thing that everyone is well aware that it is an organized group that they are meeting both nationally and internationally to develop strategies to intimidate service providers and to try to block access to a legal health service. Everyone should be concerned about that and the people who are doing it should be held accountable for their actions.” Asked “why would they be enlisting the help of radical right wing groups from the US,” Smallwood responded: “It’s an indication of the fact that the anti-choice groups are acting in a concerted fashion with other organizations.”
Mr. Hof told LifeSite that he was fearful for his safety and that of his family when he heard the irresponsible and unfounded accusations by the Minister. He has since received a death threat which has been investigated by police. After her lawyers reviewed her comments on radio Smallwood sent a quick letter of apology to Mr. Hof. In the letter, which lawyers say will mitigate damages she owes for the remarks, Smallwood says, “I wish to take this early opportunity to apologize unreservedly for any embarrassment or harm my comments may have caused you.” She also admits in the letter that “I am aware of your oft-expressed position condemning violence.” (She failed to say that during her initial media interview.) A copy of the apology was sent to the media as well.