Human Rights Commission Tag

28 Jul 2011 Dodging Precedent

It is already well known that the human rights tribunals take liberties with definitions to suit their own ends. For the most egregious example of this, I refer to a previous post that highlighted the OHRC’s approach

14 Jul 2011 Alberta is Talking About the HRCs

Things have gotten interesting in Alberta . In rapid-fire succession, several events have pushed the need for reform or removal of the human rights commission and tribunal to the forefront of the public consciousness. Editorials, letters-to-the-editor, talk shows, and water cooler discussions are coming fast and furious in support or in opposition.

02 Jul 2011 Reform of HRCs Arrested in Alberta… for now

Back in 2009, Alberta ’s minister for Culture and Community Spirit, Lindsay Blackett, said that the province’s Commission and Tribunal shouldn’t be in the business of regulating speech. He also mentioned that the AHRC was “operating like a kangaroo court.” That was quite something, considering the human rights agencies fell under his portfolio.

29 Jun 2011 Albertans Stand Up for Canadian Freedom in Pamphlet Blitz

For Immediate Release - June 23, 2011 (Lethbridge, AB): Two grassroots advocacy groups from northern and southern Alberta are behind the blitz of “Stand Up for Freedom Canada” pamphlets that will blanket these areas starting this Canada Day weekend. “When we celebrate Canada Day it is our freedom that we cherish most about this great nation” explained Melanie Harthoorn, representative of the Southern Alberta Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA). “Yet few people seem to be aware that our most basic freedoms are being slowly undermined by commissions and tribunals both in Alberta and across Canada. The Alberta government’s recent attempt to reform our human rights commission in the wake of criticism from the public and our courts was a joke. We can’t just stand around and do nothing while theses commissions erode our freedom of speech, expression, conscience, and faith.” 45,000 pamphlets are being distributed, urging readers to learn more about what is going on at the website www.HumanRightsCommissions.ca.

23 Jun 2011 Featured: Albertans Stand Up for Canadian Freedom in Pamphlet Blitz

For Immediate Release - June 29, 2011 (Lethbridge, AB): Two grassroots advocacy groups from northern and southern Alberta are behind the blitz of “Stand Up for Freedom Canada” pamphlets that will blanket these areas this Canada Day weekend. “When we celebrate Canada Day it is our freedom that we cherish most about this great nation” explained Melanie Harthoorn, representative of the Southern Alberta Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA).

18 Jun 2011 Political Correctness in Housing Advertisements

Th Led by former mayor Barbara Hall, the Commission has long chafed at its restrictions to repressing free speech, asking on several occasions for increased legislative powers over the media. She was involved in the Mark Steyn and MacLean’s case, as one of the three jurisdictions in which the complaint was shopped.

09 Jun 2011 Ontario’s Human Rights System Must Be Abolished

Guest Column by Chris Schafer Now that Tim Hudak Tim Hudak , leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, has backtracked on his plan to scrap the province’s Human Rights Tribunal if elected, the focus of debate has turned to reform. However, piecemeal reform, no matter how overdue and necessary, will not cure what ails the human rights system.

06 Jun 2011 Criminologist: Rights commissions have to go

John Martin (Abbotsford News, June 2 2011 - copied here with permission from the author) It Cr

26 May 2011 Guest Editorial: The Real Problem with Human Rights Tribunals

"Human rights codes have fabricated a phoney "right" to be free from discrimination and used it to override a panoply of genuine human rights, including: freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of contract and control over one's private property.

26 May 2011 Guest Editorial: The Real Problem with Human Rights Tribunals

By Karen Selick Oh Le Bu First there are what might be called procedural problems. The tribunals that hear discrimination complaints don't follow the normal rules of evidence that regular Ontario courts use. Hearsay evidence that cannot be tested by crossexamination is allowed in.