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                CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION
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   CAFE                                  FREE SPEECH MONITOR NEWSLETTER
   P.O. Box 332, Stn. "B"                          $25.00/Year
   Etobicoke, Ontario
   M9W 5L3                                          *INTERNET*
   Telephone: (905) 897-7221                  cafe@canadafirst.net
   Fax: (905) 277-3914                    http://cafe.canadafirst.net
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                        >> URGENT ACTION CALL <<

             Feds Plan Further Restrictions on Free Speech


 "Possession of hate propaganda for the purposes of distributing it to
others could soon be a crime. The measure is among several planned
Criminal Code reforms aimed at toughening laws against the spread of
hatred. The package will include specific new penalties for the
desecration of churches, cemeteries and other institutions. ... It would
also include a Criminal Code revision allowing police to seize computer
hard drives containing hate propaganda.

 Another move would prevent those charged with promoting hatred from
using the defence of truth based on denial of the Holocaust or any other
historically recognized act of genocide. Federal and provincial justice
ministers quietly agreed to the changes recently during a meeting in
Regina. 'There was unanimous support for the principles here, that
hate-motivated violence is something that we condemn,' said Pierre
Gratton, press secretary to Justice Minister Anne McLellan." (National
Post, November 25, 1998)

 Readers will note the sneaky verbal shell game. It isn't violence
that's being legislated against -- it's already illegal -- it's
dissident thought!

  Being added to the list of privileged minorities will be "sex, sexual
orientation, age, mental or physical disability. ... Federal justice
officials are studying the planned revisions with the aim of bringing in
legislation next year, Mr. Gratton said [November 24]."

 Religious conservatives should note that condemnations of homosexuality
could well land them in jail. Canada, like most totalitarian regimes,
will be adopting state-authorized history -- a sort of secular religion.

 TRUTH WILL BE NO DEFENCE in questioning the Hollywood version of World
War II.

 "The provision will make it easier to crack down on hatemongers while
protecting the right of people to openly discuss controversial issues,
said Ujjal Dosanjh, British Columbia attorney general, who has been
pushing for the adoption of the new measures." The Punjabi chop-logic of
the Indian-born B.C. politician is mind-numbing.

 You protect people's right to discuss controversial issues by seizing
their computers, jailing people for possessing quantities of "hate"
literature, and making truth no defence in discussing certain matters.
That's the sort of "freedom" they enjoy in Pyongyang!

 Sikh moderate Tara Singh Hayer was shot and wounded by a radical Sikh
gunman in 1988. This year, the fearless journalist was again subject to
frequent death threats over the chairs and tables controversy in Sikh
temples.

 Shockingly, he seemed to have received no special protection from
police in B.C., who are his co-religionist Dosanjh's responsibility.
Apparently, Dosanjh is too busy trying to close down free speech rallies
and gag immigration critics.

 The shameless Dosanjh, nevertheless, said the following at Hayer's
funeral: "The attempt to silence people in the community has ... been
continuing for some time. I think what we need to do, rather than engage
in ceondemnation of people who might differ from us ... is create a
culture of acceptance of diversity of views." (The Province, Vancouver,
November 29, 1998) What, by "hate laws" and censorship?

 This story warns that the arrogant feds are determined to impose
special interest censorship on thinking Canadians. However, these ideas
are not yet legislation.

If you care about freedom, CALL or WRITE your MP.

Even more important, go and see him/her over the Christmas parliamentary
recess. In decent terms, explain that you cherish freedom of expression
and debate. All historical questions must be open for discussion. There
can be no sacred cows. What sort of "truth" cannot stand challenge and
debate?

Secondly, write, e-mail or FAX the Justice Minister:

        Anne McLellan
        c/o House of Commons
        Ottawa, Ontario,
        K1A 0A6.

  Telephone: (613) 992-4524;
  Fax: (613) 996-4516;
  Email: McLellan.A@parl.gc.ca

Let her know that you oppose the idea of introducing such totalitarian
legislation. Let the politicians know that this will be a controversial
and unpopular measure, if it becomes legislation. It's important to
derail these dictatorial proposals before the government's prestige is
tied to them in legislative form!

__________________________

Canadian Association for Free Expression Inc.
P.O. Box 332,
Rexdale, Ontario, M9W 5L3
905-897-221
905-277-3914 FAX

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Association for Free Expression believes free
speech and discussion are essential to any functioning democracy. Freedom of
speech and freedom to express one's beliefs are essential to human dignity.
The Association, through publishing, lectures, conferences and lobbying
tries to protect these basic human rights and to promote to the maximum the
Charter guaranteed rights of freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom
of expression and freedom of assembly.

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                CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   CAFE                                  FREE SPEECH MONITOR NEWSLETTER
   P.O. Box 332, Stn. "B"                          $25.00/Year
   Etobicoke, Ontario
   M9W 5L3                                          *INTERNET*
   Telephone: (905) 897-7221                  cafe@canadafirst.net
   Fax: (905) 277-3914                    http://cafe.canadafirst.net
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