CHRC launches “Independent Review” on Internet hate messages

Kenneth Hynek • 17th Jun 2008 • World News, Canadian News, Society, Censorship
Canada, Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies, Canadian Human Rights Commission, CASHRA, CHRC, freedom of expression, HRC, human rights commission, Internet, Jennifer Lynch, Richard Moon, University of Windsor

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It kind of sounds like an attempt to save face. Of course, it’s easier to save one’s face before one blows it off with a shotgun, but perhaps we won’t tell the CHRC that just yet.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has launched a comprehensive policy review of how best to address hate messages on the Internet. Leading constitutional law expert Professor Richard Moon of the University of Windsor will conduct an independent study as an important part of this review.

Speaking today to the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), CHRC Chief Commissioner Jennifer Lynch, Q.C. said, “The current debate on how to balance freedom of expression with the need to protect Canadians from hate messages in the Internet age is an important one. We are confident that this review will provide insight into the issues and move the discourse one step further.”

Growing public interest and continued advances in technology all point to a need to examine issues surrounding hate on the Internet. The Commission is dedicated to ensuring that the Canadian Human Rights Act remains effective. “Legislation must evolve – when necessary – to respond and reflect changes in society,” said Lynch.

I think one of BCF’s commenters expresses the sentiment that captures the mood of this situation the best: foxes are indeed extremely vigilant when given the opportunity to guard the henhouses. And unless the outcome of this review is the conclusion that the HRCs of the land have no authority to prosecute cases against Internet hate sites (with the government retaining the right to prosecute those site operators whose websites engage in incitement), that’s more or less what will have been achieved in Canada: the foxes of the human rights commissions will have been entrusted to guard the hens that are the rights Canadians are promised in the Charter.

And just like hens, such rights will be eaten up one at a time, when it suits the needs and aims of those in power over them.

Update: Welcome, Steynians!

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June 19, 2008 -- The National Post roasts the CHRC review idea
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June 27, 2008 -- Blink
March 25, 2008 -- Cross-examining the CHRC

3 Comments Comments Feed

Steynianism 172 « Free Mark Steyn! (June 18, 2008, 11:41 am).

[...] Independent Review On Hate Messaging on the Internet; Fed censorship powers to be reviewed; CHRC launches “Independent Review” on Internet hate messages …. [...]
now with caching! » The Convervative government and the CHRC review (Time Immortal) (June 19, 2008, 10:05 am).

[...] on his blog regarding the Conservative government of Canada’s apparent non-concern over the proposed internal review of/by the CHRC. I don’t think that the folks in the bunker at the CHRC understand the Conservative [...]
now with caching! » The National Post roasts the CHRC review idea (Time Immortal) (June 19, 2008, 10:23 am).

[...] yet another response to the CHRC’s proposed self-review, the National Post editorial board delivers a simmering indictment of the whole idea. …In an [...]