Meeting with Education Minister Johnson
AHEA will be meeting with Minister Johnson on Wednesday, June 13. Please
pray for the Holy Spirit to lead the meeting, and for changes to the Education Act which will glorify Him. Please pray for all of Alberta’s Education Legislation. The Death of Section 13 (Hate Speech Clause) of Canada’s Federal Human Rights
Act: A Win for Freedom of Speech On June 6, 2012, a private member’s Bill calling for the removal of
section 13 of the Canadan Human Rights Legislation received 3rd reading in Canada’s federal parliament with a supportive vote of 153-136. Brian Storseth, the Member of Parliament from Westlock - St-Paul who introduced the private members bill, stated “this is a good step for freedom in our country and a step forward especially for freedom of expression and freedom of religion.” According to Mr. Storseth, the removal of s.13 from the Federal Human Rights Act “frees up Canadians to have good political and theological dialogues without having the fear of repercussions.” (http://www.qr77.com/news/audiovault/
- June 7, at 9:00 a.m. at approximately 35 minutes.) When asked on on the Dave Rutherford show on June 7, 2012 why it was
important to repeal this so called “Hate Speech Clause” from the Human Rights Legislation, Mr. Storseth indicated that people who were accused under this clause were subject to ‘back alley justice’. “They end up going before a quasi-judicial body where the rules of evidence aren’t clear, (and) truth and intent aren’t justifiable defenses. . .” “(Hate speech crimes) are serious crimes that should be investigated by police officers and presided over by real lawyers and judges not civil servants who get to decide what is and what isn’t freedom of expression in our country.” Mr. Storseth stated that we have Criminal Code provisions to deal with hate speech in a transparent and fair legal system and that Human Rights Legislation should not be dealing with this. Mr. Storseth went on to discuss provincial Human Rights Legislation and
voiced his “. . . hope that provinces will take light from the federal jurisdiction. . . and start repealing their own sections. . .” He indicated that this was of importance specifically to Albertans, as our ‘hate speech clause’, section 3, is still in place. Mr. Storseth indicated that Premier Redford promised in her leadership race that she was going to get rid of that section, but thus far, this has not happened. AHEA is encouraging individuals to speak to their MLA’s about their
pleasure with the removal of the Federal Hate Speech Clause from the Federal Human Rights Legislation and to encourage them to have Ms. Redford follow through on her promise to have s.3 removed from Alberta’s Human Rights Legislation. |