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As Ezra Levant reports, Conservative MP Rick Dykstra has introduced a motion calling for a parliamentary investigation into Jennifer Lynch's corrupt Canadian Human Rights Commission - its mandate, its "investigative techniques", and its interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Human Rights Code. (More reaction to this news from Pundita and the SoCon.)
Meanwhile, Canadians who'd written to Rob Nicholson, the Justice Minister and Attorney-General, way back in December and January and hadn't heard a word from him in response suddenly found an email from the great man popping up in their in-boxes today. It was a form letter as follows:
Dear Mr. [Your Name Here]:
The office of the Prime Minister has forwarded to me a copy of your correspondence concerning the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). I regret the delay in responding.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental freedom enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which, in a free and democratic society, may be limited only when such an action is justified.
The Government of Canada is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. To that end, the Government has introduced in Parliament Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, which calls for the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) to apply equally to all Canadians. Bill C-21 would repeal section 67 of the CHRA, which currently shields some actions of the federal government or First Nations entities from the application of the CHRA. The repeal of section 67 would extend the rights of First Nations people, primarily those living on reserve, to file complaints with the CHRC.
Canada’s record on human rights is second to none; it is a record of which all Canadians can be proud.
As you may be aware, the CHRC, which administers the CHRA, operates at arm’s length from the Government of Canada and reports to Parliament independently.
However, I would like to inform you that my caucus colleague Mr. Rick Dykstra has tabled a motion that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights examine and make recommendations with respect to the CHRC, including its mandate, operations, and interpretation and application of provisions relating to section 13 of the CHRA, which addresses hate messages. I look forward to that review.
Please be assured that your concerns have been given proper consideration. I appreciate having had your comments brought to my attention.
Yours truly,
The Honourable Rob Nicholson
As one recipient put it to me:
Hi Mark ---
Just received this message from the Minister of Justice (in response to a message I sent to the PMO five months ago). What's it mean?
Well, to take the paragraphs in order, what it means is:
1) "I regret the delay in responding" - but that's because for six months I didn't have anything to say except lame spin of the kind you'll find in paragraphs 2-5;
2-5) see above;
6) This is the only paragraph that matters. The Minister approves of Mr Dykstra's motion. In other words, this "review" is the government's more or less official response to the CHRC scandal;
7) "I appreciate having had your comments..." means: You were one of the first and I figured you were just a kook, but this thing's stayed hot and the comments have kept on coming and evidently there are a lot more of you guys out there than I figured there were back in December. Which is why we've had to do something.
This is a big development, and puts Jennifer Lynch's squalid operation on the defensive. It's not been a good six months for the CHRC. The publicity over the Maclean's case effectively gave a megaphone to Marc Lemire's uncovering of the Steacy/Warman racket. It will be interesting to see whether they double down and go ahead with the Maclean's prosecution now. Faisel Joseph, Canadian Islamic Congress counsel and Elmo's vicar on earth, made his phony-baloney "settlement offer" to us in part because he knew we'd be obliged to reject it, and he hoped that that rejection would spur the CHRC heavies into hurrying us onto the court schedule. Alas, they might be a little distracted: Thanks in part to their excessive solicitude to Faisel and Elmo in the first place, the CHRC is now facing investigation by the Privacy Commissioner, the Mounties and the House of Commons Justice Committee. Good work, Sock Puppets!
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