The coffin contains the corpse of Canadian freedom.
Cliché? Hyperbolic? Melodramatic? — More importantly, does it point to a hard truth?
Truth is, Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, threatens section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-12.html).
Specifically, it ignores section 2(b) of the Charter:
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: . . . (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication”
If you found that the government, during the Great Lockdown and even since (after all, it merely suspended its Lockdown mandates) —
• behaved imperiously—e.g., toward the “fringe minority” supporting the great Canadian Freedom Convoy
• ignored the Charter
• propagated fear to expand its authority
• bullyingly invoked the Emergencies Act (seized bank accounts, etc.), vindictively and for purely political reasons
• took unprecedented, brutal measures without a careful review of evidence and ignored or punished anyone urging them to do so
• failed to give any consideration to the innumerable harmful consequences of their policies and “recommendations,” from mask-wearing to the experimental mRNA “vaccines” and boosters
• damaged the social fabric of Canada, separating, isolating people, restricting free movement and association, even unto death
• and treated people vilely in this country, in the workplace and marketplace, on the streets and in public parks, but above all in care facilities and our schools and universities
—then you should not be surprised that C-11 proposes to give the government yet more authority. How far before absolute tyranny? Surely we’ve already come close enough.
As numerous commentators and institutions have pointed out, C-11 threatens to change fundamentally subsection 7(7) of the Broadcasting Act (https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/b-9.01/FullText.html).
The upshot: the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) would lose its independence from government. As the CRTC observes, subsection 7(7) “could be interpreted to provide the GiC [Governor in Council, essentially the Cabinet] with the ability to intervene in the minutiae of the CRTC’s work.”
But here is Heritage minister Rodriguez’s — could it be obtuse, or is it just slithery? — response: “I don’t see any new power given to cabinet. It’s just for greater certainty.”
So, what does “It’s” refer to? Presumably, “It’s” refers to C-11. But if C-11 is for “greater certainty,” it would provide greater certainty about what and to whom?
The minister’s response does not address the issue. Sounds familiar. But could “it” be about government control over the message?
As Michael Geist has written, the proposed legislation “would allow the government to direct the CRTC’s policies” (https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2022/11/clarifying-the-clarification/), giving cabinet and therefore the prime minister the power it needs to control what is said and by whom, and what you see and hear. That, too, sounds familiar.
What does the CRTC think? Its recommendation, in a document headed, “CRTC Independence,” sent to the Senate on November 16:
“The CRTC recommends that subsection 7(7) be deleted.”
If, then, Bill C-11 gives government greater control over the press and access to the media and poses a serious threat to Charter freedoms, it does indeed act as another screw in the coffin.
While it may be comforting to reflect that screws can be unscrewed, why should this one be set in the first place?
The PPC stands up for Freedom of speech.
We believe firmly in the Charter and will fight for it.
Freedom is what Canada was built on. Isn’t it worth defending?
Join the fight and donate to your Halifax Regional PPC Association today.