Two days ago, Liberal MP, Dr. Keith Martin proposed this private bill:

Mr. Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca) — That, in the opinion of the House, subsection 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act should be deleted from the Act.

The section in question is as follows:

Hate messages

13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.

East Ottawa explains,

The controversial section prohibits electronic communication of anything deemed “likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt.” It is at the heart of investigations by human rights tribunals into complaints against former Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant and Maclean’s magazine for publishing material some Muslim groups found offensive.

Nazis and Racists Come Out in Support

As expected, support for the bill has been expressed by those typically targetted by it, such as neo-Nazi supporters Paull Fromm, Marc LeMire and Stormfront, as well as others such as Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn supporters.

Liberal Party Responds

But the proposed bill was a private-members bill, not endorsed by the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC).

In response, Liberal leader Stephane Dion has suggested that Martin withdraw the motion.

His spokesperson said,

This is not the position of the Liberal Party of Canada or the Liberal caucus or Mr. Dion…

We support the Canadian Human Rights Act and will not entertain changes to it such as this.

Martin has said in response,

I’m a brown guy… [whatever that means]

I’m hardly their poster boy. I fight and rail against what they stand for at every turn.’

Maybe not a poster boy, but it is interesting to note that LeMire and Martin were both former members of the Canadian Alliance.

 

BigCityLib asks,

Quickly now, ask Mr. Martin whether he wants to run for the LPC or switch back to the Conservatives. And lets see if Stephen Harper wants to back a guy supporting a motion so thoroughly endorsed by Canada’s Nazi community. I would suspect that his answer is “Aiieee! Get away from me!”