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Sadly, freedom of speech and freedom of belief have never been under such attack as in the 13 years since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms became the law of the land. People have been sent to jail solely for the non-violent expression of their political beliefs. Human Rights Commissions have run amok. The Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, was recently fined $5,000 by an Ontario Human Rights Commission tribunal for refusing to proclaim Gay Pride Day in 1991. Telephone messages across the country have been suppressed in a million dollar campaign by the Canadian Human Rights Commission to shield privileged minorities from views they find offensive. Ontario and B.C. both have draconian laws preventing pro-life Canadians from expressing their views outside abortuaries.

Specifically, what does CAFE do?

CAFE believes that the principled defense of freedom begins with information. CAFE researches threats to freedom of speech and publishes the results of its research in THE FREE SPEECH MONITOR, which costs $15.00, and it is published ten times per year. From time-to-time, CAFE publishes other specialized reports and leaflets - like our recent one on Bill C-41.

So, are you just a publishing group?

No. Information without action is useless. CAFE sends regular letters to the media outlining our concerns about threats to freedom of speech and nd freedom of belief. For instance, we recently protested efforts to harass the Human Life International Conference in Montreal and pressure the Archbishop of Montreal to deny those attending the conference use of the local basilica for worship. We also lobby politicians, both federal and provincial about present or proposed legislation.

As a recent example of your lobbying, what about BILL 56?

In 1993, and early 1994, CAFE led a campaign against Bill 56, a piece of legislation proposed by an obscure Tory backbencher named Charles Harnick. It had already sailed through second reading before a sleepy legislature. Among other atrocities, this bill would have created a provincial hate law and permitted civil suits which could have bankrupted organizations and individuals. Among the views prohibited would be any expression indicating superiority or inferiority of any person or group on the basis of sex or sexual orientation. Thus, to have argued that heterosexuality is healthier or more desirable than homo- sexuality might well have resulted in crippling fines and other punishments. Indeed, had this bill passed, it's likely church leaders and other concerned citizens would have been unable to voice their opposition to the then-NDP government's bill extending same-sex benefits to homosexuals and lesbians. Indeed, militant homosexuals regularly referred to their opponents as "voices of hate."

What about your efforts against Allen Rock's BILL C-41?

Yes, this bill is an outrage. It creates two classes of Canadians: privileged minorities and the rest of us. Of course, we oppose violence. However, it should be equally wrong to assault a person because he's homosexual as it is to assault him because he's pro-life. This bill would make the first victim twice as worthy as the second. CAFE has lobbied MPs, advertised to inform others, done media appearances, and sent thousands of names on petitions to Parliament. In 1995, we held a Dominion Day commemoration protest outside Rock's Toronto office, reflecting on the nails he had put in the freedoms of Canadians'. On Dominion Day, 1996, we repeated this memorial.

Another nail in Canadians' Freedoms

Do you hold meetings?

Yes, we hold regular meetings, especially in Ontario. Among our recent speakers were Rosanne Skoke, MP -- Bill C-41; Gordon Domm -- Court Gag Laws, and lawyer Barbara Kulaszka -- The Hate Crimes Law in Canada, 1970-1994: Effects and Operations.

In 1987, we hosted a major free speech conference in Vancouver, where the keynote speech was given by Judge Les Bewly. In March, 1996, we hosted the Second Canadian Free Speech Conference in Vancouver. A concerted effort was made by the enemies of free speech, including Communist Party member David Lethbridge of the Salmon Arm Coalition Against Racism and Alan Dutton f the Canadian Anti-Racism Education Research Society (CAERS), to prevent the conference from taking place. The Surrey Inn, the original site of the conference, was pressured into canceling the contract. The conference, which attracted 95 people, was held at another location. Among the speakers were the late Pat Burns, the founder of talk radio in Vancouver, journalist Doug Collins, student activist Steve Dumas, lawyer Doug Christie, and Paul Fromm.

THE FREE SPEECH MONITOR

Please print out and send in to:

CAFE

Canadians Association for Free Expression, Inc.

P.O. Box 332, Station "B",

Etobicoke, Ontario,

M9W 5L3

Phone: (905)-897-7221

FAX: (905)-277-3914

E-MAIL: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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___ I'd like to support CAFE. Here is my $15.00 for a subscription to THE FREE SPEECH MONITOR.

___ I know that freedom of speech and freedom of expression are under severe attack by the fanatics of "political correctness." Here is my donation of $_______ to assist CAFE in its work.

_ I know that freedom of speech and freedom of expression are under severe attack by the fanatics of "political correctness." Here is my donation of $_____ to assist CAFE in its work.