Nov 26, 1998 - CJC WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW LAWS TO COMBAT HATE AND HOLOCAUST DENIAL
OTTAWA, NOVEMBER 26, 1998---Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has commended federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan and her provincial counterparts for the announced package of Criminal Code amendments aimed at combating the promotion of hate and the dissemination of hate propaganda.
"Make no mistake-Canada is a country built on respect for diversity and the vast majority of Canadians abhor hatred aimed at particular groups and communities in our society," stated Mr. Ronen. "Nonetheless, we are not immune to the targeting of minorities for hate and violence, the desecration of sacred sites and the poisoning of cyberspace. We need tough laws that can safeguard bedrock Canadian values while punishing hatemongers who abuse our fundamental freedoms and promote social discord."
While the specifics of the proposals will be spelled out in future legislation, the announced changes appear positive in their orientation. "In supporting this package the justice ministers showed great sensitivity to the concerns of vulnerable minorities in our society," observed Mark Weintraub, chair of CJC’s National Community Relations Committee. "They also understood the need to upgrade the Criminal Code to make our laws more reflective of the demographic reality in Canada and responsive to the tremendous impact of new communications technology."
CJC welcomes the contemplated change to prevent persons indicted for promoting hate from claiming a defence of truth based on a denial of the Holocaust or any other historically recognized act of genocide. "Holocaust denial is a vicious obscenity and the leading edge of contemporary anti-Semitism," observed Mr. Ronen. "The thousands of Holocaust survivors living in Canada who know only too well that there is only one truth about the Holocaust will particularly applaud this change. Identifying the Holocaust as ‘an historically recognized act of genocide’ in law will send a critical message that Holocaust denial is unacceptable in Canada."
The announced package of reforms includes making it a crime to possess hate propaganda for the purposes of distributing it to others. "This new criminal offence should break the link between the hatemonger and his target audience and help prevent the dissemination of hate propaganda," observed Mr. Ronen. "This may be of particular value in keeping this filth out of the hands of impressionable young people."
Also positive is the proposal to create a new offence for the desecration of houses of worship, cemeteries and other institutions. "We have always maintained that such crimes went beyond simple mischief or vandalism," stated Mr. Weintraub. "They are aimed at intimidating the target community and sending a message that they are unwelcome in Canada."
The package also includes recommendations to add to the enumerated list of identifiable groups protected under the ambit of the Criminal Code anti-hate provisions and to permit police to seize computer hard drives containing hate propaganda. Said Mr. Weintraub: "Society has changed and the laws which protect us must respond to the new realities."
In generally welcoming these proposals, Mr. Ronen sounded one cautionary note: "It has always been CJC’s position that any new Criminal Code offences relating to hate had to be introduced as separate and distinct sections from the existing anti-hate provisions of the Code. The Supreme Court of Canada has twice upheld the constitutionality of the anti-hate law as currently constructed and we are loath to amend it directly and pave the way for a new challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We look forward to the tabling of legislation designed to implement the announced proposals as complementary to the existing provisions. In the meantime, we call once again on police departments and provincial Attorneys-General to be vigorous in enforcing the existing law where appropriate."
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CONTACT: Eric Vernon
Director, Ottawa Advocacy Centre
Canadian Jewish Congress
(613) 233-8703
OR
Bernie M. Farber
National Director,Community Relations Committee
Canadian Jewish Congress
(416) 635-2883 EXT. 186
http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=news&story=295
OTTAWA, NOVEMBER 26, 1998---Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has commended federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan and her provincial counterparts for the announced package of Criminal Code amendments aimed at combating the promotion of hate and the dissemination of hate propaganda.
"Make no mistake-Canada is a country built on respect for diversity and the vast majority of Canadians abhor hatred aimed at particular groups and communities in our society," stated Mr. Ronen. "Nonetheless, we are not immune to the targeting of minorities for hate and violence, the desecration of sacred sites and the poisoning of cyberspace. We need tough laws that can safeguard bedrock Canadian values while punishing hatemongers who abuse our fundamental freedoms and promote social discord."
While the specifics of the proposals will be spelled out in future legislation, the announced changes appear positive in their orientation. "In supporting this package the justice ministers showed great sensitivity to the concerns of vulnerable minorities in our society," observed Mark Weintraub, chair of CJC’s National Community Relations Committee. "They also understood the need to upgrade the Criminal Code to make our laws more reflective of the demographic reality in Canada and responsive to the tremendous impact of new communications technology."
CJC welcomes the contemplated change to prevent persons indicted for promoting hate from claiming a defence of truth based on a denial of the Holocaust or any other historically recognized act of genocide. "Holocaust denial is a vicious obscenity and the leading edge of contemporary anti-Semitism," observed Mr. Ronen. "The thousands of Holocaust survivors living in Canada who know only too well that there is only one truth about the Holocaust will particularly applaud this change. Identifying the Holocaust as ‘an historically recognized act of genocide’ in law will send a critical message that Holocaust denial is unacceptable in Canada."
The announced package of reforms includes making it a crime to possess hate propaganda for the purposes of distributing it to others. "This new criminal offence should break the link between the hatemonger and his target audience and help prevent the dissemination of hate propaganda," observed Mr. Ronen. "This may be of particular value in keeping this filth out of the hands of impressionable young people."
Also positive is the proposal to create a new offence for the desecration of houses of worship, cemeteries and other institutions. "We have always maintained that such crimes went beyond simple mischief or vandalism," stated Mr. Weintraub. "They are aimed at intimidating the target community and sending a message that they are unwelcome in Canada."
The package also includes recommendations to add to the enumerated list of identifiable groups protected under the ambit of the Criminal Code anti-hate provisions and to permit police to seize computer hard drives containing hate propaganda. Said Mr. Weintraub: "Society has changed and the laws which protect us must respond to the new realities."
In generally welcoming these proposals, Mr. Ronen sounded one cautionary note: "It has always been CJC’s position that any new Criminal Code offences relating to hate had to be introduced as separate and distinct sections from the existing anti-hate provisions of the Code. The Supreme Court of Canada has twice upheld the constitutionality of the anti-hate law as currently constructed and we are loath to amend it directly and pave the way for a new challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We look forward to the tabling of legislation designed to implement the announced proposals as complementary to the existing provisions. In the meantime, we call once again on police departments and provincial Attorneys-General to be vigorous in enforcing the existing law where appropriate."
-30-
CONTACT: Eric Vernon
Director, Ottawa Advocacy Centre
Canadian Jewish Congress
(613) 233-8703
OR
Bernie M. Farber
National Director,Community Relations Committee
Canadian Jewish Congress
(416) 635-2883 EXT. 186
http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=news&story=295
