Conservative disgrace in Canada

An anti-Christian bigot sailing under the conservative flag in Alberta

"Social conservatives across Canada are up in arms over the recent ruling by the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) against Christian pastor Steve Boissoin, who was accused of propogating "hate speech" by writing a letter to the editor of the Red Deer Advocate outlining his disagreement with the homosexualist activist agenda....

However, many Canadian conservatives might be surprised to find out that Alberta's "Progressive Conservative" government, under Premier Ed Stelmach, played an key part in the Boissoin case - and not, as many might expect given the party's "conservative" nomenclature, to defend Boissoin's right to express his religious beliefs, but rather to seek his conviction for hate speech.

In the ruling by adjudicator Lori Andreachuk, under the list of "Interveners" is named the Attorney General of Alberta, who was represented by lawyer David Kamal. According to the ruling, Kamal argued before the human rights tribunal, on behalf of the Attorney General and the government of Alberta, "that Mr. Boissoin's letter is discriminatory" and that, for the purposes of conviction, "Mr. Boissoin's letter need only likely cause others to engage in prohibited practices." All that is needed for Boissoin's conviction, stated Kamal, is for the AHRC to deem that Boissoin's letter may cause others in the community to discriminate against homosexuals: "No link to actual discriminatory acts need be established in this regard." ....

Ezra Levant, one of the foremost experts on and opponents of the human rights commissions, claims to have read almost every ruling issued by the Alberta Human Rights Commission since the year 2000. In a blog post about the Boissoin case, Levant observed that government interference in HRC cases is practically unheard of, to the point where Levant states, "I can't recall seeing another case in which the Government of Alberta intervened." Obviously, then, writes Levant, it was a high priority for Alberta's conservative government to seek the conviction of pastor Boissoin for speaking his religious beliefs....

One particularly disturbing fact about the government's decision to ditch precedent and take the rare step of intervening in the Boissoin case, observes Levant, is that HRC adjudicators are not appointed for life, but can be removed or reappointed by the province's government. "So when the Progressive Conservative government that appointed her [adjudicator Andreachuk] came in and told her their view, you can be damned sure Andreachuk paid very close attention. "She did, of course. She convicted Rev. Boissoin - and then went on to humiliate him."

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