BY SIMONE J. SMITH
One “wrong” post on the internet, and you’re silenced… forever…
I have to admit; I am genuinely frightened by the federal government’s latest bill and its impact on OUR Freedom of Speech and Expression. This grim reality is something straight out of a science fiction movie, or at the very least, an online censorship law directly imported from an authoritarian regime like: China, Iran, or North Korea. “That can’t be happening here,” you say. Oh yes, it is.
Justin Trudeau’s (In) Justice Minister Arif Virani introduced Canada, and the world, to Bill C-63, the “Online Harms Act.” He is calling for a piece of legislation aiming to reduce online “hate” and “hate speech.” The definitions of “hate” and “hateful speech” are so vague that they could include almost anything: critical opinions, political commentary, even memes.
I get it. This might be in reaction to the fact that he has been at the receiving end of what could be called “hate speech.” An Angus Reid poll showed that the three most used words to describe Trudeau were: “arrogant,” “dishonest,” and “corrupt” with the fourth word being “charismatic,” which still doesn’t actually speak to a positive quality of his character.
Is this why there will be an update to section 318 and 319 of the CCC, that will introduce hate, or hateful speech as anything that “incites violent extremism or terrorism,” “incites violence,” and “foments hatred” (specifically)?
The implications are far-reaching and frightening since this bill will not just force social media and big tech giants to merely terminate your social media account. It’s a social media jail incarnate, where you will pay the physical price for sharing the “wrong” opinions by going to actual jail.
If the Trudeau Liberal government gets away with it, this will be the new normal in Canada. Let’s take a quick look at the proposed amendments:
- Update the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC)’s definition of “hate speech” and “hatred” to include ambiguous terms like “incites violent extremism or terrorism,” “incites violence,” and “foments hatred” (specifically section 318 and 319 of the CCC).
- Expand the federal bureaucracy by instituting a “Digital Safety Commission” (aka Canada’s very own Ministry of Truth) and a “Digital Safety Ombudsperson” to receive complaints about “hate speech” and enforce speech “standards” on internet platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, Rumble, etc.).
- Grant even more power to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, allowing them to force content removal and impose fines up to $70,000, with a maximum of $20,000 to the offended anonymous complainants. The same commission that labeled Christmas as “racist” last December.
- Raise the maximum punishments for “hate propaganda” to life imprisonment.
- Enact “protective measures” enabling a judge to act on anonymous reports of hate crimes by requiring accused individuals to wear an electronic monitoring device, undergo house arrest, be banned from public spaces, or have a restraining order against them.
It’s unclear how these claims of “hate crimes” will be verified, opening the floodgates for anonymous complaints from anyone, anywhere in the world.
If this bill passes, we could see media outlets like the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper lose our right to provide balanced, and transparent information, especially when it comes to what is going on in our world, the information that is quietly circulated behind your backs.
The passage of Bill C-63 could bring the Trudeau Liberals’ vision of turning Canada into a so-called “basic dictatorship,” one step closer to becoming an actual-livable reality, but in this dark time, there is still a glimmer of hope.
We’ve seen the massive public backlash against The Liberal government’s failed attempts to pass similar censorship bills over the last several years. This is why I am asking you to act now. If you don’t, you will lose the ability to openly discuss and debate important issues, first online and then in person.
Only with your help can we successfully defend all Canadians from authoritarianism and preserve OUR fundamental human right to Free Speech and Expression!
We want to help you voice your thoughts, and below I am going to show you how you can do this:
- Find your MP’s official email address on the official parliamentary website, or their personal website.
- Clearly state your concerns in a well-written and respectful email. Clearly articulate your concerns and provide your contact details for a follow-up. Include your name, address, and contact information for a more personalized response.
- Engage with your MP on social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Publicly share your concerns and ask for their response or action.
- Gather with members of the community who have similar concerns and schedule an appointment to meet with your MP at their constituency office. Face-to-face meetings can have a more significant impact as you can use the opportunity to voice your concerns in a public forum.
Remember to be respectful and clearly articulate your concerns when reaching out to your MP. We have to move past emotion and take ACTION. Providing factual information and potential solutions will strengthen your case. Additionally, encouraging others in your community to voice their opinions can contribute to a collective effort in influencing change.
REFERENCES:
Liberals’ “online hate” bill contains $70K fines for speech and life imprisonment for hate crimes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-harms-hate-crime-sentences-1.7128596
https://www.rebelnews.com/liberals_table_promised_online_harms_censorship_legislation
https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-63/first-reading
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