BY SIMONE J. SMITH
We are living in a time where here in Canada, our government could possibly have the power to censor your speech, fine you up to $70,000 per offense (with up to a $20,000 cash reward given to the person who reports you to the government), and you could possibly end up in jail, all because you said something someone did not want to hear.
The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper stands as a steadfast media platform, dedicated to illuminating the minds of our community. We are more than just a news source; we are a catalyst for change, a champion of critical thinking, and a nurturer of young leaders.
Our mission is to keep the Afro/Indo community informed and engaged. We shed light on the global events that shape our world, and the local issues that directly impact our lives. In an era of information overload, it’s easy to turn a blind eye, but with the position we hold in the community, we do not have that luxury. We are committed to amplifying the voices of our community, empowering individuals to think critically, and acting in ways that benefit themselves and their family.
Today, we confront an issue that has been overlooked, for reasons both subtle and sinister. Bill C-63. The “Online Harms Act,” is back in Parliament. It is currently waiting to be voted upon for the second time by our elected Members of Parliament (MPs). Sadly, this bill is still as terrifying as ever.
Bill C-63 is the third in a trilogy of laws the Trudeau government has devised to regulate the Internet, and as pernicious as the first two have been, this climatic third act.
Well, let’s talk about it. Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, which was passed last year, updated the Broadcasting Act to regulate foreign streamers such as Netflix and Spotify. Part Two’s proposed Criminal Code changes, including pre-emptive peace bonds and potential lifetime imprisonment. It raises serious concerns about disproportionate punishments, and for what? We will talk about this. Part Three’s changes to the Human Rights Act are widely believed likely to overwhelm the Commission with complaints, delaying more substantive cases and potentially paying out for bad-faith complaints as tools of harassment.
It is so vague in its wording that even politically progressive and radical-leaning organizations such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Amnesty International, and a government-funded progressive independent news outlet, Canadian Dimension, have voiced serious concern with Bill C-63. They recognize that this bill isn’t about public safety or safeguarding your Freedoms from actual “hate”.
“While CCLA endorses Bill C-63’s declared purposes of upholding public safety,” shared a spokesperson from Canadian Civil Liberties Association, “Protecting children, and supporting marginalized communities, we are of the view that this Bill, in its current form, enables blatant violations of expressive freedom, privacy, protest rights, and liberty. It also undermines the fundamental principles of democratic accountability and procedural fairness by granting sweeping powers to the new Digital Safety Commission. It is crucial that both parliamentarians and the public be given enough time to properly address the many flaws of this Bill.”
“Parts Two and Three of the Bill raise concerns regarding disproportionate sentencing measures, chilling effects on free speech, as well as practical inefficiencies.”
Amnesty International shared their thoughts as well, “Since the introduction of Bill C-63, public conversation and debate have overwhelmingly centered on the parts of the bill we are asking to be separated. Critics, academics, and civil society members have raised many concerns that the proposed changes to the Criminal Code, including potential lifetime sentences and preemptive peace bonds for acts of speech, are disproportionate, unlikely to meaningfully reduce the expression of hate online, and risk creating a serious chilling effect on lawful speech and debate.”
“Serious concern has also been raised about problematic incentives that Bill C-63 creates for “testing one’s luck” by submitting complaints. Complaints may be filed anonymously, at no cost to the complainant, and if successful, could lead to defendants facing fines of up to $70,000, with up to $20,000 awarded directly to the anonymous plaintiff. This procedural framework lacks basic elements of justice, including evidence or truth assessment. It strongly encourages weaponizing the Commission’s process, causing huge reputational and financial harm with minimal financial risk and some chance of benefit. This ill-considered system is not ready for adoption and needs deeper re-evaluation than Bill C 63’s committee time and amendments will allow.”
People, it’s all about control. Control over what you can and cannot say. If you do not share the government-approved propaganda, then your speech could be deemed HATEFUL, and you must be SILENCED.
To achieve this control over all Canadians, vague language like “hate,” “hate speech,” and “hate crimes” is required to be poorly defined. With poor legal definitions for “hate,” the government and any other radical progressive can easily target your daily conservations with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers as the source of untold “harm” without needing to provide any facts or evidence.
I want to leave you with a thought; if Bill C-63 passes, anyone could be charged, fined, and hauled off to jail just for sharing an opinion, an argument. Without free speech, Canada will cease to be a vibrant society where: opinions, facts, debates, and even the truth are freely shared. I want to be clear; I am not endorsing any cruel speech against people. What I am pursuing is clarity. We need to know that the government is not able to loosely define what is considered hate, because if speaking out against them becomes “hate” Toronto Caribbean Newspaper might be in trouble.
Now your voice matters more than ever.
REFERENCES:
https://openmedia.org/press/item/joint-letter-urges-justice-minister-to-split-bill-c-63
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