HOMECJC REGIONAL REVIEWS- Pacific
CJC assisted the Town of Oliver in cancelling a community hall
booking by a group from Canada's right.
exerpt from:
Canadian Jewish Congress Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 12 No. 3, March 30, 1998
Working in conjunction with CJC National, the region appealed to the town council of Oliver to cancel the rental of space in their community hall for a meeting featuring notorious members of Canada's extreme right, including Paul Fromm and Doug Christie. Executive Director Erwin Nest learned from a telephone call to Mayor Linda Larson that the town council had fears of a lawsuit should they cancel the rental. CJC provided material, information and support that ultimately led to the cancellation. CJC learned from the Provincial Hate Crime Team that approximately 12 right wing extremists gathered in front of the community centre Saturday, March 21, but were faced by a large group of anti -racism picketers protesting their presence. Regional Chair Dr. Michael Elterman praised the town council's decision to cancel the rental and the people of Oliver for standing against hatred and bigotry ..
See: http://www.freedomsite.org/cafe/oliver/index.html for details of the historic Oliver Internet free-speech press conference. Judge for yourself if there was any expression of so-called "hatred and bigotry".
excerpt from:
Canadian Jewish Congress Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 12 No. 4, April 29, 1998
The [Pacific] region joined the Burnaby Multicultural Society, RCMP, West Coast Coalition for Human Dignity and the Justice Institute of B.C in sponsoring `Dealing with Hate - A Conference'. Designed to educate participants about the tools available to combat organized hate specifically the role of the Provincial Hate Crime Unit, its mandate and how it can work in partnership with schools, community groups and agencies to educate, assist victims of hate and prosecute the perpetrators. Featured speakers will include Rick McKenna and Craig McMillan - Hate and bias crime Unit, B.C.; Dr. David Cohen - Dean of University of Victoria Law School who will discuss dealing with hate on the Internet and Jonathan Mozzochi, Coalition for Human Dignity - Seattle Washington who will discuss community based responses. Attorney general Ujjal Dosanjh will open the conference and secretary of state and minister responsible for Multiculturalism Hedy Fry will deliver the luncheon address. Also featured at the conference was Linda Larson, Mayor of Oliver who will share the experiences of her town in canceling a forum for notorious members of the far right in a public hall. The over 200 participants from throughout BC, include representatives from law enforcement agencies, government, school boards and educators and the leadership of multicultural and human rights agencies ..
above material found at: http://www.cjc.ca/electron.htm (links and emphasis added)
Oliver resident speaks out
April 17, 1998
Letter to the Editor, BC Report
Re: “Peace, order and cautious government” [Apr. 6] To the outside world, the March 21 assembly in the town of Oliver was a simple difference of opinion between those who believe the Internet should be censored as opposed to those who believe a politically free people should have the right to determine for themselves which ideas they shall hear or read. The real story, missed by the news media, was how easy it has become for dominant political and community groups to suppress freedom of speech in Canada. While Mayor Linda Larson said she was unaware of any threats she failed to mention a phone call from the Canadian Jewish Congress. On their Website [Mar 30] CJC reported that they had appealed to the town council of Oliver to cancel the rental space in their community hall. Executive Director Erwin Nest learned from a telephone call to Mayor Linda Larson that the town council had fears of a lawsuit should they cancel the rental. CJC provided material, information and support that ultimately led to the cancellation. Did this support include paying all legal costs in the event of a lawsuit? Rather than rebuke the CJC for attempting to limit free speech, the town submitted to outside pressure and canceled a public meeting whose purpose was peaceful political debate. Was council’s failure to protect freedom of speech an act of caution or cowardice? There is already considerable resentment in this town from having been slandered by the Simon Wiesenthal Center which called Oliver the “Hate Capital of Canada.” Now it appears that the Canadian Jewish Congress has violated the civil liberties of Canadian citizens. It becomes a very dangerous road to follow when politically powerful groups can so easily suppress freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. Why is it so difficult for people to understand that freedom of thought carries with it the freedom to speak and to publicly assemble to express one’s thoughts? The CJC and Wiesenthal Center need to refresh their memories and remember what happened when Hitler, “For the Good of the People and the State,” removed the civil liberties of German citizens.
Allan Courtney,
Oliver, B.C.
(250) 498-4559
P.S. Canadian Jewish Congress Website http://www.cjc.ca/cjcelectronicnewsletter.htm