The Alberta government: fine with censorship
July 18, 2008
Ezra Levant has all the sordid details, having received a letter back from Lindsay Blackett, the Minister for Culture and Community Spirit in Alberta. Yes, apparently that is a ministry within the Alberta government. *sigh*
You can read the whole thing over at Ezra’s blog, but here is, I think, the most odious line from Mr. Blackett’s response:
If Albertans feel that their rights are not being respected, they can discuss their concerns with the Commission.
This demonstrates, I think, that Mr. Blackett has simply not understood the question posed to him; his reply is empty and vacuous. Yes, the AHRC ostensibly exists to safeguard the rights of Albertans, but what if the Commission itself is the party which is abusing those rights (e.g. the right of freedom of expression)? Shall Albertans complain to the Alberta Human Rights Commission about…itself? Shall Albertans file a human rights complaint against…the very body with which they must file the complaint in the first place? Would the AHRC, which “is required to accept all complaints that fall within its jurisdiction”, decide…that the complait against it is within its own jurisdiction, and therefore take itself to trial?
It. Is. To. Laugh.
And this is the best response that the Alberta government can think to give?
Shameful. The government here really is comfortable with the idea of having an office of Censorship operating in its midst.
Update: Welcome, Steynians!
