-andidates speak out free

NDP legislation on free-
speech limits draws fire

WE asked the candidates to tell us where they stand on
the issue of legislation passed by the NDP that inhibits
freedom of expression in B.C.

@ Bill 28, the Election Act, restricts to $5,000 the amount of
money individuals or groups other than registered political par-
ties can spend supporting or opposing candidates or expressing
their views during provincial elections. The legislation impairs
the public's right to know and its right to express opinion.
Bill 33, the 1993 Human Rights Act. restricts the publication
or open discussion of material that “indicates discrimination” or
is “likely to expose a person or group of persons to hatred or con-
tempt.” The vaguely worded legislation is policed by a non-elect-
ed Human Rights Council empowered to apply hefty penalties.
&@ Bill 32, the new Human Rights Amendment Act. empowers a
Human Rights Commission to seek out alleged Human Rights
violations or complaints about discrimination. without a com-
plainant.

Here are the responses received to press time:

Jonn Kunickey, North Vancouver-Seymour Social Credit
candidate: “I am a strong supporter of the right to freedom of
speech. J find the bills’ vague wording to be oppressive and a
‘direct challenge against democracy. | will do therefore every-
thing in my power to have them removed, as a citizen, regardless

_ of my candidacy.”

Royston Forsyth, North Vancouver-Lonsdale Progressive
Democratic Alliance candidate: “No, no and no. This type of
legislation should be protested by every citizen in this province,
not just, politicians and journalists. This is a direct breach of our
basic rights and freedoms. Our democratic system has failed us.

“A friend of mine likened it to a frog being thrown in a pot of
boiling water. The frog’s first reaction is to desperately try and
jump back out, but if you put the frog in cold water and gradual-
ly turn up the heat, the frog stays in the pot for a longer period of
time.

“That's what governments do to us! They strip away our
rights, slowly and gradually. It allows us a period of adjustment.
We don’t notice the changes as much. Heavens forbid if the
changes came all at once, we may revolt. Oh, [ forgot, we are
required to register our guns. So much for the revolution.”

Daniel Jarvis, North Vancouver-Seymour Liberal candi-
date: “Ido not support bills 28, 32. 33 and 1 would work to
remove them,”

Katherine Whittred, North Vancouver-Lonsdale Liberal
candidate: Bill 28: "] would work to amend this bill. Although
an election expenses act is long overdue, this act net only gags
free expression, but has so many rules and regulations that it is
not workable.

Bill 32 and 33: “I would support the amendment of these bills.
Human rights clearly need to be protected. However, the human
rights commission, which is permitted to register complaints,
appears to be partisan and nothing more than a patronage tni-
bunal.”

Jim Kelly, West Vancou-
ver-Capifuno Family Coali-
tion Party candidate: “These
bills strip us of our basic rights
and freedoms. To me repealing
all these bills is of prime impor-
tance.”

Stanley Dzuba, North
Vancouver-Lonsdale Reform
candidate: “B.C. Reform and I
personally do not support these
three bills. The Reform Party
voted against these NDP bills in
the legislature and we will do
our utmost fo remove them.
These bills have no place in a
democratic society.”

Ted Shandro, West Vancouver-Capilano Reform candi-
date: “Reform did not support any of these bills. Unlike the NDP
(as well as Gordon Campbell and Jeremy Dalton, who voted for
Bill 32) I do not support suppression of free speech. State-spon-
sored oppression and coercion by politically appointed judges
who may investigate without ‘reasonable or probable cause’
without following the rules of law, with the ability to use hearsay
as evidence, and who offer no cross-examination of the accuser
or an appeal is not democracy but much closer to the tools used
by Stalin and Hitler. No wonder the left finds the Reform slogan
“One country, one people, one law” so threatening. What next.
Te-education camps?”

Marina Jurlina, West Vancouver-Capilano Progressive
Democratic Alliance candidate: Bill 28: “I support this legisla-
tion because with the high cost of media advertising very few
persons or organizations can afford to spend even one-tenth of

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Free speech, free
press paramount

BY LEO KNIGHT
'- Contributing Writer

THE NDP have managed

Watergate fame.

a bond which allows scandals and
corruption to be exposed. It is just.
this bond which, to this day, protects
the identity of “Deep Throat™ of

to sneak through a piece of
legislation which appeared
innocuous enough on the
surface, but when the lay-
ers are peeled away, we
find a Jaw Joe Stalin .
would be proud of.

Bill 32 is, ostensibly, an amend-

- ment to the Human Rights Act

which empowers a Human Rights

commissioner to commence an

investigation into a

particular media out- he

let without having a

complaint. The com-

missioner hus the

authority to force a

reporter to tum over all documents

relative to the matter being investi-

gated,

This is obviously aimed squarely
at ferreting out the sources of infor-
mation.

The confidentiality which exists
between a source and 2 journalist is

Horseshoe Ba
Dundarove/Ambleside
British Properties
Norgate/Pemberton Heig
Capilano/Delbrook Hig
Lower Lonsdale

Central and Upper Lonsdale

Lynn Valley
Blueridge/Decp Cove

anas

Twenty years after the toppling
of an American president, reporters
Bob Woodward and Carl Bemstein
have steadfastly protected the identi-
ty of their source.

The freedom of the press and the
freedom of speech are enshrined in
our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Clark government actually
believes they have the right to trash
the constitution! The arrogance dis-
played by the ideologues in Victoria
is stunning.

But f don’t suppose we need to
be surprised at anoth-
er display of NDP
arrogance. After all,
this is the party who
stole from charities,
from nuns and chil-

dren, to help finance their political
goals,

Colin Gableman, who defined the
“Peter Principle” during his tenure
as the Attomey General, refused to
provide “whistle blower” protection

[2

LIBERAL

54% 2%
36% $%
4l% 9%

See Words page 8

ts 28% were

39% 8%
21% 8%
33% 13%
28% 14%
27% 14%

NOP

Sunday, May 26, 1996 - North Shore News ~ 3

this amount to promote their views. If an organization or special
interest wants to influence the public then they should do se by
best supporting the party they believe represents their interests.

Bill 33: “The Progressive Democratic Alliance MLAs strong-
Jy opposed Bil] 33 in the legislature. As part of its core philoso-
phy, the PDA believes in the right to free speech. This bill does
not support free speech. However, the PDA in no way supports
hate literature.”

David Massey, North Vancouver-Seymour Progressive
Democratic Alliance candidate: Bill 28: “Very few individuals
or grassroots organizations can afford spending $45,000 or a full-
page newspaper ad or even more for a television ad. | think that
Bill 28 protects the interests of individuals by shielding thern
from propaganda gencrated by powerful special interest groups.
This includes the potential for out-of-country organizations to
influence the direction of our future governments by buying up
large quantities of media to promote their agenda.

Bill 33: “The Progressive Democratic Alliance believes in the
right to free speech and clearly this legislation flies in the face of
Rt.

Bill 32: “Well now, that depends... What sort of coverage will
the PDA be getting?”

Caroline Meredith, North Vancouver-Seymour Reform
candidate: “The NDP’s legislation, Bills 28, 32 and 33, danger-"
ously restricts the freedom of the press. The essence of demacra-
cy is the freedom of speech and a free press is the hallmark.

“Under Bill 33, anyone who ‘indicates’ discrimination against
4 person or group, or says something which is ‘likely’ to bring a
person or group into hatred or contempt, can be taken before a
politically appointed tribunal and fined up to $100,000.

“What the NDP have done is to legislate political correctness
in everything we see, speak or read.

“The next step is a government-controlled media where
everything is cleared through a propaganda ministry.

. “Bill 28 restricts the amount of money any person or group,
not a registered political party, can spend in an election campaign
to $5,000. Many groups of ordinary people fought against the
government by buying advertising space countering the claptrap
being fed to them by the politicians. Now Clark wants to ensure
none of these groups can have a say. .

“Bill 32 is perhaps the most odious of all.

“The Human Rights Amendment.Act empowers a Human
Rights Commissioner to harass the media by seeking out any
alleged or perceived violations without even having a com-
plainant. 2
“ This reeks of communism and Big Brother knows best!”

. ‘ , i

Rail road

PASSENGERS step off the train from Whistler to North Vancouver Thursday. The rail company
added passenger service after a major rock slide blocked the Sea to Sky Highway.

ENS

REFORM

5%
13%
3%
8%
4%
8%
2.5%
2%
B%

PDA

6%
8%
4%
4%

TOTAL 23.4%

3.8% 4.0% 1.A%

h Survey conducted Sunday, May 19. 547 people responded, 54 refused to answer, 7

SOCRED ie

DON'T Know f

39%
ae wane 46%
41%
core 56%
seer ; 49%
63% .
2.5% ot 49%
sees 2% 50%
Siete 2% 45%

0.2% 0.4% 32.2%