ee ON Cee LIBERTIES: Testing the Limits of the Law. 17 Selections on Major Civil Liber- ties Issues. British Columbia Civil Liberties Association. Edited by John Russel. New Star, 1989. Available at the People’s Co-op Bookstore. Canada’s law against hate propaganda, enacted in 1971, is being challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada as an infringe- ment of the freedom of expression. The challenge has been launched by. William Keegstra, the Alberta high school teacher who was convicted in 1985 of wilfully promoting hatred against Jews (for which he was fined $5,000). The provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick, and a number of interest groups, will argue before the court that the law is necessary in multicultural society. However, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association will contend in its brief that the law prohibiting hate propaganda, “may be more dangerous to minorities than to peo- ple such as Mr. Keegstra ....”” As I under- stand the CCLA position, this body is, in effect, calling for the law to be struck down. Its brief maintains that Canadians should fear the exercise of freedom of expression (Keegstra’s expression, in this case) less than government attempts to impair it. I found an earlier statement of this posi- tion in an article by John Dixon in Liberties: Testing the Limits of the Law, recently pub- lished by New Star books. The book is mainly a collection of statements and arti- cles on civil liberties from the files of the ‘ British Columbia Civil Liberties Associa- tion. *..Dixon.writes:.“‘Bluntly.we hold that the _ wilful attempt to promote hatred against an ‘identifiable group is immoral, but also argue that the expressions that form such attempts must be protected from legal sanc- tions or obstruction.” In short, it is wrong to take legal action against disseminators of hate propaganda. According to Dixon’s logic, our freedom is placed in jeopardy when we permit laws to be passed that restrict the right to spread the kind of anti-Semitic propaganda peddled by Keegstra. Frankly, I cannot accept that. To be fair to Dixon and the BCLA, it should be noted that he makes a distinction between expressions (writing, speaking) and actions (violence) in furtherance of hateful ideas. However, in my opinion, this is a specious form of logic. If 10,000 hate leaflets were distributed in Vancouver — against Chinese, East Indian or Jewish people, for example — that would be an action delib- erately designed to bring a minority into disrepute and to cause them harm. It must also be remembered that hate propaganda fertilizes the soil for acts of violence against minorities. There is a strong case, based on Canadian and inter- national experience, to enact, maintain and enforce tough legislation against the authors and distributors of such propa- ganda in any form. The nation that allows its minorities to be the subject of this type of propaganda ultimately places the freedom of all of its citizens in danger. Contrary to what Dixon writes, Ger- ’ many demonstrated how the anti-Semitic propaganda of the Nazis helped them to come to power in a country where the labour and democratic forces were unable to unite effectively against the threat to democracy. RFs Rae oe ‘ The. book has some interesting pieces, from a liberal point of view, on AIDS, the Season’s Greetings to all Tribune readers peace activists and supporters ©, fill! y lt Federation of Russian Canadians the season to our members, friends and supporters. extends warmest greetings of Canadian Yugoslav Community Association Season’s Greetings from the Centre for need for civilian review boards to handle citizens’ complaints against the police, drug addiction and prostitution. All stress the need to protect civil liberties. However, I don’t believe our society would concur in the proposition that we should accept legal- ized houses of prostitution. All in all, lam disappointed in the book. Much of the material is dated, in terms of late 20th-Century perceptions, and a good part of it is written in legal rather than a popular form. Socialist Education — Jack Phillips Best Wishes for a peaceful New Year to our supporters and friends from the membership of the Ukranian Seniors Club Best Wishes for a Peaceful New Year | from Canada-USSR Friendship Society Fraser Valley Promoting education | ¥ and understanding. Season's Sreetings and wishes for peace in the New Year. Finnish Organization of Canada Local 55 Association of United Ukrainian Canadians Greets our members and friends during this festive season. A healthy, happy and prosperous New Year to you all. May 1990 see the people of the world live in peace and friendship. You are invited to our “Malanka” (Ukrainian New Year). Saturday, January 20, 1990. Location: Russian People’s Home, 600 Campbell Ave. Sumptuous 22 course traditional Ukrainian feast, two orchestras. Admission: $25 each. Cocktails: 6 p.m. Programme: 6:30 p.m. Dinner: 7 p.m. Advance tickets: 253-3032, 879-2089, 298-6191. Pacific Tribune, December 18, 1989 e 29