ThoughtCrime: 03/27/96
Free Speech Conference Held Despite Official Attacks
The Canadian Association for Free Expression's (CAFE) Second Canadian
Free Speech Conference in Vancouver, came under severe attack from government
and media "censors." Frantic attempts to cancel the conference demonstrated
just how little free expression is left in Canada today.
The conference featured Pat Burns, the dean of Vancouver open-line shows;
Doug Collins, the indestructible curmudgeon columnist for The North
Shore News; lawyer Doug Christie; author Paul Fromm; and student
activist Steve Dumas. Anti-racist fanatics mounted a concerted attack to
try to get the Surrey Inn to cancel the event. Journalist Kim Bolan wrote
several scabrous pieces for the Vancouver Sun. Her March 20
article smeared the conference as "racist" and erroneously alleged that
one of the speakers had once attended "a birthday celebration for Adolph
[sic] Hitler." The article continued:
"Multiculturalism Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said Tuesday he's appalled
a conference featuring associates of racist groups is to be held Saturday
in Surrey, just two days after B.C. celebrates the International Day
for the Elimination of Racism. 'I'm appalled that this event is taking
place and i'm appalled it is happening so close to March 21,' Dosanjh
said."
Dosanjh proceeded to condemn the content of a conference that hadn't yet
taken place. Dosanjh condemned the conference hiding behind the guise of
free speech, while promoting racism. Dosanjh said "All of us have a fundamental
right to freedom of expression, but we also have a responsibility to make
sure we don't promote racism."
The Surrey Inn came under heavy pressure from a number of self-identified
"anti-racists" and persons purporting to be calling on behalf of trade unions.
Marilyn Berger of the Canadian Jewish Congress said it was "disconcerting"
the hotel should open its doors to "these people." As of March 19, hotel
management was holding firm. The Vancouver Sun continued its
attack with coverage from Alan Dutton, who reported that while the topic
of the meeting was free speech, it would "more likely promote hatred toward
minorities." (The North Shore News, March 27, 1996)
On March 20, the hotel decided to renege on a written contract. Manager
Steve Casson told CAFE Director Paul Fromm:
"We've had to cancel your function for this weekend. ... We've had a
tremendous amount of pressure from the unions and the B.C Federation
of Labour. I'm under strict instructions from the owner. ... We've bowed
to pressure at the end of the day."
Doug Collins reports that The Vancouver Sun, March 21, 1996,
"followed up with the joyful headline: 'Racists' meeting cancelled.'" (The
North Shore News, March 27,1996) The headline, typical of the
Sun and CBC's coverage, was a gratuitous smear of those who
attended the conference.
The next day the hotel manifested further contempt for its commitments.
Paul Fromm, director of CAFE, was refused admittance, despite holding a
confirmed reservation.
Hotel staff confirmed that they had received only one complaint in writing
-- either by FAX or by letter -- and that from Local 40 of the Hotel Workers'
Union. One person who dropped by to praise the hotel for breaking its contract
was described as "an East Indian gentleman." The caller turned out to be
Charan Gill, President of the B.C. Organization to Fight Racism, and now
NDP candidate in Surrey-Cloverdale.
Nevertheless, the Second Canadian Free Speech Conference went ahead at
a new location. A dozen people worked the phone lines and redirected participants,
some who travelled from as far away as Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary. A large
contingent attended from Vancouver Island. A total of 95 people packed the
new meeting hall. Columnist and participant Doug Collins notes: "The meeting
took place anyway, but in secret, The early Christians had to do the same
sort of thing in the catacombs of Rome."
Adapted from a report by the Canadian Association for Free Expression
(CAFE)
For more information, contact :
The Canadian Association for Free Expression (CAFE):
Box 332,
Rexdale, Ontario,m M9W 5L3
(905)-897-7221;
FAX (905)-277-3914;
E-MAIL -- nstn3125@fox.nstn.ca
"Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death."
George Orwell
|