expression

Tuesday January 25, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 25, 2022

More tools needed to fight hate crimes

It’s a sad sign of the times that Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, has taken to telling interviewers that “our clergy not only need to be versed in Torah, they need to be versed in tactics.”

September 13, 2012

The tactics to which Greenblatt refers are those necessary not just to combat hate crimes, but quite possibly to engage in combat with those who are committing them.

Greenblatt made the comments in response to this month’s hostage-taking at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. And while we might prefer to think it couldn’t happen here, police and Jewish community leaders clearly think otherwise.

Concerned about a copycat attack, some community leaders have encouraged heightened vigilance, and police have increased their presence in the vicinity of some synagogues.

The concern is understandable given that the Colleyville attack occurred at a time when hate crimes have been increasing dramatically throughout North America. Data from 2021 is not yet available, but Statistics Canada says there were 2,669 police-reported hate crime incidents in 2020, up 37 per cent from the previous year. And while crimes against certain groups, notably Asian-Canadians, increased exponentially during that period, Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted group.

Friday September 8, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 8, 2018

Worries, praise follow Ontario government’s new free speech directive

Universities and colleges in Ottawa say they’ll work with the Ontario government to meet next year’s deadline for crafting free speech policies, as campus groups both laud and worry about the new directive.

August 24, 2018

The province announced last week that schools have until Jan. 1, 2019 to develop, implement and comply with policies that meet a minimum standard the government sets — or risk losing funding.

That standard is based on the University of Chicago Statement of Principles of Free Expression, which doesn’t allow for hate speech but precludes shielding students from ideas they might disagree with or find offensive.

There are fears, however, that the Progressive Conservative government’s new directive could blur the line between free speech and hate speech.

“There’s a limit as to where healthy debate becomes a little bit of an issue. Because as we’ve seen in the past, some of these things have led to students feeling unsafe, students feeling like they were targeted or hated,” said David Oladejo, president of Carleton University Students’ Association.

Oladejo said he welcomes clarification on university free speech policies, as long as they’re not vaguely worded and students don’t feel unsafe on campus.

He said he doesn’t believe there have been any incidents in recent years in which Carleton students have felt threatened by either groups or guest lecturers. (Source: CBC)

 

Saturday April 28, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 28, 2018

Federal program funds summer job to help ‘stop Kinder Morgan pipeline’

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to vow that the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion “will be built,” his government’s summer jobs program is funding a position with an activist group working to stop the project.

April 19, 2018

A call for applications for an “organizing assistant,” posted online by the non-profit group Dogwood B.C., says the job involves working to help the group’s network “stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker project.” It notes the position is funded by the federal Canada Summer Jobs Program.

The temporary full-time job is open to students. It pays $15 per hour for 9 to 12 weeks of work and is based in Vancouver.

But according to the organization receiving the funding, this kind of political push-and-pull is nothing new.

Dogwood B.C. said it has received funding for such positions since 2010, under both the Trudeau and Stephen Harper governments. The organization even got the funding when it was fighting the Enbridge Northern Gateway project, which Harper supported.

Kai Nagata, Dogwood’s communications director, said the group isn’t certain yet how many students it will hire with the help of federal funding this year. He said that in past years, students have worked on other projects as well, including one to prevent U.S. thermal coal exports from moving through Vancouver.

“The federal government has never thought to impose its political agenda on kids canvassing in B.C. on environmental issues,” said Nagata, who previously worked as a reporter for both CBC and CTV. (Source: CBC) 

 

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Friday June 26, 2015

Friday June 26, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 26, 2015

The Kathleen Wynne documentary that no one is allowed to see

The Toronto Star is lifting the veil on the political drama that no one is allowed to see.

It is a one-hour documentary ‎entitled, Premier: The Unscripted Kathleen Wynne‎, that was supposed to air on TVOntario earlier this month — before it was yanked.

The fly-on-the-wall account depicts Wynne under siege during February’s Sudbury byelection scandal, lashing out at the press for being “out to get” her, and discussing the toll of being Canada’s second most powerful leader.

Wynne complains the media “just seem obsessed” with the story.

“That’s what makes me so mad,” she fumes.

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She also dispenses campaign advice to a wide-eyed federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and, with help from spouse Jane Rounthwaite, artfully smacks down a Progressive Conservative MPP for homophobic comments.

Indeed, some of the film’s most illuminating moments are of Wynne and Rounthwaite in their Toronto home.

Their marriage is one of loving, equal partners who share a puckish sense of humour, a passion for politics, and a quaint affinity for the 1950s sit-com I Love Lucy.

But the behind-the-scenes portrait — filmed as the Liberals crafted the budget while coping with a police investigation into allegations a former candidate was bribed not to run in the Sudbury byelection — may never be broadcast.

That’s because the premier and her officials won’t sign release forms, the director and editor quit the project in protest in May, and TVO is demanding a refund on its $114,075 investment from the executive producer.

The Star viewed a copy of the film complete with titles and moody background music. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)


The Art of the Possible by Peter Raymont, National Film Board of Canada

 

Friday January 9 2015

Friday January 9 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, the Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 9 2015

Bill Cosby urges fans “to remain calm” if Ontario shows disrupted

Embattled comedian Bill Cosby is worried about protesters disrupting the three shows he has scheduled in Ontario this week as his international tour rolls on despite growing allegations of sexual assault.

Cosby issued a statement Tuesday urging people who attend his performances to remain calm if a show is interrupted and to “not confront the person making the disruption.”

The 77-year-old comedian is set to perform in Kitchener on Wednesday night, London on Thursday and Hamilton on Friday.

In Hamilton, protests are planned Friday at Hamilton Place. The Women’s Abuse Working Group says they will organize a “peaceful gathering”outside the theatre.

Claus Wagner, acting media relations officer for Hamilton Police, said officers will be keeping an eye on the protest to ensure everything goes smoothly. He couldn’t say yet how many officers may be needed.

He said charges will be laid if necessary but more likely protesters will be moved away to calm down if things get a little heated.

“We always allow people to protest peacefully,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne said she would not attend any of Cosby’s shows in Ontario because of the “very serious” allegations of sexual assault the comedian is facing.

Wynne says she would not go to any of his performances until the allegations against Cosby have been sorted out.

Since November, at least 15 women have come forward with claims Cosby sexually assaulted them decades ago — with some saying he drugged them before he assaulted them.

Cosby, who starred as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, has never been criminally charged in connection with any of the allegations, and through his lawyer he has denied them.

At least 10 shows on Cosby’s current tour were cancelled or postponed because of the scandal, but his appearances in the three Ontario cities will proceed, despite local opposition. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)