“Sure enough, the Justice Minister’s ‘Talking Points’ memo consists mostly of empty calorie cliches.
“If asked about the Levant and Steyn cases by journalists or constituents, Conservative MPs are instructed to stress that the Harper government ‘is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights,’ and add that ‘Canada’s record on human rights is second to none.’
“Then, if ‘asked about the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and its processes,’ the memo advises, ‘refer [the] letter writer to the CHRC’s website.’
“Sounds like that twist ending to many a horror film, when the lone survivor is finally ‘rescued’ — and driven right back to the zombie compound.“Finally, MPs are told to steer the subject away from Keith Martin’s call to amend Section 13, and to focus instead on the ‘government’s ongoing efforts’ — which many ‘free speech’ frontliners are hearing about for the first time — ‘to repeal Section 67 of the Act.’ This is the provision that, as the memo explains, exempts First Nations ‘from receiving the same legal protection against discrimination that is afforded to all other Canadians.’
“A worthy goal, but please: One normally has to attend a high school talent show to witness such amateur sleight of hand.”
Mark Steyn writes:
“The lesson is, if you face down these bullies, you can win and stop the lights going out on liberty. But you won’t get much help from your government.”
Denyse O’Leary observes:
“…the Harper government’s claim [about Canada’s stellar human rights record] is DEMONSTRABLY untrue!
“Canada has been DOWNGRADED in religious freedom recently, by Freedom House, on the basis of a ‘country report.'”
