BPC Bulletin: Federal Liberals Seek to Curb Anti-Semitic Expression
News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.
In Ottawa, the federal Liberal government is acting to curb anti-Semitic expression by amending the Criminal Code.
The government wants to ban the “communication of statements, other than in private conversation, that wilfully promote anti-Semitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust.”
The government plans to amend Section 319 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits the incitement of hatred “against an identifiable group.”
The federal Liberals picked up the idea from Kevin Waugh, a Conservative MP, who introduced a private member’s bill (C-250) in the House of Commons on February 9, 2022.
REPORTAGE
Marie Woolf of the Canadian Press reports:
In The Canadian Jewish News, Jeremy Appel reports:
https://thecjn.ca/news/a-bill-that-would-make-holocaust-denial-a-crime-was-introduced-in-parliament-by-conservative-mp-kevin-waugh/
VIDEO
Kevin Waugh, the MP who introduced Bill C-250, speaks in the House of Commons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g111-zqn08
COMMENTARY
In The Globe and Mail, Robyn Urback comments:
PRESS RELEASES
B’nai Brith Canada issues a statement:
B'nai Brith Canada Makes Recommendations to Senate on New Holocaust-Denial Bill - B'nai Brith Canada (bnaibrith.ca)
The Conservative Party of Canada issues a statement:
https://www.conservative.ca/mp-waugh-introduces-legislation-to-prohibit-holocaust-denial/
Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies issues a statement:
The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.
