Ann Coulter cries that Canada is bullying her

[Asher]

I've been looking and can't find any site claiming that hearsay isn't allowed in the HRC system. That's pretty ****ed up.

It's probably one of those things (and from googling, it is) where Ezra Levant listed everything known to man that is not explicitly forbidden from HRC/HRT proceedings.

The better question is, has hearsay ever been used in a HRC/HRT proceeding. And the answer is no -- if it was, you can bet your ass they'd point to it.

There is a ton of sensational vitriol online from the Canadian Right (lead by Ezra Levant) about the HRC/HRT, which is apparently where nye gets most of his info from.

Apparently a "significant" amount of money was donated to Ezra Levant for "defense" from the HRC. But in the videos, it's clearly him doing all of the work. Sounds like he has a nice racket going on there...

[notyoueither]

You also DO NOT get prosecuted because you "hurt someone's feelings".

If you make it to the tribunal, where any so-called "prosecution" would take place, then the person complaining has a good case. Which means you did more than "hurt someone's feelings", you may have broken the law.

So let's keep this debate honest. Let's not pretend like some ******* can point at you on the street and say you called him a _______ and suddenly your tens of thousands of dollars in the hole, because that's what you are apparently implying.

And what's the alternative to the HRC/HRT? A civil suit? How much does it cost to defend one of THOSE? Ask our friends in America, who love their civil litigation, how much better their alternative is.

Point is the person complaining would have to pay for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Dead_Animals

Small Dead Animals (or SDA) is an award-winning Canadian blog, focusing largely on politics (Canadian, U.S., British and international) from a conservative perspective. Saskatchewan-based blogger Kate McMillan founded the blog and remains its primary contributor.[1]

The main page of Small Dead Animals carries this message:

Why this blog?
Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked.
This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me."
Small Dead Animals was voted Best Canadian Blog in the Weblog Awards for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.[2] In 2008, SDA was narrowly voted Best Conservative Blog in North America over Ace of Spades HQ.[3]

Richard Warman, a frequent complainant at the Canadian Human Rights Commission (and former CHRC employee) has sued McMillan, Ezra Levant, Kathy Shaidle and the National Post over links to comments criticizing him at a Canadian internet forum, freedominion.ca.[4]

She is not a lawyer. She needed to hire one to defend herself from a person who used to be employed by a HRC who is gaming the HRC system.

[Drake Tungsten]

It's probably one of those things (and from googling, it is) where Ezra Levant listed everything known to man that is not explicitly forbidden from HRC/HRT proceedings.

I'm open to that possibility, which is why I'm not making any definitive statements. No one cares about Canada, so whatever information you do find online could easily have been swayed by one person who actually cares about what goes on north of the border.

[Asher]

Point is the person complaining would have to pay for it.




She is not a lawyer. She needed to hire one to defend herself from a person who used to be employed by a HRC who is gaming the HRC system.

Perhaps you can explain to me what, exactly, a lawyer is needed for when the HRC is exploring the validity of a complaint. This is the part where I am at a loss.

It's probably more likely a lawyer offered his services to her after scaring her. Two can game this system...

Do you lawyer up when you fight a speeding ticket, by the way?

[Asher]

Frankly after watching another couple of Ezra Levant's videos on YouTube and footage of him raving about Ann Coulter, I'm tempted to file numerous HRC complaints against him just to ****ing piss him off.



More Ezra quotes:

“I don’t need to be reasonable. I have maximum rights of free speech, I have the right to publish this for the most offensive reason, for the most unreasonable reasons.”

[notyoueither]

Perhaps you can explain to me what, exactly, a lawyer is needed for when the HRC is exploring the validity of a complaint. This is the part where I am at a loss.

It's probably more likely a lawyer offered his services to her after scaring her. Two can game this system...

Do you lawyer up when you fight a speeding ticket, by the way?

Speeding tickets do not normally come denomintated in 5 figures, unless you are driving a rocket.

[Asher]

Speeding tickets do not normally come demonitaed in 5 figures, unless you are driving a rocket.

And the vast majority of HRC complaints don't ever reach 5 figures either. From what I was reading earlier, many of them don't even involve fines...they're simple retractions or apologies.

They're pretty comparable, really.

[Asher]

The fine for Stephen Boisson (the Reverend who wrote the gays-are-pedophiles-what-are-you-waiting-for article) was $5,000 before being overturned.

That's one of the highest ever, IIUC. There's definitely never been a 5-figure fine in the history of the HRC/HRT. Highest ever was $7,500.

[notyoueither]

Overturned after he paid how much for lawyers?

... and to whom are the fines payable?

[Asher]

Overturned after he paid how much for lawyers?

Hey, if you hire lawyers, that's your own damn fault.



I am open to the idea of the defense being paid for as well.

But really, if he spent $40,000 to appeal a $5,000 fine....what a ****ing moron. This **** doesn't even go on a criminal record.

[notyoueither]

Who is the fine payable to?

[Asher]

No clue.

[Asher]

Apparently the fines go to the provincial government.

[notyoueither]

Usually the person bringing the complaint. It is like damages in a civil case.

So, the government pays for a 'prosecution' of a citizen who has to pay for his or her own defence and the rewards go to the person who brings the complaint.

Imagine a system where Ben could get a tribunal to 'prosecute' you for inciting hatred towards Christians, the prosecution will be paid for by the Government of Ontario, and the $5 to $10K you stand to be fined will be paid to Ben.

Would you hire a lawyer? Honest answer?

But, it does not stop there. The tribunal can issue an order constraining your future activities, like saying anything at all critical of Christians, even in private correspondence... for the rest of your life.

Now, would you hire a lawyer?

I think we all know the answer.

[Asher]

Usually the person bringing the complaint. It is like damages in a civil case.

Nope. Punitive fines go to the provincial government. Restorative fines (to compensate for something, from what I see this is rarely awarded) go to the person who complained.

http://canadianhumanrightscommission.blogspot.com/2009/09/mcgill-tribune-editorial-tribunals.html

Now, would you hire a lawyer?

Definitely not. I'm smart enough to know lawyer fees will rapidly approach the maximum fine to make lawyers a ridiculous cost. I'm a quick study, I wouldn't worry about it.

The second you hire a lawyer, you're out money. I'd defend myself and be confident in my own abilities. If I lose, I lose...