Harper No Friend of Freedom of Expression

Submitted by Chris Koddermann on Thu, 08/02/2007 - 15:06.

Since its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966, the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has become a cornerstone of international human rights law. It states in part:

“Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to SEEK, receive and impart information…” (Emphasis added)

The drafters of this treaty, and it signatories, of which Canada is one, were clearly wise enough to recognize that the right to seek information is a fundamental component of freedom of expression. It is unfortunate that our Prime Minister, rather than championing such fundamental freedoms, uses his power to interfere with the right of the country’s news media to seek out and question members of his government at their national caucus meetings in P.E.I. Having the RCMP remove members of the media from the lobby of the hotel at which the Conservatives have gathered was a inexcusable and fundamentally anti-democratic act.

What exactly is it that the Prime Minister doesn’t want you and me to know, that his cabinet Ministers are incompetent and unable to speak for themselves, that his party has run out of ideas has no vision for the country, that members of his caucus hold views wildly out of sync with the values of the majority of Canadians?

Chris Koddermann
Campaign Manager