Posted on 01/19/2011 3:10:16 PM PST by nuconvert
Heritage Minister James Moore has instructed Library and Archives Canada to show the documentary film Iranium after “threats of violence” caused a screening of the film Tuesday to be cancelled, the minister’s office has announced.
Both Mr. Moore and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had earlier criticized Library and Archives, a federal Crown agency, for cancelling the screening.
“The principle of free speech is one of the cornerstones of our democracy,” MR. Moore’s office said in a prepared statement. “Minister Moore took action as soon as he heard that the film was cancelled. The minister has instructed the Library and Archives to honour their commitment to show the film, while taking all appropriate steps to ensure security. Canada does not accept attempts from the Iranian Embassy to dictate what films will, and will not be shown in Canada.”
Pauline Portelance, a spokeswoman for Library and Archives Canada, said the Iranian embassy had sent a letter to the federal institution on the weekend asking that the film be cancelled. The request was denied.
Then, people — whom Ms. Portelance described as “members of the public” — started phoning Library and Archives complaining about the planned screening and threatening to protest. “The threats were getting too serious,” Ms. Portelance said.
A decision was then made to cancel the screening.
Asked about the issue during a press conference on Wednesday morning, Liberal house leader David McGuinty said he supports a “free and open society.”
Officials from both Library and Archives and from the film event’s sponsor, the Free Thinking Society, told iPolitics Wednesday they are prepared to discuss showing the film at a future date.
Fred Litwin, president of the society, said he believed the original cancellation was “ludicrous” but
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
The recent banning of “Money For Nothing” in Canada represents a good opportunity for conservative Canadians to lobby for constitutional protection of free speech.
“cornerstone of our democracy” is meaningless. You desperately need something codified up there, because they are taking your rights away from you every single day.
Canada has been in the chains of political correctness for years. Sad to say.
The conservative Government has a perpetual struggle on its hands.
If it were me, I wouldn’t believe the lies.
The kind of “conservative” government they have there is just like in the UK - they don’t really change anything, don’t really roll back anything significant, and usually just add new evils of their own.
What’s to conserve? We don’t need conservation any more, same in the US - we need RESTORATION.
I was looking forward to seeing the recently U.S. banned JFK film, too. I understand it may travel north and actually be shown up here. Anyone know of particulars?
Canadian Conservatism has a distinctly different face than American Conservatism, it’s true, but to say we don’t have anything ‘codified’ is inaccurate.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was passed into law by the Canada Act of 1982.
The text of the Charter can be found here: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/
Thanks nuconvert.
Thanks for the ping, Civ.
Is Clive on your ping list?
Obviously it’s insufficient, since they can ban a popular song.
Well, the truth is, *you’re* not on it either. :’) It’s a Canadian topic, so I nabbed you and a handful of others for various reasons, temporary additions at the beginning of the Usual Suspects ping list. :’)
Oh yes, all the “rights” given to us by socialist Trudeau
read sections 15 and 27, enough leeway for radical- liberal judges to drive a truck through
One word was banned , Faggot . Not the entire song . As ignorant as that is , do a search on banned songs in the USA. Free Speech means nothing when it comes to banning songs...
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