As an avid photographer, this video really hit a chord with me:

For the record, I always strive to be respectful when taking photos. Whenever possible, I ask people for permission before taking photos of themselves, their children, or their pets. For example, a woman once didn’t want me taking a photo of her dog so I didn’t.
What really bugs me though is when “Rent-A-Cops” (or other power-hungry souls) try to tell me that I cannot take photos on public property. Personally, the most egregious case of this ever was in downtown Vancouver last year. A movie was being filmed over about a 200 metre long stretch on one street. Like hundreds of others, I went up to the edge of the set to observe the action. I then pulled out a little pocket camera and started taking some shots. An abrasive young woman came up and told me that I couldn’t take photos. I pointed out to her that this was Canada and not Communist China. She threatened to call the police officer over. While I don’t believe that she or the officer would have any legal right to tell me to stop, I just decided to avoid the hassle and walk away. I did later contact the Film Office at City Hall but they refused to answer my questions.
Some links to Canadian laws can be found here but they’re rather non-specific.

A tale of two protesters.

Bruce Bawer & Hege Storhaug: The Problems of Immigration in Europe.
Wednesday June 8, 2011, 7 PM. More details at the link.

Ezra Levant & Kathy Shaidle discuss the travesty that are the [Lack Of] Free Speech Laws in Canuckistan:

Video uploaded by Matt from Mississauga

An interview with Ezra Levant.

Mark Steyn has just published an interesting posting at “The Corner” on NRO. It’s an interesting glimpse into how both our governments spend waste our money.

Indeed.

It’s easy to see why many Europeans casually jump to the conclusion that Mr. Wilders is a hatemonger. He wants to halt non-Western immigration to the Netherlands until existing immigrants can be integrated, and he wants to deport any foreigner who commits a crime — the same sort of policies as those advocated by genuine xenophobes.
But even so, his insistence on the proper distinction between faith and ideology is an idea that deserves to be taken seriously. For it invites the question: If we permit, and even encourage, the excoriation of totalitarian cults created by modern dictators, why do we stigmatize, and even criminalize, such excoriation in the case of arguably similar notions attributed to a 7th-century Bedouin taking what is claimed to be divine dictation?

Click image for details.

Via email;

Alberta Education Minister Dave Hancock has now tabled his “Education Act” in the Legislature. After its third reading in the fall, it will become the primary legislation that governs education in Alberta.
I just received it today. I’m only up to page 28 of 208 pages and have found an entire additional section not in the earlier School Act entitled “Diverse and Flexible Learning”. Compliance with the Alberta Human Rights Act is specifically named.
*16 *All courses or programs of study offered and instructional materials used in a school must reflect the diverse nature and heritage of society in Alberta, promote understanding and respect for others and honour and respect the *Canadian Charter of Rights* *and Freedoms *and the *Alberta Human Rights Act*.
Please keep in mind that the definition of “school” in this document also includes homeschool.

Link to the new Education Act is here.
Link to the currently used School Act.

Earle had a chance to “be Mark Steyn,” but chose to remain a confused liberal, even donating some money to a gay charity in an attempt at atonement. It didn’t do him any good, as we see now [and as we all told him at the time.]

“You two-timer! It’s him or me, bub”.

Here we go again.

Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt has been dragged before a judge and accused of thought crimes against the high church of political correctness. He’s being prosecuted and persecuted for the lese-majesty of challenging the cult of victimhood that dominates racial discourse in Australia.

More from the Canadian Constitution Foundation.

“My trial is not an isolated incident.” (link fixed)

All over Europe the elites are acting as the protectors of an ideology that has been bent on destroying us since fourteen centuries. An ideology that has sprung from the desert and that can produce only deserts because it does not give people freedom. The Islamic Mozart, the Islamic Gerard Reve [a Dutch author], the Islamic Bill Gates; they do not exist because without freedom there is no creativity. The ideology of Islam is especially noted for killing and oppression and can only produce societies that are backward and impoverished. Surprisingly, the elites do not want to hear any criticism of this ideology.

A Mississauga businesswoman whose home was ordered seized to pay an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal award to a former employee can keep her house — for now. […] That October 2009 decision ordered Telfer to pay $36,000 to a woman who had been her employee for six weeks. Lawyers wanted the sheriff to seize and sell Telfer’s home to collect the money.
The woman who lodged the complaint, Seema Saadi, told the tribunal she felt pressured to wear skirts and heels instead of her hijab. Saadi also said Telfer complained about the smell of food that she warmed in the microwave.

h/t ET

“As my ancient forefathers, the vikings, would have said: It is always good to fight. It is better to win.“

Further to this post,

The fatwa in Ottawa

let’s see if the Iranian embassy tries any more not so funny business this time. If they do someone should be thrown out of Canada by Foreign Affairs as persona non grata–PNGed as they say, see Article 9 here:

Iranium, the controversial film about the use of nuclear power in Iran, will be shown in Ottawa on Feb. 6.
The Free-Thinking Film Society said Friday the film will be shown at Library and Archives Canada, the same venue that cancelled a showing of the film earlier this week after complaints by the Iranian Embassy and an alleged security threat.
The society’s Fred Litwin said U.S. intelligence expert Clare Lopez will be on hand to discuss the film with the audience. Tickets are $15 ($8 for students and seniors), available in advance at Compact Music stores, Ottawa Folklore centre and the offices of Ottawa Festivals at 47 William St., as well as at the door.

Mr Litwin, in an e-mail, describes what happened the first try:

The Free Thinking Film Society provides an alternative to the ‘alternative’ – we espouse the values of limited, democratic government, free market economies, equality of opportunity, and the dignity of the individual.
…
On Monday, January 17th at 2 PM, I was informed by staff of the Library & Archives Canada (LAC) that they had received ‘complaints’ about Iranium and had decided to cancel the film. They offered to find an alternate venue.
I then phoned the office of the Minister of National Heritage (James Moore) to complain about the cancellation. I also sent an e-mail through the official website.
The LAC then offered to move the film to the Museum of Nature, but for a substantial fee. I really couldn’t understand why the film could be shown in one building, but not the other. I told the LAC that if it had to be moved, they would have to pick up the costs.
After conferring with our Board of Directors, we decided that it was way too late to move the film, and that we should hold our ground and insist that the film be shown at the LAC. At 6:30 PM on Monday night, I received a call informing me that the film was now back on at the LAC.
On Tuesday morning, January 18th, I was informed that the complaints had indeed come from the Iranian Embassy! At 4 PM, I received a call from a senior manager at the LAC that there were protestors inside and outside the building; that they had called the RCMP; who had then informed them that security could not be assured; and that they had no choice but to cancel the film.
I immediately got into my car and drove to the Archives, arriving about 4:50 PM. The building had been closed and employees were leaving the building. Few people knew what was happening – and I didn’t see any protesters anywhere. I was then informed that there were no protests – just the ‘threat of protests.’
The police then arrived and the fire department arrived. I conducted a few interviews and left with Clare Lopez for my home. After we left, the hazardous materials team arrived – apparently because of two envelopes left at the front desk – but that occurred after the building had been closed down.
So, there you have it. We still need some answers! What event on Iranian culture was cancelled by the Archives in December of 2010 and why? Why did the Archives cancel so fast on Monday? Why would anybody care if the Iranian Embassy was unhappy? Were there actually threats on Tuesday? From whom? Was there just the ‘threat of protest’? Why can’t people protest a film? And, why couldn’t the building be secured?
And, finally, why can the building now be secure on February 6th for the ‘new’ screening?
I applaud the Minister of National Heritage, James Moore, for his determination in standing up for freedom of speech – but it should never have had to go to his office…

I want to thank the hundreds of people who have called or e-mailed with their support for the Free Thinking Film Society and what we are doing. In particular, I have received many e-mails from Iranian-Canadians who thought they, and their families, had left the Khomeinist regime behind, and are outraged to see Khomeinist influence right here in the capital of Canada...

The e-mail address:
info@freethinkingfilms.com
Update: Ms Lopez will talk to Nick Vandergragt at 0900 Sunday ET on CFRA Ottawa’s “Sunny Side Nick“; you can listen live and the audio should be available later at the “Interviews” page of the website.