Dear OCLA Supporter,
This email is to provide you with an update regarding the OCLA’s work and activities over the Fall 2014 season.
Congratulations to Terri-Jean Bedford
We were delighted to award Miss Terri-Jean Bedford with the OCLA’s 2014 Civil Liberties Award for her activism to promote the freedom, dignity, and safety of sex workers in Canada. Miss Bedford’s motto is “I’ll fight for my rights, whether you like it or not!” Her moving speech from the award celebration in Ottawa on November 14 can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Our announcement of the award to Miss Bedford was covered in national media and internationally by the BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-
Campaign in Defence of the Civil Rights of Arthur Topham
The OCLA has a public campaign calling on the Attorney General of BC, The Honourable Suzanne Anton, to withdraw her consent for prosecution of Mr. Arthur Topham under Canada’s “hate speech” Criminal Code provisions. Mr. Topham is being prosecuted regarding content on his self-published internet blog. More information is available on the OCLA’s website at: https://ocla.ca/our-work/
The OCLA’s petition to the Attorney General of BC has reached 1300 supporters. Please consider adding your name to the petition at the following link: http://chn.ge/1wXlqhr
Freedom of Expression in Cornwall Municipal Election
A mayoral candidate in this fall’s municipal election in Cornwall, Ontario was barred from wearing a T-shirt expressing a political message at the televised “All Candidates Forum” organized by the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. The OCLA’s letter to the Chamber of Commerce President is available at: https://ocla.ca/wp-content/
The OCLA’s letter was reported on by the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder: http://www.standard-
Letter to Premier Wynne re: Protecting Freedom of Speech in Ontario
In early October, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne made a promise to defend freedom of speech in China. The OCLA responded with a letter urging the Premier to stop the rapid erosion of freedom of speech in Ontario. The letter is available at: https://ocla.ca/wp-content/
Premier Wynne’s response is available at: https://ocla.ca/wp-content/
OCLA Executive Director to begin PhD Research on the Physics of Legal Decision Making
Joseph Hickey is pleased to announce he will begin PhD research in January 2015 on the topic of the physics of legal decision making. The goal of the research is to understand, interpret, and illustrate aspects of how the legal system functions by analyzing real-world data about the Canadian legal system using statistical physics methods.
Joseph’s research will be done under the purview of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship. He will continue as Executive Director of the OCLA during this time.
Volunteering with OCLA
There are all kinds of ways you can collaborate with the OCLA to help the organization grow and take part in the push-back for a freer and more democratic society. Everyone who works with the OCLA is a volunteer. Please contact us to discuss your volunteering interests, no matter how large or how small!
How to Stay Connected and Donate to OCLA
Twitter: @oncivlib
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
The OCLA is an independent, volunteer-run organization. Donations help cover operating costs such as booking rooms for public events, printing promotional material for campaigns and events, and paying for court filing fees and court document production costs (copies and binding) regarding court and tribunal interventions on civil liberties issues.
Donations can be made in two ways:
1) through Paypal, by clicking the “Donate” button in the top-right corner of https://ocla.ca; or
2) by sending a cheque to “Ontario Civil Liberties Association” to our mailing address:
Ontario Civil Liberties Association
180 Metcalfe Street, Suite 20
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K2P 1P5
All the best for the new year,
Joseph Hickey, Executive Director
Riana Colbert, Communications and Social Media Director
Matthew Fournier, Technical Director
Caroline Wang, Treasurer
