Dear OCLA Supporter,
This email is to provide you with an update about OCLA’s work and activities over the winter season.
Position paper on Ontario’s anti-SLAPP bill
In January 2014, OCLA published a position paper criticizing Bill 83, Ontario’s proposed legislation to address strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
Although the stated purpose of this bill is to foster free expression by discouraging the use of litigation as a means of silencing expression, Bill 83 is based on faulty common law principles underlying defamation law—principles which, if left intact in the form of the present defamation cause of action, threaten freedom of expression at the most fundamental level.
Our position paper analyzes two major problems with Bill 83, and calls for a deep re-examination of defamation law and its deleterious impact on freedom of expression in Ontario. The position paper is available at: https://ocla.ca/report-bill-83/
United Nations complaint in case alleging a judge’s appearance of bias
The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to examine allegations of an appearance of bias of an Ontario judge who had a financial and emotional relationship with a party in a lawsuit, and a family connection with the law firm representing that party.
In response, OCLA is currently preparing to file a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee that Canada has violated its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to provide all Canadians with an impartial court.
A recent media article on the upcoming United Nations complaint is available at the link here (in French).
OCLA submitted a motion for leave to intervene in the Supreme Court of Canada application in this case. Our documents from this motion are available at: https://ocla.ca/our-work/public-campaigns/#anchor-SCC36576
Tasers and the Ottawa Police
Last summer, the Ontario Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services decided to allow the province’s police forces to expand their use of conducted energy weapons (tasers). The Ottawa Police Service has recommended an increase in deployment of these weapons to its Board.
An interview with Ottawa police Superintendent Uday Jaswal, Carleton University criminology professor Darryl Davies, and OCLA Executive Director Joseph Hickey on this subject was held on March 4 and can be viewed at the following link: http://youtu.be/UiPpLr_h6cs
A March 17 Ottawa Sun article on this subject is available at the link here.
York University’s repression of a student group
In May 2013, York University banned a campus student group and trespassed one of its members (alumnus Hammam Farah) on charges of “academic disruption” for a rally held in the main large assembly venue on campus.
On March 25, Mr. Farah held a press conference on York campus to protest the sanctions imposed by the university. OCLA Advisory Board member Tyler Willis represented OCLA at the press conference. Tyler’s speech is posted at: https://ocla.ca/york-u-press-conference-re-banned-student-group/
Volunteering with OCLA
There are all kinds of ways you can collaborate with OCLA to help the organization grow and take part in the push-back for a freer and more democratic society. Everyone who works with 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/groups/110883345731728/
OCLA is a non-profit 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:
- through Paypal, by clicking the “Donate” button in the top-right corner of https://ocla.ca; or
- 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
Yours truly,
Joseph Hickey
Executive Director
Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA) https://ocla.ca
