More tyranny in our northern neighbors

NOTE: We are referring to our cousins in Canada as “neighbors” and not the singular here at TPOL. Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Their provinces are more autonomous (in practice) than our own familiar States, and as in the States, the differences between the provinces are growing and their FedGov (“Ottawa”) somewhat weaker and yet growing in power.

A while back, we published a commentary about new anti-religion laws in Quebec Province.

Things are getting worse quickly. That Quebec bill proceeds: opposition from various people (such as hospitals, childcare providers, and private schools) is being brushed aside (as reported by Canadian government propaganda outlet CBC). Indeed, the bill has been amended (and endorsed by the opposition party in committee) to criminalize religious speech considered “hate speech.

But it is not just Francophone Quebec that is imposing more and more tyranny.

First, as reported by LifeSite News, at the national level, Commons bill C-9 (Combating Hate Crimes Act) is different than the Quebecois bill) will criminalize – and in essence ban – the reading of certain parts of the Bible, the Quran, and possibly other religious documents. Why? Because they condemn homosexuality as a sin. Canadian Justice Minister Sean Fraser posted on X a two-page letter in which he tried to defend a new clause that could have broad implications on pastors, priests, and other clerics’ [sic] ability to speak freely in regard to homosexuality and what the Bible says about it. Clearly “non-clerical” Canadians (and visitors) would also find themselves criminals for daring to quote scripture.

Now get this: Mr. Minister assures Canadians that this law will not threaten their freedom of religion.

“Canada’s commitment to freedom of religion is unwavering. Freedom of religion is a fundamental guarantee under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Nothing in this amendment changes that.”

Right. We think that the Roman Emperor Hadrian (or was it Domitian?) said something similar: you can worship your God, and this Jesus guy, but just sprinkle a little incense on the altar to the Emperor and you can do whatever else you want in your religion.

But it is not just the Feds in Ottawa that are playing the tyrant card, especially as related to religion. (Remember how Canadian truckers and their supporters were treated not long ago. Or Canada’s response to the Beer Flu. Or many other things.)

In Alberta, the most conservative perhaps of the ten provinces, a King’s Bench judge has released preacher Derek Reimer from jail, but banned him from using social media after he spoke out against a “drag queen story hour” for children. Specifically, he may not use social media and may not preach against attending LGBT events. And indeed, his Parole Officer has forbidden him to even assemble with his fellow christians, lest he “rally up the mob” with his hate speech.

To add to the tyrannical nature of the judge’s order, even attorneys admit they cannot fully understand what the judge said Reimer can and cannot do. It is opined that this was intentional to allow maximum flexibility in determining violations of his parole. Thus being able to drag him back into jail easily. 

This all stemmed from a private, one-on-one conversation with the manager of a public library in Calgary. Who filed the complaint of “hate speech” because he objected to a library program for small children called “Reading with Royalty.” (Definitely not with a member of Canada’s royal family, the Windsors.)

To us, this smells so very much like post-Revolutionary France’s war on religion, or the things we read in 1984 and Brave New World. In today’s Canada, liberty is not dying: it is dead.

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