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Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!dave
From: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Racist jokes - hate propaganda legislation in Canada
Message-ID: <2646@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-Nov-83 14:59:51 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.2646
Posted: Mon Nov  7 14:59:51 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 10-Nov-83 16:27:00 EST
Organization: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 55

Here is the excerpt from the Criminal Code of Canada on
hate propaganda:

Section 281.2. (2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other
than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any
identifiable group is guilty of
   (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for
	two years; or
   (b) an offence punishable on summary convicstion.

(3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2)
   (a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;
   (b) if, in good faith, he expressed or attempted to establish by
	argument an opinion upon a religious subject;
   (c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public
	interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit,
	and if on reasonable ground he believed them to be true; or
   (d) if, in good faith, he intended to point out, for the purpose
	of removal, matters producing or tending to produce feelings
	of hatred towards an identifiable group in Canada.

(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under ... this section,
anything be means of or in relation to which the offence was committed,
upon such conviction, may, in addition to any other punishment imposed,
be ordered by the presiding magistrate or judge to be forfeited to Her
Majesty in right of the province in which that person is convicted, for
disposal as the Attorney General may direct.

(7) In this section
	"communicating" includes communicating by telephone, broadcasting
	or other audible or visible means;

	"identifiable group" means any section of the public
	distinguished by colour, race, religion or ethnic origin;

	"statements" includes words spoken or written or recorded
	electronically or electromagnetically or otherwise, and gestures,
	signs or other visible representations.

----------------------

What does the above mean? Well, (1) Canadians should watch what
they say in net.jokes, and (2) if they don't, some judge could
theoretically order all of USENET and the computers which reproduce
such jokes seized and turned over to a province!

(Rumour has it Newfoundland is going to seize Usenet if there are
any more Newfie jokes...:-)


Dave Sherman
Certainly not speaking for The Law Society of Upper Canada
Toronto
-- 
 {allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave