Bogus Fact Checking Organization Obfuscates for Bill That Could Send Christians To Jail in Canada
Shane Trejo
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AFP Fact Check issued a “correction” regarding analysis of legislation being considered in Ontario that would criminalize Christian protests under the guise of hate speech.
In the article published by Big League Politics on May 11, it was explained how the nebulous language of Bill 84, the “Prohibiting Hate-Promoting Demonstrations at Queen’s Park Act, 2019,”, was written to punish Christian speech if it offends victim groups such as Muslims or the LGBT community.
Life Site News explains how the new law will work once enacted:
The problem with this bill, however, lies in the fact that the definition of “hate” is uncertain under Canadian law. As a result, unfortunately, the use of the word “hate” can be a useful tool for some to prevent differing views from being expressed. That is, the word “hate” can be used to silence opposing views expressed when, in fact, the views are simply a reasonable expression of belief.
This concern is based on actual experience. Canadians have already experienced the contempt shown by the Supreme Court of Canada towards Section 2 of the Charter of Rights which provides for freedom of opinion, expression and religion. In the Trinity Western Christian University case (2018), a private Christian university’s moral covenant was deemed hateful and discriminating. In the Bill Whatcott case (2013), the Supreme Court of Canada concluded that the effects of an expression used, not the communicator’s intent, are what is relevant. The court went on to conclude that “truthful statements and sincerely held beliefs do not affect the finding of “hate”. Mr. Whatcott merely expressed in his pamphlet the well-established facts about homosexuality which the court held to be “hateful”. It is worth noting that the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, presumably consisting of equally learned judges, had previously concluded that the pamphlet was not hateful. The Supreme Court of Canada prides itself on being a “progressive” court and has an established bias as evidenced in a series of decisions that have struck down laws based on traditional values. There is little likelihood that the court will protect tradition-based groups if they are denied the right to demonstrate at the provincial legislature.
The AFP Fact Checker, in their dubious analysis of the accurate Big League Politics report, merely cited lip service from the bill’s sponsor and provided no substantial analysis on how the bill would actually be enforced once enacted.
“It’s inconceivable, given the way that the bill is drafted, that it could be used to suppress the free speech of Christian Ontarians or of any other religions,” said MP Roman Baber to AFP Fact Checker.
Baber also said that the legislation was based off of Section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code, which punishes free speech with up to two years in prison if it is seemed hateful and abusive by the government.
The relevant provisions read as follows:
(1) Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.(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 a term not exceeding two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Meanwhile, a Christian pastor named David Lynn was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace last week for preaching the word of God on a street corner in Toronto, ON.
After the disciple of Christ was harassed by a group of unruly protesters, he was hauled off in handcuffs by law enforcement because preaching the Gospel was considered to be a criminal violation. The LGBT mob cheered as his rights were flagrantly violated.
A police officer even accosted the individual recording the incident, which can be seen here:
“It’s unfortunate that I am subject to this kind of discrimination and bullying and marginalization simply for saying God loves you, there is hope for you, I accept you and tolerate you. I shouldn’t be in this position, I didn’t do anything illegal,” Lynn said following his arrest. He is now out on bond.
When AFP Fact Checker and power-grabbing lawmakers like Baber talk about how existing law will be codified in Bill 84, this is exactly what they are referring to.
Even after they were alerted of their error, AFP Fact Checker stood by their work and refused to take down their article.
“We found no evidence that Bill 84 is specifically targeting Christians or would ban Christians from demonstrating in public,” they said in a e-mail response to Big League Politics.
The BLP article did not claim the anti-free speech measure would target Christians specifically, only that Christians will end up in the crossfire as evidenced by the recent arrest of a Christian pastor.
Turns out it is not just submissive bureaucrats, child-targeting LGBT activists, radical Muslims, and the fake news out to discriminate against Christians. They have also set up bogus fact checking agencies to do their bigoted dirty work against the world’s most persecuted faith as well.
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