Bill C-250 passed senate approval today and now faces the final hurdle of royal assent, before becoming law.

Religious groups made a last ditch effort to convince the Canadian senate not to pass the bill, fearing that use of biblical passages will be seen as hate toward those who speak against sexual orientation.

These types of cases have gone before Canadian Human Rights Tribunals in the past.

In order to be found guilty of an indictable offence under the code, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a person must communicate statements, in a public place, which incite hatred against an identifiable group in such a way that there will likely be a breach of the peace. Legal experts consulted by LifeSiteNews.com confirmed that the language in the legislation is loose and open to widely varying interpretation.

Most of Canada’s major religious groups including Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, and Muslim have issued severe warnings against the private member’s bill drafted by homosexual activist MP Svend Robinson who was recently caught on camera stealing a $50,000 ring from an auction.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Professional Police Association have expressed consistent support for the bill, which is seen by many as a serious danger to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

When the bill receives royal assent, there will be years of challenges to work out. I’m not convinced the religious groups will be harmed as they fear they will be.

Paul and George
President George Bush and Prime Minister Paul Martin will meet for 45 minutes today. It’s essentially a photo op. Martin spent valuable time yesterday with members of congress discussing protectionist trade on softwood lumber and opening the border to live Canadian cattle. In election years congress and the senate tend to bow to constituent and lobby pressure.
Washington is consumed with Iraq and the November election, so the short meeting will be low key between two leaders who understand the photo-op can help their election bids. Canadians are waiting for an election call, expected to be announced for June. Canadian federal elections run a six week period as opposed to the the US time frame.
US viewers and readers won’t see much of the Canadian PM’s visit, given the pressures and issues in Washington.
How Martin handles his visit will have impact on Canadian voters.

A poll released by CTV today showed Canadians aren’t anti-American, but are not relating or even impressed with President Bush and his ignorance of Canada and his handling of foreign policy with other countries.

Nafta once again ruled in Canada’s favour regarding softwood lumber.

Canada and Fox News

Let’s start with a conclusion. The Fox News Channel, its chief ranter Bill O’Reilly and the channel’s rabid followers are the lunatic fringe of the American culture.

I can say this with certainty because I’ve now got an earful from O’Reilly several times over, but I’ve also heard from thousands of American readers who view Fox News and O’Reilly with utter loathing and deep embarrassment.

I think Fox News Channel is comically overheated with its wailing about “left-wingers” and “elites.” I also think O’Reilly is nothing more than an intolerant windbag, what the Irish astutely call a gobshite.

If somebody wants to make the Fox News Channel available in Canada, fine. Believe me, if you thought Dan Rather’s occasional outbursts of jittery, googly-eyed American jingoism were comical, you haven’t seen anything yet. O’Reilly makes our Ed the Sock look like a reasonable chap.

The Fox News philosophy of finger-pointing about perceived lapses in patriotism and suspicion of outsiders is no more representative of the true spirit of the United States than the Taliban represents Islam.

Globe and Mail columnist writer John Doyle received thousands of emails from US. Fox News supporters and far more from Fox detractors:

Many join in my amusement at the barking-mad antics on Fox News. They know, as Americans usually do, that by laughing we drain the fanatics of their significance.

…Since then I have received thousands upon thousands of e-mails from Americans who are mortified. People in New York, Chicago, Seattle, Denver and Phoenix have invited me out to dinner. Many others have invited me to stay in their homes.

We here in Canada don’t need Fox news as far as I’m concerned. I don’t watch Fox entertainment, and their news doesn’t interest me. If I wish to look something up on Fox news I can use the interenet. There are enough choices, We have our own broadcasting issues to deal with. Cable providers receive one of their programming channels. It would be interested to know how popular Fox is here.

I’ve been invited to give a talk in Denver. Schoolchildren, retirees, registered Republicans and Democrats have written to apologize for the abusive mail I received from Fox News fans.

Many join in my amusement at the barking-mad antics on Fox News. They know, as Americans usually do, that by laughing we drain the fanatics of their significance.

Fox New and it’s fans thinks Canada is among other thing irrelevant, neighbours who betray, are incompetent, socialist, anti-american and foolish. and slow. They are intitled to thier opinion.

Nortel
Millions of Canadians have once again been burned by this company and it’s practices. Canada needs to change and improve policy. Thousnds of ordinary Nortel investers may take years to recover. Nortel is being investigated and Canadian business reporting and accounting laws are on the line.