Free Dominion, a blog/forum run by Connie Wilkins and Mark Fournier has been served with a Human Rights Commission complaint.

The complaint has been filed by Marie-Line Gentes under Section 13 of the Human Rights Act. Mark Fournier (Entrophy Squared) has a time line. Gentes is a biologist who teaches at Vanier College in Montreal.

Wilkins, who was vice-president and communications of the Conservative riding association in Kingston and the Islands and who recently split with The Conservative Party to form a new federal party (to succeed the former Reform Party) will be on The Michael Coren Show Sunday. 
Free Dominion was told by the Human Rights Commission a copy of the complaint was sent to them June 9th. They say they never received it. Wilkins says the first she heard of it was when they received a second letter July 18th asking them to respond to the first. July 18th was also the response deadline.

The report will include a recommendation for the disposition of the complaint. I can recommend that a conciliator be appointed, if the evidence supports the allegations in the complaint, or that the complaint be dismissed, if the allegations are not supported by the evidence. I can also recommend to the Commission that a settlement be approved if the parties reach an agreement during the course of the investigation.

I am currently awaiting your full response to the allegations which is due on 18 July 2007.

I would like to draw your attention to section 48 of the Canadian Human Rights Act which allows the parties to settle a complaint in the course of investigation. I would be pleased to discuss the possibility of a settlement with you or your representative at any time.

Wilkins talked to John Chamberlain of the HRC and to the Catholic conservative Lifesite:

“It’s frightening,” Wilkins said commenting on the way the HRC has used allegations of “hate speech” to shut down the viewpoints of conservatives and Christians…

Free Dominion is “an online meeting place for conservatives across the country to get together, strategise, plan, and do everything.”

Free Dominion is the largest social conservative blog/forum in Canada with 8 thousand registered users from the US and Canada.

“We have been waiting for six and a half years and the day has finally arrived, somebody is going to try to silence Free Dominion using the Canadian Human Rights Commission,”  

 ”They prefer it when conservatives are isolated from one another and can’t talk and organise” to oppose the leftist agenda…

 ”I think the most significant thing about this is how much in the dark we are being kept,” said Wilkins. “I mean you would think that if you’re being charged with something and there is an allegation against, the first thing that they would do is tell you.” 

Section 13 Canadian Human Rights Act:

Hate messages

13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.

Free Dominion’s regular posters are freaking out and raising money for legal fees.

Big Blue Wave has details. The complaint has been laid toward Bill Whatcott (who has been the subject of prior complaints) He is of our home grown religious right in  Saskatchewan. Whatcott’s is a nurse and writes as a Christian Truth Activist/Saskatchewan Christians United.
Free Dominion information.

This has been picked up by a couple of blogging Tories and  SoCon blogs. While at least one other blog BigCityLib is also wondering which particular thread has raised this complaint, blogs are quiet about what is unfolding - more will be revealed Monday when the paperwork arrives.

Free Dominion - wiki