An “informal coalition of MPs (CPCCA) … are working to expand definition of antisemitism to make it illegal to criticize Israel.”

via Criticize Israel-Go to Jail? – Other – Vancouver.

Ok, quite simply this. If Kim Jong Il made it illegal for people to criticize North Korea, we’d laugh him back into one of his 19 private train stations.

This is Canada, folks.

A memory refresher may be in order:

Rights and freedoms in Canada

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Fundamental Freedoms

Fundamental freedoms

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;

(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

This means we have freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression in the press and other media of communication subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

I think this CPCCA may have skipped over this part of the Charter 28 years ago. It’s worth going back to read.

And if you knew this was wrong, but were looking for a good reason why, it’s the Charter. It’s on our side!