Quesnel Cariboo Observer, November 23, 2012

Page 1

decriminalization DEBATE PAGE A3

Arctic’s magnificent mammals PAGE A12

forestry league well underway PAGE A17

OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO

SINCE 1908

Friday, November 23, 2012

VOL. 99 NO. 24

www.quesnelobserver.com

1

$ 34

PM 40005365

includes HST

Sweet success GR Baker Hospital Auxiliary were all smiles after receiving a cheque for $1,628 from Tim Horton’s smiley cookie fundraiser. From left: Tim Hortons assistant manager Deb Mack, auxiliary members Ivy Lofstrom, Barb Glover and Florence White and Tim Hortons manager Dorothy Simpson. Karen Powell photo

Arthur Topham charged with hate crime AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After waiting five months, Arthur Topham has now been officially charged with wilful promotion of hatred. RCMP searched and seized property of the Quesnel resident in late May of this year, after it was determined there were “reasonable grounds the offence of promotion of hatred was committed.” Crown officially moved

forward on the charge earlier this month. Since then Topham has had to comply with certain conditions, including restricted Internet access and is prohibited from maintaining his websites (including the Radical Press domain.) Crown continues to request the courts permission on further restrictions. Topham, who adamantly denies the charge, says he’s hopeful having his day in court will raise awareness

DON’T GAS OUT YOUR GUESTS!

surrounding free speech and the definition of “hate crimes.” “This is not to say that I have full confidence in Canada’s judicial system but it will hopefully give me an opportunity to present the facts and the truth before a judge and jury of my peers; something that would never have happened if the case had been decided by a tribunal,” he said. “In that regard, therefore, I welcome the

opportunity to challenge these Draconian “hate” laws that have been set up to protect vested interests here in Canada.” Topham says ever since he was charged with a hate crime in 2007 he’s been forced to battle with the Canadian Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Back in 2008 the Quesnel Cariboo Observer published a story in which Topham had received a complaint from the

Canadian Human Rights Commission stating he was promoting hatred towards Jews and citizens of Israel. Topham maintains a site, Radical Press with the tagline “Digging to the root of the issues since 1908.” Currently Topham is permitted to continue posting to his site, Crown is seeking to prohibit posting. “Of course my immediate concern is that the crown wants to assume that I

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have already been found guilty and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to write or post on my website in order to defend myself against these spurious charges,” Topham said. “Given how the msm is smearing me already I feel it would be highly unfair to take away my charter rights prior to this case being heard in a court of law.” Topham’s next court appearance is slated for Nov. 27.

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