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(Toronto,
Oct. 15) The National Citizens Coalition won a huge
court victory for more freedom today when a Toronto Judge
ruled that portions of the federal government’s election
gag law are unconstitutional.
“This
is a major victory for freedom of expression in Canada,”
says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “This is
the seventh time in the last twenty years that we have
defeated election gag laws in the courts. Next stop is
the Supreme Court of Canada where we expect to win again.”
The
Judge’s ruling was part of a criminal trial. The
NCC was charged with breaking the law because the pro-free
market group aired a 15-second TV ad during the 2000 federal
election. Elections Canada claimed the ad was “election
advertising.”
“We
argued the gag law was an infringement on our democratic
freedoms,” says Nicholls, “And the Judge agreed.
This ends a two year legal nightmare for us. The government
was using the gag law to persecute us and it has backfired
on them big time.”
The
gag law imposes severe restrictions on what private citizens
or groups can spend to express opinions and also forces
those wishing to express opinions to register with Elections
Canada, a regulatory process that is intrusive, costly
and burdensome.
Last
year the Alberta Court of Appeal also ruled the gag law
to be unconstitutional. The government appealed that ruling
to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“This
victory in Ontario will give important momentum as we
head into the Supreme Court,” says Nicholls.
For
more information check our web site www.morefreedom.org
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Gerry Nicholls, Vice President
National Citizens Coalition
www.morefreedom.org
Phone: 416-869-3838
Fax: 416-869-1891
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