Dear Friend:
We
are urgently requesting that you take action today
to help in the effort to stop Bill C-250 as currently
drafted by sending two e-mails. We have made it easy
for you to do this through a special
feature we have set up on our Web site
to e-mail
each Senator with an e-mail address.
As
you may recall from past newsletters and alerts Bill
C-250 has the potential to "chill" debate
on the marriage issue in Canada. Bill C-250 is scheduled
to have second hearing in the Senate today (February
12th) and will then be swept on to committee.
Bill
C-250 would amend the Hate Crime sections of the criminal
code to include as a new category "sexual orientation."
One MP previously summarized the problems C-250 could
cause as follows: "If passed through the Senate,
the proposed bill to include 'sexual orientation'
as a protected group in the criminal code hate propaganda
section will threaten our fundamental freedoms of
speech and religion…. This Bill requires significant
changes to protect these freedoms."
On
our Web site we provide two easy ways for you to help
stop Bill C-250 from becoming law in its present form:
1.
EASY EMAIL LETTER TO SENATORS
First,
is to send an e-mail to all senators with an e-mail
address requesting that they make amendments to the
bill. We provide the text of a simple e-mail that
you can send with just the click of a button.
2.
EASY EMAIL REQUEST TO SPEAK TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE
The
second way you can help is to personally make the
case for these changes at a hearing before the Senate
Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
Surely, for a Bill that will have such a significant
impact on our future, a full and fair hearing is the
least we can expect.
The
Committee will be able to hear from only a very few
witnesses, so the chances that the Committee would
invite you to actually testify are very small. If,
however, you happen to be fortunate enough to be selected,
we and other groups will give you all the help you
need to prepare. Also, the Committee normally will
pay for your travel expenses.
The
reason it is important and valuable for large numbers
of people to request to speak is that it will underscore
for the committee how concerned we are about C-250.
The
special feature on our Web site allows you to send
an e-mail to Senator George Furey, Chairman of the
committee which will automatically include your contact
information so the committee can get in touch with
you if you are selected to speak.
We
also have posted additional background and information
on our Web site about Bill C-250 and the threat it
poses.
NOTE:
If
you would like to compose your own letter to fax or
mail in or send your own e-mail, here is the contact
information for Senator Furey:
