Ann Coulter’s upcoming Canadian tour is moving forward without a hitch! That is, except for the part of a University’s Vice-Provost threatening criminal charges against her for a speech she hasn’t even given yet.
Michael Coren — the man who will be doing Ann’s only television interview while in Canada — posted the letter:
Dear Ms. Coulter,
I understand that you have been invited by University of Ottawa Campus Conservatives to speak at the University of Ottawa this coming Tuesday. We are, of course, always delighted to welcome speakers on our campus and hope that they will contribute positively to the meaningful exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of a great university campus. We have a great respect for freedom of expression in Canada, as well as on our campus, and view it as a fundamental freedom, as recognized by our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I would, however, like to inform you, or perhaps remind you, that our domestic laws, both provincial and federal, delineate freedom of expression (or “free speech”) in a manner that is somewhat different than the approach taken in the United States. I therefore encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here. You will realize that Canadian law puts reasonable limits on the freedom of expression. For example, promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges. Outside of the criminal realm, Canadian defamation laws also limit freedom of expression and may differ somewhat from those to which you are accustomed. I therefore ask you, while you are a guest on our campus, to weigh your words with respect and civility in mind. There is a strong tradition in Canada, including at this University, of restraint, respect and consideration in expressing even provocative and controversial opinions and urge you to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus. Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.
I hope you will enjoy your stay in our beautiful country, city and campus.
Sincerely,
François Houle.
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
Vice-recteur aux études / Vice-President Academic and Provost
Université d’Ottawa / University of Ottawa
550, rue Cumberland Street
Ottawa (ON) K1N 6N5
téléphone / telephone : 613 562-5737
télécopieur / fax : 613 562-5103
www.uOttawa.ca/vr-etudes-academic
This is just too good. Generally the left finds subtler ways to express their idiocy. Francois Houle has not disappointed us in what we expect from French Canadians has fed right into the hands of those who oppose censorship with his letter. This will be fun!
Please contact him directly to tell him how much of an idiot he is (I just left him a voicemail):
Telephone : 613-562-5800 ext. 5737
Fax : 613-562-5106
E-Mail Address: francois.houle@uottawa.ca
UPDATE: The University of Ottawa’s student council passed a motion this evening (after a 7-hour meeting) to petition the university’s administration to ban Ann Coulter from the campus.
Banning a public figure from a campus?
I bet if Obama, Putin, Hu Jin Tao or any other socialist wanted to speak there it would be just fine!
The University of Ottawa and MOST universities across this country should be more tolerant of people from ALL points of view!
-The Maz
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I made a phone call to the Fascist provost’s office. Made sure he heard me condemning his position
Well Y2Bray, Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University a little while back. Apparently you just have to be a left-wing Anti-Semite to speak on a campus nowadays.
Oh it will be fun to see the lefties frothing at the mouth when she’s speaking. Hopefully they remember to have security at the event to ensure that idiots who want to interrupt her are politely escorted from the building.
Amen Kawen!
No one is banning her because she is a conservative. She spews hate speech. End of story. Also, she uses her position as a widely known Republican to get her messages across that usually have no factual basis to them. This blog disgusts me!
Well… I guess it’s'worth posting here as well:
How could she possibly interpret that letter as a threat?! He literally said a simple fact: “someone who proposes this kind of dialog can get this kind of consequence”. Since when is reading off the law a hate crime??? Man he must have said it with a really threatening voice, or look… Or hand writing…
I think the man was doing what his students asked him to do and letting her know what the law is here.
Also, he looks like my innocent, genuinely caring Uncle Pierre.
—
Hey now that i think about it… why does Coulter freak out about ONE sentence in ONE letter? Boohoo. She must have gotten hundreds of death threats by now, right? Why get pissed off about this one letter? Cause it’ll get her attention?? Hum… Victimizing herself after having spewed hate speech all over, about individuals and groups, over years and years… What a two-faced wacko…
Kame out.
P.S. She got shut down here at the U of O! Tonight. Like. A few hours ago. Take that, you ignorant banana righty, hateful woman…
Err?
What hate speech?? I have a hunch that “hate speech” in your eyes is just anything you don’t want to hear.
Hey, never let the facts stand in the way of a good arguement eh?
I find it interesting that the more freedom leftists demand for themselves and their views, the more they DEMAND the rights of others to be taken away, as those views are ” bad “. Very typical black adn white thinking, kinda like hitler had.
Scratch a leftist and you’ll find a fascist
Hitler was a leftist aswell
http://constitutionalistnc.tripod.com/hitler-leftist/
I feel as though this would have gone a bit more smoothly, had Carleton been hosting rather than Ottawa U.
Ann Coulter is a pundit and she’s funny as hell. What would have happened if Lewis Black had been invited to speak instead? Standing-room only and not a protester in sight.