Maclean's claims vindication in hate speech case at Canadian Human Rights Commission

Maclean's magazine has prevailed in one part of its its defence against charges that it published hate speech. The complaint, brought in November 2007 before the Canadian Human Rights Commission by the Canadian Islamic Congress, concerned an excerpt from columnist Mark Steyn's book America Alone.The complainants also filed charges with the British Columbia Human Right Commission (where a hearing was recently completed and a decision is still pending); the Ontario Human Rights Commission declined the case, saying it didn't have jurisdiction.

Maclean's said in a statement that it interprets the commission decision as being vindication of the article as commentary on an important geopolitical issue and entirely within the bounds of normal journalistic practice.

Though gratified by the decision, Maclean's continues to assert that no human rights commission, whether at the federal or provincial level, has themandate or the expertise to monitor, inquire into, or assess the editorial decisions of the nation's media. And we continue to have grave concerns about a system of complaint and adjudication that allows a media outlet to be pursued in multiple jurisdictions on the same complaint, brought by the same complainants, subjecting it to costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars, to say nothing of the inconvenience. We enthusiastically support those parliamentarians who are calling for legislative review of the commissions with regard to speech issues.