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jawnbcThanks to Svend Robinson, the first openly gay member of Canada's Parliament, sexual orientation was added to the Criminal Code's existing statute on hate speech (anti-vilification in some jurisdictions). Click here for the story.
Robinson deserves almost single-handed credit for this legislation, a rare example of a private member's bill (rather than legislation drafted on the sitting Government's order) becoming criminal law. On 2 occasions, the Commons committee holding hearings on the bill tried to stuff it up: both times Svend "held forth" until the committee ran out of sitting time, forcing the issue to a vote in the House of Commons.
He wrote it, he shepherded it, and we owe him. Why not drop him a note of thanks?
Robinson deserves almost single-handed credit for this legislation, a rare example of a private member's bill (rather than legislation drafted on the sitting Government's order) becoming criminal law. On 2 occasions, the Commons committee holding hearings on the bill tried to stuff it up: both times Svend "held forth" until the committee ran out of sitting time, forcing the issue to a vote in the House of Commons.
He wrote it, he shepherded it, and we owe him. Why not drop him a note of thanks?
