The Huffington Post Canada | By Daniel Tencer Posted: 06/08/2012 1:32 pm Updated: 06/08/2012 1:32 pm

A Conservative private members’ bill that repeals part of Canada’s hate speech laws has passed the House of Commons with scant media attention, and even less commentary. But it’s being cheered by many Canadian conservatives as a victory for freedom of speech. And it’s being cheered most vocally by another group: White supremacists. Bill C-304, introduced by Conservative backbencher Brian Storseth, repeals Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which bans hate speech transmitted over the Internet or by telephone. It passed third reading in the House of Commons on Thursday and is now headed to the Senate.

» click here to continue reading

The Canadian Press, Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:49 AM ET

The federal government is defending itself after more information has come to light about its directions to Canada’s spy agency to use information that may have been extracted through torture in cases where public safety is at stake. The order represents a reversal of policy for the Conservative government, which once insisted the Canadian Security Intelligence Service would discard information if there was any inkling it might be tainted. Opposition MPs seized on the news, saying it means the government is indirectly supporting torture.

» click here to continue reading

Stewart Bell Feb 6, 2012 – 10:57 PM ET | Last Updated: Feb 6, 2012 11:02 PM ET

TORONTO • The refugee claims from the nearly 600 Sri Lankans who paid smugglers to ferry them to Canada are moving slowly and face dwindling odds of success, new statistics show. More than two years after the Ocean Lady arrived off Vancouver Island carrying 76 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, only one has been accepted as a refugee so far, according to newly released Immigration and Refugee Board figures. Another has been ordered deported and the remaining claims are pending.

» click here to continue reading

Spotted “Conservative Party of Canada is Anti-Immigrant” posters in the neighbourhood of South Vancouver including on Tory MP Wai Young’s office and displayed in neighbourhood stores.

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nooneisillegal/

» click here to continue reading

Refugees will face drastic cuts to their health insurance on June 30th,  2012
Children will no longer be able to get their asthma medications
Diabetics will no longer be able to take their insulin
Many refugees will no longer have access to health  care

Join your colleagues in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg,  Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and other cities

at a National Day of Action
June 18th,  at 12 pm - 1 pm
Vancouver location: The CIC building at 1148 Hornby St

Risking the lives of Canada’s most vulnerable is unacceptable to us.

Join the following in opposing these cuts:

College of Family Physicians of Canada
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Canadian Association of Optometrists
Canadian Association of Social Workers
Canadian Dental Association
Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Nurses Association
Canadian Pharmacists Association
Canadian Association of Community Health Centres

Although the perspective of front-line health care workers will be highlighted in this action, all are welcome to come and show their opposition to the cuts.

All health care workers should wear a lab coat or greens.
Please RSVP : Docs4refugeeBC@gmail.com