OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Supreme Court of Canada
Bill Whatcott Heads To The Supreme Court
Bill Whatcott, Canada’s most strangely obsessed anti-gay activist, will soon be the subject of quizzical contemplation by Canada’s highest court.
Whatcott was fined nearly a decade ago after distributing hateful, anti-gay fliers in Saskatchewan, but won an appeals court ruling in February on the grounds that distributing fliers is part of his freedom of expression.
The fliers really weren’t very nice. “Our children,” one pamphlet reads in part, “will pay the price in disease, death, abuse and ultimately eternal judgement if we do not say no to the sodmoite desire to socialize your children into accepting something that is clearly wrong.”
“Sodomites,” another read, “are 430 times more likely to acquire AIDS and three times more likely to sexually abuse children.”
It should go without saying that all the pamphlets were really, really, really wrong—factually and morally. So, unhappy with the appeals court ruling, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Comission asked the Supreme Court to visit the case, and they agreed.
Now, having the same level of legal understanding as… let’s say a massive, multinational corporation, I remain utterly clueless as to what the Supreme Court will find. Personally, I feel that freedom of expression is an important right, but I don’t think that necessarily means you can go around making all sorts of wacky, unfounded accusations that gay people are bringing about the children apocalypse. Sounds a lot like slandering an entire minority to me, and I hope that’s what Canada’s provisions against inciting hatred are meant to prohibit.
One thing’s pretty clear to me, though. This guy is gay-obsessed. I mean, I’m actually gay and I still don’t have as much gay-on-the-brain as this guy. Off the top of my head: In addition to crafting and distributing hysterically nutty pamphlets, Whatcott once lead Regina’s Gay Pride parade with anti-gay signage, picketted outside private Planned Parenthood clinics declaring the workers there to be “disseminators of AIDS,” and even ran for mayor of Edmonton with a completely anti-gay platform. “As your mayor,” his official platform opened, “Bill Whatcott is committed to protecting Edmontonians from homofascism.”
Right. Well, here’s hoping the Supreme Court will protect us from whatcottcrazyism!
Supreme Court To Rule on Gay Partner’s Pension
Remember George Hislop? He’s involved in a lengthy court battle to get same-sex survivor’s benefits. And he’s dead.
Sadly, Hislop died in October 2005 while waiting for the supreme court’s decision. But luckily for him, the final ruling is coming tomorrow! At last! Uh, not that there’s much he could do with his partner’s pension if it’s awarded now. A good tombstone polishing, maybe.
Incidentally, our beloved federal government is the party fighting the case, arguing that the elderly surviving partners of gay relationships should not be awarded their partner’s pensions retroactively. After all, it’s not like gay people have ever paid money into the Canada Pension Plan. Oh—wait…
Pension Battle Goes To Supreme Court
Think you can be too old for a lengthy court battle? Think again! George Hislop’s class-action suit to receive same-sex survivor benefits will face the Supreme Court of Canada tomorrow. The kicker? If Hislop gets to keep his partner’s pension, he won’t be able to enjoy it; he died in October at 78.
To make matters even more interesting, the federal government is actually fighting the deceased’s cause, saying it could set a precedent and cost taxpayers $80,000,000 or more. This is, of course, glossing over the fact that this figure (hmm… heavily inflated, you think?) was pretty much paid for by the same-sex couples themselves, through years and years of payments into the Canada Pension Plan. You know, because they just loved paying money into plans that only heterosexuals can benefit from.
Luckily, Doug Elliot, the lawyer representing Hislop, is painting a more realistic picture for the misguided feddies.
There would be no significant impact on the CPP—no increase in premiums or on benefits paid to anyone else. But the extra monthly support would make a huge difference for several claimants who desperately need it.
Well, a huge difference to the non-deceased claimants, at least. Although, I guess the estates of the others could always decorate up their headstones a little…
- Epic battle brewing for same-sex survivor benefits [Globe and Mail]
- Gay rights pioneer’s fight continues after death [CTV News]
