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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDear OCLA Supporter,
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This email is to give you an update on the Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA)\u2019s work in the surreal year of 2020. We hope to stay connected with you and work together to resist and reverse the rapid degradation of civil rights currently occurring in Canada. OCLA\u2019s opposition to mandatory face mask policies<\/strong> OCLA\u2019s submission on new online hate speech law<\/strong> What you can do<\/strong> How to stay connected and donate to OCLA<\/strong> OCLA is an independent, volunteer-run organization. Donations help cover operating costs such as booking rooms for public events, printing promotional material for campaigns and events, and paying for court filing fees and court document production costs (copies and binding) for court and tribunal interventions on civil liberties issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we are an entirely volunteer-run organization with a very small budget, we do depend on donations to continue our work, and appreciate any contribution you can make. 3) By sending a cheque to \u201cOntario Civil Liberties Association\u201d to our mailing address: Yours truly,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joseph Hickey, PhD Dear OCLA Supporter, This email is to give you an update on the Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA)\u2019s work in the surreal year of 2020. We hope to stay connected with you and work together to resist and reverse the … Continue reading
OCLA report \u201cCriticism of Government Response to COVID-19 in Canada\u201d<\/strong>
In April, we published a research report<\/a> authored by OCLA researcher Dr. Denis Rancourt, criticizing the government\u2019s actions during the spring lockdown. The Abstract of the report reads as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We review the scientific literature about general-population lockdown and social-distancing measures, which is relevant to mitigation policy in Canada. Federal and provincial Canadian government responses to and communications about COVID-19 have been irresponsible. The latest research implies that the government interventions to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d risk causing significant additional cumulative COVID-19 deaths, due to seasonal driving of transmissibility and delayed societal immunity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denis has written several research and review articles on COVID-19, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>OCLA continues to oppose the arbitrary and draconian imposition of face masks on the general population. Our interventions in 2020 are documented at the following links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July 2020, civil liberties associations were invited by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to participate in consultations to \u201cinform the development of legal remedies for victims of online hate\u201d.
OCLA has previously argued that the \u201chate speech\u201d provisions of Canada\u2019s Criminal Code<\/em> are unconstitutional and in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights<\/em>, and we reiterated this argument in our submission<\/a> for the July 2020 consultations, as well as critiquing the Minister\u2019s specific proposed additions to Canada\u2019s hate speech laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defending free speech of Ontario medical doctor Dr. Kulvinder Gill<\/strong>
In August, OCLA asked Dr. Brenda Copps, President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), to dismiss the CPSO\u2019s investigations of tweets made by Ontario medical doctor Dr. Kulvinder Gill that are critical of COVID-19 policy and practices. The letter can be read here: https:\/\/ocla.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/2020-08-11-OCLA-letter-to-CPSO-President.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internet censorship<\/strong>
\u201cBlocking YouTube channels and banning books on Amazon are akin to requiring government authorisation to operate a printing press or to buy a photocopier or pen and paper. Only the technology and the administrative covering structures have changed. Establishment censorship is establishment censorship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The above quote is from OCLA\u2019s statement<\/a> opposing Amazon\u2019s deplatforming of Ezra Levant\u2019s book China Virus: How Justin Trudeau\u2019s Pro-Communist Ideology is Putting Canadians in danger<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We, like many other organizations and individuals, have also been affected by social media censorship. In July, our Facebook group was disappeared<\/a> and then reappeared 24 hours later. Many posts in the group are now being arbitrarily removed by Facebook. As a backup in the event that Facebook deletes our group, OCLA maintains an alternative group at MeWe<\/a>. However, our email list remains the best and most secure way to stay connected with us.
Media coverage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for being a valued contact for OCLA. Here are some suggestions for what you can do to help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Website: https:\/\/ocla.ca<\/a>
Twitter: @oncivlib
Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/110883345731728\/<\/a>
MeWe: https:\/\/mewe.com\/group\/5f282c504c45c17d75d6ace4<\/a>
YouTube: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCKqbht2j2BPu4Wb2epM4BKw<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donations can be made in three ways:
1) Through PayPal, by clicking the \u201cDonate\u201d button in the top-right corner of https:\/\/ocla.ca<\/a>;
2) With cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and other options) at the link here<\/a>; or<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ontario Civil Liberties Association
170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 603
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1P 5V5<\/em>OCLA is not affiliated with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) or the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA). All three associations are separate and distinct.
Thank you for your support!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Executive DirectorOntario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA) http:\/\/ocla.ca<\/a>
613-252-6148 (c)
joseph.hickey@ocla.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"