Oh, those wacky Canadians! Our cousins to the north have never enjoyed some of the constitutional protections we have here — most notably, the First and Second Amendments that just don't apply north of the border. The Great White North doesn't recognize any right to bear arms, and they only seem to have a nodding acquaintance with freedom of expression.
Now, as a reminder of that, the Canadian Parliament is considering a piece of legislation that would outlaw speaking in a manner that the Canadian government (of course) would construe as "promoting" fossil fuel use. Yes, really.
If there ever were a sign that Canada has gone cuckoo, it has to be a bill introduced in Parliament that would censor speech about fossil fuel. No, we’re not joking, though we hope the bill’s author is. We fear, however, he isn’t.
One Charlie Angus, a New Democratic Party member of the House of Commons from Timmins–James Bay in Ontario, has brought before that chamber Bill C-372. It clearly states that “it is prohibited for a person to promote a fossil fuel, a fossil fuel-related brand element or the production of a fossil fuel except as authorized by the provisions of this Act or of the regulations.”
Under the legislation, it is further “prohibited for a person to promote a fossil fuel or the production of a fossil fuel … in a manner that states or suggests that a fossil fuel or the practices of a producer or of the fossil fuel industry would lead to positive outcomes in relation to the environment, the health of Canadians, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples or the Canadian or global economy; or … by using terms, expressions, logos, symbols or illustrations that are prohibited by the regulations.”
Does “nuts” adequately describe the thinking behind this bill? It is most certainly outrageous.
This isn't, of course, the first bit of nutballery we've seen from the Great White North recently — but this Charlie Angus is a member of the House of Commons, not just a random (literal) tree-hugger, and the speech he proposes to outlaw comes from people who are trying to preserve Canada's modern, technological way of life.
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And the punishments involved in this proposed legislation aren't anything to sneeze at:
If we read the Canadian version of English correctly, merely pointing out the indisputable fact that civilization would break down without fossil fuels would be a lawbreaking offense. So would arguing that vehicles with internal combustion engines are better for the environment than trendy electric vehicles, or pointing out that natural gas is a cheaper, more reliable source of energy than wind and solar.
The punishment depends on which provisions are violated, with the most punitive corrective measures being $1.5 million fines and two-year prison terms.
Holy back-bacon! This hoser really means it.
Canada, of course, has its origins in the British Empire, and European (Western) law has at least paid lip service to free speech since the Magna Carta. While Canada lacks our explicit First Amendment, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in Section 2(b), states:
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
b. freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.
"Freedom of expression" and "freedom of the press" would seem to cover expressing an opinion about the use of fossil fuels, wouldn't they?
Under the disastrous rule of Justin Trudeau, Canada has been creeping ever closer to totalitarianism. To be sure, he's suffered a setback or two, but the arc of his governing philosophy is pretty plainly aimed at Canadians having less and less freedom — of speech, of movement, of all sorts of things.
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This piece of proposed legislation would appear to be doomed — I mean, it has to be, right? But this threat isn't limited to Canada; make no mistake about it, there are people right here in the United States who are more than willing to toss the First Amendment (along with a bunch of others) in the trash — just watch the left and what they call "misinformation."
In other words: Don't think for a moment they won't try it here, because they already are.
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The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. With any luck, the Canadian Parliament will spew this proposed law out of their mouths, but if perchance it should pass, brace yourselves — American leftists will view it not as a precaution but as a road map.
This seems appropriate.
