Information bulletin - Anti-SLAPP Bill: the mobilisations continues!

For the adoption of a bill before the end of the parliamentary session (June 2009).
Where : At the Montreal Courthouse. 1, rue Notre-Dame Est (Place d’Armes metro).
When? Thursday, March 5th at 11:00 am.
Come with a muzzle or gag to symbolize the effects of SLAPP lawsuits on freedom of expression!

Montréal, March 2nd 2009

Les Éditions Écosociété and the authors of Noir Canada: Pillage, corruption et criminalité en Afrique, are still in the midst of a “defamation” lawsuit against multinationals Barrick Gold and Banro, who together are claiming amounts totalling $11 million. The defendants believe that lively public debate is necessary in a democracy if we are to consider important ethical issues of international policy, and they consider these lawsuits to be an attack against freedom of expression and the public’s right to information.

March 5th at 11am : Muzzled Before the Courthouse!

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) are a serious threat to freedom of expression and weaken public debate. The MacDonald Report submitted to the Minister of Justice defines SLAPP lawsuits as “[translation] the practice by companies or institutions of resorting to the courts with the aim of neutralizing or censuring individuals, social groups or collectives who publicly denounce their activities. These practices essentially aim to force these individuals or collectives to limit their public activities, or to censure their declarations by involving them in costly judicial proceedings for which they may generally not shoulder the cost. It is a form of judicial intimidation.” (Les poursuites stratégiques contre la mobilisation publique – les poursuites - bâillons (SLAPP) Rapport du comité au ministre de la Justice, Montréal, le 15 mars 2007, http://www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/FRANCAIS/publications/rapports/pdf/slapp.p...).

Since the formation of the new Liberal government, we have obtained no precise information as to the intentions of the Minister of Justice. An anti-SLAPP bill was presented during the last session of the legislature, will Madame Weil let it die?

On Thursday, March 5th, at 11:00 am, we will stage a demonstration in front of the Montreal Courthouse. We want to remind Madame Weil that there is a large consensus in Québec in favour of adopting an effective law against SLAPP lawsuits.

We ask the government to respect its engagements and to adopt an effective law before June 2009.

A strong image is worth a thousand words: come with the most original muzzle or gag that you can find!

To organisations: we will submit a list of organizations that support our actions to the media. Thank you form confirming your support and/or your presence with Anne-Marie Voisard : amvoisard@ecosociete.org. You may also come with your own banners.

Thank you for circulating this message as widely as possible. COME IN GREAT NUMBERS!
We hope that this mobilisation will be the last before the Bill is adopted.

When will the Canadian government respond?

Voices continue to demand that the Canadian government put in place the necessary legal mechanisms to frame the activities of mineral extraction companies registered on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Canadians are concerned because they often find themselves to be generously financing these companies via their RRSP’s, mutual funds and pensions funds.

This February 4th, Bloc québecois MP from Saint-Hyacinthe, Mrs. Éve-Marie Thaï Thi Lac, intervened in the House of Commons to press the Canadian government to act quickly on the report of the consultation group, submitted in March 2007, concerning the “Tables rondes nationales sur les responsabilités sociales de l’extraction minière dans les pays en développement” (Source : http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/desautels/05022009/114587.shtml ). The principal recommendation of this report was the creation of an ombudsman charged with following up on complaints against environmentally and socially irresponsible behaviour and human rights violations. Until now, this report has been ignored by the Canadian government.

Guy Taillefer suggested, in the February 5th edition of Le Devoir, that Canada would do well to learn from Norway when it comes to ethical responsibility. Norway has just excluded Barrick Gold (the largest gold mining company in the world) form its State investment fund because of “[translation] the company’s lack of openness and transparency regarding environmental matters” and activities that entail “[translation] an unacceptable risk of major and irreversible environmental damage” (the article can be accessed at: http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/02/05/231640.html).

An association of Congolese people now residing in Canada, Les enfants du Congo, is calling for the establishment of an independent inquiry commission that would study the actions of mining companies and other Canadian institutions operating in Congo since 1966 (a petition is available online: http://www.enfantsducongo.com/petition.html). Les enfants du Congo are concerned that Canadian companies may play a role in the pillaging of Congolese natural resources, while still exacerbating and financing the conflict that has been ravaging the country for more than a decade.

As for the authors of Noir Canada – sued in defamation by gold giants Barrick Gold and Barno for an amount totalling $11 million – they continue to believe that the documents cited in their book justify the establishment of an independent inquiry commission by the Canadian government, such that the controversial activities of Canadian companies in Africa may be examined.

Delphine Abadie, Alain Deneault and William Sacher have also published in Le Monde diplomatique, an article on this issue: http://slapp.ecosociete.org/fr/node/14386.

Alian Deneault published in this past February’s Alternatives an article on the kidnapping of Canadian diplomats Fowler and Guay in Niger: http://www.alternatives.ca/article4441.html.

William Sacher also wrote in the March edition of Alternatives an article on the parallels between mining exploitation in Abitibi and in Africa: http://www.alternatives.ca/article4556.html.

To Support Us

Les Éditions Écosociété continue to call upon your help to protect freedom of speech in public debate. You can make a donation to Les Éditions Écosociété via their website http://slapp.ecosociete.org or by sending a check to the following address:

Les Éditions Écosociété
C.P. 32052, Comptoir Saint-André
Montréal (Québec) H2L 4Y5

You may also:

1- Circulate this bulletin as widely as possible by sending it to all your contacts and inviting them to sign the support petition at: http://slapp.ecosociete.org/fr/node/add/signature.

2- Buy the book Noir Canada: http://www.ecosociete.org/outrouverlivres.php.

3- Come in great numbers to the demonstration on March 5th, at 11am, in front of the Montréal Courthouse, to demand the passing of anti-SLAPP legislation.

Éditions Écosociété
C.P. 32052, Comptoir Saint-André
Montréal (Québec) H2L 4Y5
Phone: (514) 521-0913
Fax: (514) 521-1283
Email: amvoisard@ecosociete.org