FREEDOMCURRENT CENSORSHIPTOREAD ISSUES IN CANADA BOOK AND PERIODICAL COUNCIL 2016 volume 32 Alvin M. Schrader Champion of Access and Inclusion in Our Libraries

Your Rights at Risk Emerging The Chilling Effect Narratives of Surveillance Indigenous Stories of Resistance and Mapping Reconciliation Censorship Monitoring A Fine Balance Challenges to Editorial Cartoonists Free Expression Draw from Experience

In the Confessions of Newsroom a Media Critic Journalists Adapt In Conversation to the Digital Age with Canadaland’s Jesse Brown

PLUS ISSN 1711-9367 Get Involved Book I never had a book get angry or yell at me, never had a book show disappointment in me or consider me stupid because I didn’t understand a line or needed to reread a paragraph or didn’t know a word, never had a book mock me or look down on me, never had a book turn its back on me or slap me in the face or fire me from reading it or decide it was in love with a faster, more intelligent, handsomer reader, I never even had a book get bored with me, or question my logic, I never had a book look suddenly crestfallen because I shut it and left it on its own, I’ve never met a book too shy to come into the bathroom with me or under the covers, I never met a book that refused to read me to sleep.

Mark Frutkin Hermit Thrush (Quattro Books, 2015) FREEDOMTOREAD2016

S 2015 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, MANY in their annual survey of challenged publications. Canadians are wondering about the And writer Charles Montpetit delves into another changes a new federal government type of challenge to books in Quebec. will bring. In particular, what Elise Moser tells us about PEN Canada’s changes lie ahead for many of the new Censorship Tracker, Tom Henheffer talks with freeA expression issues that have preoccupied us for rebel journalist Jesse Brown, John Degen explores the last few years such as the muzzling of federal copyright infringement, and Donald Lynch writes government scientists, the closing of federal about controversial books from our past. archives and libraries, surveillance and privacy, There’s much more to discover inside. Enjoy! copyright law in the context of trade agreements —Jaclyn Law and Julie Payne, Co-editors like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, access to information and government transparency? Lacking a crystal ball, we can’t predict whether these changes will be positive or negative, inspiring or disappointing. But it is a good time to take stock. What is the state of free expression in Canada? What are our most pressing concerns? Freedom to Read (FtR) 2016 takes a look. Former FtR editor Elizabeth Raymer returns with an analysis of the murky world of state surveillance and the impact that the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 could have on Canadians’ right to privacy. Paul Weinberg writes about Canadian cartoonists, censorship and self-censorship. We are thrilled to welcome back 'Cúagilákv/ Jess Housty, the free expression champion featured in FtR 2014. Change is at the heart of her story about the devastating effects of censorship on indigenous culture. This year’s champion of free expression is librarian and educator Alvin M. Schrader. Our feature interview with him is a poignant reminder of how our best librarians are also some of our staunchest defenders of free expression. Schrader is also a contributor to this issue. He and Donna Bowman describe the many reasons people want to censor or restrict access to books Book and Periodical Council THE BOOK AND PERIODICAL COUNCIL (BPC) THANKS THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF FREEDOM TO READ WEEK 2016: Celebrating 40 Years

Canadian Library Association

THE BPC ALSO THANKS ITS MEMBERS AND THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND IN-KIND DONATIONS:

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THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE CONTRIBUTED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY PRODUCING THE REVIEW AND POSTER AND MAINTAINING THE WEBSITE: NICOLE BREWER, FRANKLIN CARTER, JACLYN LAW, ANNE MCCLELLAND, SCOTT MITCHELL, MARG ANNE MORRISON, JULIE PAYNE, REVA POMER AND SANDRA RICHMOND. THE BPC, ALONG WITH THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION COMMITTEE, THANKS ALL WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, FACT CHECKERS AND ILLUSTRATORS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 2016 FREEDOM TO READ REVIEW AND POSTER. SPECIAL THANKS GO TO JIM BRONSKILL, JESSE BROWN, BARBARA KLUNDER, JAMIE LEDUC, DAVID MCKIE, JIM POLING AND BRIAN MACLEOD ROGERS.

© Book and Periodical Council 2015 Please send your comments and ideas No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any for future issues of Freedom to Read form or by any means without prior written permission of the Book and Periodical Council or, in to the Book and Periodical Council, the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Suite 107, 192 Spadina Avenue, Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C2. Please credit the Book and Periodical Council on any copies of review materials. T: (416) 975-9366 F: (416) 975-1839 The opinions expressed in Freedom to Read 2016 do not necessarily reflect the official views E-mail: [email protected] of the Book and Periodical Council or its member associations. ISSN 1711-9367 Visit freedomtoread.ca for more information.

 ™ reva pomer design Contents 2016 FREEDOMTOREAD CO-EDITORS Jaclyn Law & Julie Payne CONSULTING EDITOR Franklin Carter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Reva Pomer POSTER ILLUSTRATION Barbara Klunder EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BPC Anne McClelland CONTRIBUTORS Angela Aguila, Donna Bowman, Nicole From left: Shene Catholique-Valpy, Alvin M. Schrader and Jesse Brown Brewer, Franklin Carter, John Degen, Tom Henheffer, 'Cúagilákv/Jess Housty, 5 NewsBytes 26 Freedom to Read v. Political Don Lynch, Anne McClelland, Hilary By Franklin Carter Correctness: Should Anyone McLaughlin, Charles Montpetit, Elise Dictate What You Can Read? Moser, Julie Payne, Ellina Pe Benito, Perspectives By Donald Lynch Reva Pomer, Jason Proctor, Elizabeth 8 Word Warrior: Alvin M. Schrader 28 Tracking Down Censorship Raymer, Alvin M. Schrader, Caitlin By Julie Payne By Elise Moser Smith, Laura Tribe, Paul Weinberg 11 Three Free Expression 29 Library Challenges from A to Z: FACT CHECKERS Organizations You Should Know Results of the 2014 Survey of Kisha Ferguson, Lisa Hannam, By Caitlin Smith Challenges to Resources and Jason Proctor, Jay Smith 12 The Language and Stories Policies in Canadian Libraries FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION COMMITTEE of Reconciliation By Alvin M. Schrader Vickery Bowles, Ron Brown, Franklin By 'Cúagilákv/Jess Housty and Donna Bowman Carter, Cailin Cooper, Sandy Crawley, 14 Where to Draw the Line: Brendan de Caires, Teri Degler, Brianne 31 Book Profiles: Censorship and Self-Censorship Your Right to Know DiAngelo, Kate Edwards, Amanda in Canadian Newspaper Reviewed by Hilary McLaughlin Hopkins, Camilia Kahrizi, Bianca Editorial Cartooning Lakoseljac, Mark Leiren-Young, Anne The Tyranny of Silence By Paul Weinberg Reviewed by Franklin Carter McClelland, Heather Menzies, Marg Anne Morrison (chair), Lauren Perruzza, Reva 16 Off Limits: Who Decides What Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy Pomer, Alvin M. Schrader, Becky Toyne Kids and Teens Get to Read? Reviewed by Laura Tribe By Nicole Brewer 33 2015 Free Expression Awards 17 Meanwhile in Quebec... Warning: Controversial Get Involved By Charles Montpetit 35 We Go Behind the Scenes at 19 Charter of Readers’ Rights The Hamilton Spectator and Freedoms By Julie Payne By Jason Proctor 37 Challenged Books and Magazines 20 Understanding Canadian 38 What You Need to Know Defamation Law to Get What You Need: By Nicole Brewer and Reva Pomer Access to Information 22 Is Canada Becoming a Surveillance State? 39 Test Your Free Expression By Elizabeth Raymer Knowledge By Julie Payne Front Lines 40 Comic 24 Should We Also Have the By Ellina Pe Benito Freedom NOT to Speak? and Angela Aguila By John Degen 40 Word-Search Puzzle 25 Canadaland’s Jesse Brown Illustration: Barbara Klunder 2015 By Tom Henheffer

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 3 POSITION STATEMENT thebpc FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM TO READ BOOK AND PERIODICAL COUNCIL A statement of the basic tenets of the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council The Book and Periodical Council (BPC) is the umbrella organization for Canadian associations that are or whose members are primarily involved “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms . . . with the writing, editing, translating, publishing, producing, distributing, lending, marketing, thought, belief, opinion, and expression.” reading and selling of written words. —Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

MEMBERS 2015–16 Freedom of expression is a fundamental right of all Canadians, and freedom to read Access Copyright is part of that precious heritage. Our Committee, representing member organizations Alberta Magazine Publishers Association and associations of the Book and Periodical Council, reaffirms its support of this Association of Book Publishers of British vital principle and opposes all efforts to suppress writing and silence writers. Words Columbia and images in their myriad configurations are the substance of free expression. Association of Canadian Publishers The freedom to choose what we read does not, however, include the freedom to Association of Manitoba Book Publishers choose for others. We accept that courts alone have the authority to restrict reading BookNet Canada material, a prerogative that cannot be delegated or appropriated. Prior restraint Book Publishers Association of Alberta demeans individual responsibility; it is anathema to freedom and democracy. Canadian Authors Association As writers, editors, publishers, book manufacturers, distributors, retailers and Canadian Children’s Book Centre librarians, we abhor arbitrary interpretations of the law and other attempts to limit Canadian Copyright Institute freedom of expression. Canadian Library Association We recognize court judgements; otherwise, we oppose the detention, seizure, Canadian Publishers’ Council destruction or banning of books and periodicals—indeed, any effort to deny, repress Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers or sanitize. Censorship does not protect society; it smothers creativity and precludes Editors Canada open debate of controversial issues. League of Canadian Poets Endorsed by the Book and Periodical Council Literary Press Group of Canada February 5, 1997 Magazines Canada National Reading Campaign Ontario Book Publishers Organization Bienvenue aux francophones! Ontario Library Association Dans notre site Internet, vous trouverez une compilation PEN Canada de plus de 150 auteur‑es francophones ou documents Periodical Marketers of Canada gdisponibles en français qui ont été l’objet d’attaques The Word on the Street depuis 1930 au Canada. L’écrivain Charles Montpetit, lui-même The Writers’ Union of Canada frappé de plusieurs interdictions, relate les circonstances entourant Writers’ Trust of Canada chacun des cas, et invite le public à lui en signaler d’autres en AFFILIATES prévision de futures mises à jour. Accompass www.freedomtoread.ca/censorship-in-canada/index Calyx Ground Transportation Solutions Canpar Courier Fraser Direct Distribution Services Ltd. Marquis Book Printing To Order Reviews and Posters The Georgetown Group Ltd. The Freedom to Read kit (review plus folded poster) may be ordered from the Book and Periodical Council for $16.50 plus shipping, Universal Logistics Inc. handling and HST. Orders for 10 kits or more, shipped to a single Webcom Inc. address, receive a 20 per cent discount and may be accompanied BPC EXECUTIVE by a purchase order. Flat, rolled, full-colour posters are available for $10.00 plus shipping, handling and HST (GST/HST#R106801889). Chair: Stephanie Fysh All orders are non-refundable. Vice Chair: Sheila Barry Book and Periodical Council Past Chair: Anita Purcell 192 Spadina Avenue, Suite 107, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C2 Treasurer: Marg Anne Morrison T: (416) 975-9366 | F: (416) 975-1839 | E-mail: [email protected] freedomtoread.ca | theBPC.ca | @Freedom_to_Read BPC STAFF facebook.com/FreedomToReadWeek  Executive Director: Anne McClelland

4 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 newsbytes By Franklin Carter Canada

Ontario Moves to Curtail Censorious Lawsuits Ontario’s legislature passed a bill that is intended to better protect freedom of expression on public issues. The Protection of Public Participation Act passed third reading in the legislature on October 28, 2015. The bill seeks to deter plaintiffs from filing meritless lawsuits (also known as SLAPPs or strategic litigation against public participation) in the courts. The lawsuits, which are time consuming and expensive, are intended to deter people from publicly expressing views Mohamed Fahmy. Photo by Alix Buck. Photo courtesy of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression that displease plaintiffs. erosion of freedom of expression in working for Al Jazeera English in The legislation will authorize judges Canada,” said John Ralston Saul. Egypt, Fahmy and his two colleagues to quickly identify and dismiss these In a document named Free Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste meritless lawsuits. Expression in Canada, PEN were arrested. They were accused of “I am pleased to see our government International listed various threats, supporting the Muslim Brotherhood play a leading role in ending including legal restrictions on assem- —an organization banned in Egypt— litigation that stifles free speech,” bly, restricted access to government and undermining national security. said Madeleine Meilleur, the attorney information and increased govern- On June 23, 2014, all three were general of Ontario. “This law embodies ment surveillance of the people. convicted in court and sentenced the values of justice, fairness and PEN International called on Canada to prison terms. Outside Egypt, equality ... by allowing citizens to to “restore an environment in which organizations such as Canadian speak out on public issues without fear all citizens can exercise their right to Journalists for Free Expression of retribution.” freedom of expression without fear condemned the prisoners’ treatment. Only one other Canadian province— or repercussions, without which a Despite the outcry, Egyptian Quebec—has a similar law. democratic society is not possible.” President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi waited until September 23, 2015, to pardon and release Fahmy, Mohamed and 98 Threats to Canadian Freed Journalist Returns to other prisoners. Freedoms Alarm Writers Canada from Egypt Greste, who was released earlier, PEN International has accused After spending almost 21 months in returned to Australia in February 2015. Canadian authorities of undermining Egyptian captivity, Mohamed Fadel freedom of expression, freedom of Fahmy returned to Canada on October assembly and access to information. 11, 2015. Quebec Minister Promises The writers’ organization published Fahmy, a Canadian citizen who New Hate-Speech Bill the accusation on October 13, worked as a journalist for Qatar’s Al On September 23, 2015, Stéphanie 2015, the first day of the 81st PEN Jazeera English network, arrived in Vallée, Quebec’s minister of justice, International Congress in Quebec Toronto with his wife, Marwa Omara. promised to redraft Bill 59, a City. Approximately 250 writers “I felt humbled and safe seeing controversial bundle of measures and intellectuals from 73 countries the kind and heartfelt vibes from the designed to curtail hate speech. attended the four-day event. police officers and security at the Vallée, who introduced the bill in “Much as it pains me as a Canadian, airport,” Fahmy told the Associated June 2015, said that it could hinder I am obliged as international president Press. “I felt lots of warmth and love.” free expression and needed revision. to underline our concerns about the On December 29, 2013, while NEWSBYTES CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 5 NEWSBYTES

NEWSBYTES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Brazeau, Duffy and Harb (who is which represents 15,000 federal She made the announcement on the no longer a senator) face charges of scientists, charged the federal final day of public hearings about the fraud and breach of trust. The RCMP Conservative government with bill. investigated Wallin over her expense attacking science libraries. Quebecers aired their opinions claims but laid no charges. On August 21, PIPSC said that the about Bill 59 in nine public hearings Lethbridge Research Centre’s library was the sixteenth federally funded between August 17 and September Anti-abortion Flyers 23. Some people feared that the bill’s science library to be “lost” because of vague definition of hate speech could Delivered to Saskatoon funding cuts, collection consolidations lead to a ban on criticism of religion. Homes and closings since 2012. Vallée and Premier Philippe In Saskatoon, Canada Post and the But Patrick Girard, a spokesman Couillard denied that Bill 59 aimed to Canadian Union of Postal Workers for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, ban criticism or mockery of religion. Local 824 ended a dispute over the said nothing “of business value” would Quebec’s human rights commission delivery of flyers that depicted Justin be lost. could gain the power to investigate Trudeau and an aborted fetus. “The Government of Canada is instances of hate speech, and offenders Canada Post and the union agreed modernizing the delivery of library could be fined thousands of dollars. But on August 6, 2015, to deliver the flyers services by moving toward a digital Vallée pledged to abolish a proposal to to people’s homes. service delivery model,” he said in an name offenders on a website. The flyers were produced by the e-mail to CBC News. “This will allow Bill 59 also proposed to outlaw Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical for easier and cost-efficient ... access forced marriages for 16- and 17-year- Reform. Stuffed inside unsealed to library resources by employees, no olds and “honour” crimes. envelopes, they attacked Trudeau’s matter their location.” support for women’s reproductive The library closed in August. choice. Dispute over Secret Records A few postal workers had objected to Headed to Court the graphic image of the aborted fetus International Canada’s information commissioner and had refused to deliver the flyers. filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against But Canada Post said delivery was European Parliament the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on required. September 11, 2015. “We do not have the legal right to Honours Saudi Blogger Suzanne Legault wants the court refuse delivery of a mail item because The European Parliament awarded to order the PMO to release records we or other people object to its the 2015 Sakharov Prize for Freedom about four senators entangled in a content,” said Matt Ziebarth, a delivery of Thought to Raif Badawi, a Saudi public expense scandal. She was acting manager in Saskatoon. “Anyone who blogger imprisoned in Jeddah, Saudi on a complaint that was filed by the has concerns about the content should Arabia. Canadian Press, an independent news either contact the publisher or simply Martin Schulz, the president of the agency. dispose of it.” European Parliament, announced the In August 2013, the Canadian Press The objecting postal workers were award on October 29, 2015, during sent an access-to-information request excused from the task. Colleagues an assembly in Strasbourg, France. to the Privy Council Office (PCO), the delivered the flyers. A standing ovation greeted the bureau that serves the prime minister announcement. and his cabinet. The Canadian Press In 2008, Badawi launched Free was investigating senators Patrick Alberta Science Library Saudi Liberals, an online forum about Brazeau, Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Emptied and Closed politics and religion. He was arrested Pamela Wallin. In August 2015, Agriculture and in 2012 and later fined and sentenced However, the PCO withheld 27 of 28 Agri-Food Canada purged the science to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes pages of information. The PCO said library in the Lethbridge Research for criticizing the religious practices that every word on those 27 pages Centre of unwanted books, reports and and clerics in his country. should remain secret for legal reasons. journals. In January 2015, Badawi received The Canadian Press then When photographs of discarded his first 50 lashes. An international complained to the information publications in an outdoor Dumpster outcry prompted Saudi authorities to commissioner. Finding the complaint appeared in the news media, the purge postpone the rest of the lashings. had merit, Legault asked the PMO to sparked a dispute. Describing the punishment as release more information. The PMO The Professional Institute of the “brutal torture” and “one of the most refused to release most of the records. Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), gruesome penalties that exist,” Schulz

6 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 urged Saudi Arabia’s king to release behaviours” such as teenage sex and Badawi from prison and allow him to drug use, but the novel did “not in any join his wife in Canada. way promote them.” The author welcomed the lifting of the ban. “I am thrilled,” Dawe said. “It Indonesian Literary has restored my faith in New Zealand’s Festival Censored legal system.” Days before the Ubud Writers and Into the River tells the story of a Readers Festival opened on the Maori boy who faces racism and Indonesian island of Bali, local bullying at an elite school in Auckland. government officials ordered the In 2013, the novel won two children’s festival’s organizers to cancel book awards. scheduled events about the Indonesian In August 2015, Family First New massacres of 1965. Zealand asked the board to raise the The festival’s organizers had planned novel’s age restriction from 14 to 18. to mark the fiftieth anniversary of The conservative organization had the massacres with public talks, more than 480 letters from parents book launches, the screening who objected to the novel’s profane of a documentary film—Joshua language and depictions of drug use Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence— and sex. and a photography exhibit. But While reviewing the request, the organizers cancelled these events to Into the River by Ted Dawe. Cover photo by Jane Ridall. board put the ban in place. (Mangakino University Press, 2012) keep the festival open. expressed solidarity with the marchers Janet DeNeefe, the festival’s founder and belatedly condemned the murder British Library Rejects and director, said the government’s of Malleshappa Kalburgi, a scholar of Taliban Archive heavy-handedness had backfired. religious literature and a rationalist In the summer of 2015, the British “Even though the programs were thinker. Library rejected an offer to store a removed, everybody is talking about Kalburgi, 77, was shot to death at his collection of Taliban documents from it,” she said. “And that’s a good thing.” home in Dharwad, Karnataka State, on Afghanistan. The festival ran from October 28 to August 30, 2015. He was a recipient, in The documents included laws, November 1, 2015, and drew almost 2006, of one of the academy’s awards. edicts, newspapers, maps, poems and 30,000 visitors. The academy’s slowness to condemn transcripts of radio broadcasts. They In 1965, the Indonesian military Kalburgi’s murder, increasing dated back to the 1990s and had been launched a blood purge of censorship and violence against writers digitized and translated into English. communists, suspected communists, in India prompted more than 40 writers Library executives believed that intellectuals, civic leaders, Chinese to return their literary awards or write making the documents publicly Indonesians and others. At least letters of protest to the academy in available could violate Britain’s anti- 500,000 people died. September and October 2015. terrorism laws. Renowned writers Salman Rushdie The Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006 and Arundhati Roy expressed their prohibit the collection of documents Indian Writers March in support for the protest. that “could be used by a person Protest committing or preparing for an act In New Delhi, more than 40 writers Ban Removed on New of terrorism” and criminalize the and artists marched through the “circulation of terrorist publications.” streets on October 23, 2015, to protest Zealand Novel Alex Strick van Linschoten, one growing intolerance in India. In New Zealand, officials lifted a six- of three men who collected the They marched to the Sahitya week legal ban on a young-adult novel. documents in Afghanistan, expressed Akademi, India’s National Academy On October 14, 2015, the Film and surprise and disappointment at the of Letters. Many wore black gags and Literature Board of Review permitted library’s decision. armbands, and some carried banners. the sale and distribution of Ted Dawe’s “There’s no recipes for making When they arrived, the group urged Into the River. bombs or anything like that,” he said the academy to better protect freedom After reviewing it, the board said in August 2015. “These are documents of speech and the right to dissent. that the novel depicted “unacceptable, that would help people understand Later that day, the academy offensive and objectionable history.” ♞

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 7 SPOTLIGHT › CHAMPION OF FREE EXPRESSION Word Warrior

Alvin M. Schrader in Conversation with Julie Payne Tony Thai

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IN 2015, ALVIN M. SCHRADER marked the fortieth anniversary of the year that he embarked on his career as a librarian and educator. During those four decades, he has been a passionate advocate for the role of the library as a vehicle for free expression, an outspoken critic of Internet filtering and an ardent spokesperson for the inclusion of LGBTQ materials in library collections. Schrader is the co-author of Challenging Silence, Challenging Censorship: Inclusive Resources, Strategies and Policy Directives for Addressing Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Identified and Two-Spirited Realities in School and Public Libraries and author of Fear of Words: Censorship and the Public Libraries of Canada. Currently the chair of the Canadian Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Advisory Committee, Schrader has also been the organization’s president and has represented Canada at international free expression initiatives. In September 2015, Julie Payne talked with this year’s champion of free expression.

Q: Can you tell us about where you were born and raised? from 2007 to 2008. There were a number of issues: policy-level A: I was born in Bentley, Alberta, and grew up on a farm until changes at the federal government and changing funding grade 8. The nearby village must have been only 300 to 400 support; the library book rate (the special library rate for people, but I thought they were so slick and sophisticated. It shipping of books between libraries) under siege; and the was a happy childhood, though farm life tends to be a little struggles to maintain a national association surfacing and lonely. I was the oldest of three boys and was working—driving intensifying. the tractor—by age five. Q: Out of all your work on free expression, where do you Q: Why did you want to be a librarian? think you’ve made the most impact? A: After university, and after five years of managing office A: Hard to say. I hope I had an impact on more than one space for the Ontario Government, I landed on librarianship generation of librarians in their formative years of education as as a career, for one wrong reason and a couple of right reasons. professionals. My book Fear of Words is still referred to today. I wanted to get away from bureaucracy (wrong), have more of I’ve been an advocate. I’ve been an outspoken critic of Internet an intellectual life (right) and help people (right). filtering software programs and their exaggerated claims about protecting children. Q: What would you like Canadians to understand better One of my proudest achievements: we have a revised about the role of the librarian? intellectual freedom statement for the CLA. The last time it A: The role of the librarian in finding information for people. was reviewed was in 1985. With a large amount of input, our Librarians are the experts and they spend their days searching Intellectual Freedom Advisory Committee has spent the last for reliable information for people. Today, everyone thinks they year reviewing and redrafting it. It was unanimously approved are an expert searcher. But there is a broadening awareness of by the Executive Council in September 2015. The statement libraries as places of community connections. looks extremely different from the 1985 version and strongly It is puzzling and frustrating to me, but frequently references the Canadian Charter. encountered, that few people identify libraries as free Q: Can you tell me about your work on Fear of Words? expression vehicles, indeed, as even remotely connected to free expression. Certainly not to human rights. But this is our A: The book was based on research from the late ’80s, so a own failure, unfortunately. We do not make much effort to pre-electronic era. It’s the only national survey of the extent make the connection clear between free expression and the to which public libraries were subjected to pressure to censor central role of libraries in creating access to the world’s cultural or restrict access. The CLA does an annual national voluntary expression. There is a deep disjunction among libraries and survey, which was started by Dr. Toni Samek and which free expression, human rights and democracy. It should be I still work on with Donna Bowman. It is not nearly as part of our “brand” but something’s missing. comprehensive, though it does give us a bit of a barometer. Q: You are known for your work on Internet filtering, which Q: How are libraries adapting to the digital age? is something that most people don’t know much about. What A: I was surprised at the speed in which librarians embraced it, should Canadians know about Internet filtering? especially considering that in its early days it was very clunky A: In the same year, 1997, the CLA and the American Library in Conversation with Julie Payne technology. Alvin M. Schrader Association adopted policy statements on Internet filtering. Q: You were the president of the Canadian Library Association I drafted the one for CLA and it is overdue for another review. (CLA) and the Library Association of Alberta. What did that Tony Thai A lot has changed. work involve? What the Internet filtering software programs claim to do is A: At the CLA it was a steep learning curve. I was president WORD WARRIOR CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 9 SPOTLIGHT › CHAMPION OF FREE EXPRESSION

But they do not relieve educators or parents of supervision, particularly of younger children. Q: You have said, “I was born a criminal, and remained a criminal for 25 years.” Can you tell me about that? A: “Queers” were considered to be a prime national security risk. The state and all of its institutions had declared their hatred of me and made my very existence a crime against so-called nature. [I had] 36 more years of this outlaw existence before I was judged fit for full secular equality, full citizenship in Canada. I refer to two pieces of legislation: Bill C-150 in 1969, which amended the Criminal Code and decriminalized homosexuality, and then the Civil Marriage Act in 2005, which gave same-sex couples equal access to marriage. Q: You’ve written about including LGBTQ resources in collections. Have there been improvements over the years? A: Librarians reflected prevailing ideologies of the day and did not collect materials in these areas. Now they are getting much, much better. The Toronto Public Library is a world leader in this area. And there are some very courageous small libraries that support LGBTQ services and collections across Tony Thai Tony Canada. Lightning Round: Alvin M. Schrader Q: What books are on your bedside table? 1. Favourite word: “Compassion” A: I read children’s and young-adult books that are challenged, 2. Least favourite word: “War” so for many years my reading lists have been made up of those 3. A word you hope people would use to describe you: “Honest” titles. I just finished a wonderful memoir by Arsham Parsi, 4. A sound you love: “Water falling” Exiled for Love: The Journey of an Iranian Queer Activist. I’m 5. A sound you hate: “Motorcycles” also reading Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian, which is 6. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt: “Lawyer” outstanding. 7. What profession would you not like to do: “Police officer” Q: Any last thoughts? 8. What famous person from history would you invite to dinner: “John Milton” A: I want to acknowledge the support of my life partner of 23 9. Favourite place on earth: “Honolulu” years, Tony Thai, who has inspired me to sustain my advocacy 10. Favourite banned book: “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” for free expression, both by his encouragement of me and by his always present example as a boat-person refugee from WORD WARRIOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Vietnam who has lived and escaped the terror of repression protect children from offensive images/websites/information. and lawlessness. ♞ And it’s all automated. But this is an impossible task, to control human language at that micro level. Filters will always block some constitutionally protected speech. For instance, certain Alvin’s Accolades filters for sexually explicit information will block “breast 1997: Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in chicken” or “breast cancer” or any word with “sex” embedded Canada, presented by the Canadian Library Association (CLA) within. 1998–2004: Canadian representative to the Freedom of Access One of the most amusing examples was the story of U.S. to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee (FAIFE), politician Dick Armey, who was a great supporter of filtering. created by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Then he found out that his own website was being blocked. 1999–2000: Member of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Many of these Internet filtering companies are started by first Core Values Task Force at the invitation of the ALA president conservative people, some with religious ties. They embed 2001–02: Chair and member of the Internet Manifesto Work Team (IFLA) American ideologies and values, so sex is a huge no-no, 2009–present: Convenor of the CLA’s Intellectual Freedom Advisory violence not so much. You don’t even know what categories Committee they are blocking. For example, most of them have a category Since 2009: Professor emeritus, University of Alberta to block affirmative LGBTQ information. Some of them have 2013–present: Adjunct professor in the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, University of Alberta 20 or 40 categories that they block, and it’s very hard to find Author of Fear of Words (1995) and Challenging Silence, what categories some are blocking or what words they are Challenging Censorship (2007) using, because they consider those to be corporate secrets.

10 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 Free Expression Organizations HREE

T YOU SHOULD KNOW By Caitlin Smith KEY CONTRIBUTIONS: E4D’s research report Can Scientists In Canada, a few little-known organizations do amazing work Speak? assessed the media policies of 16 science-based federal to protect and promote free expression. The following three government departments and found that most departments deserve greater recognition for their contributions. do not protect open communication or adequately protect against political interference. E4D continues to raise awareness about the limitations on Ad IDEM / free speech for government scientists. Canadian Media Lawyers Association ON THE HORIZON: In 2015, the organization worked to make This national group of 120 media lawyers strives to protect sure that public-interest science and smart decision making and enhance free expression and open courts. They promote got the attention they deserved during the federal election better laws and policies. They intervene in court cases that campaign. involve defamation law, publication bans and the protection of journalists’ sources. LOCATION: President Christian Leblanc is in Montreal. Progressive Librarians Guild – Toronto Chapter MANDATE: “Defending freedom of expression is part of our (PLG) DNA and the foundation of our existence,” says Leblanc. This group is an alternative voice in the Canadian library WHAT MOTIVATED AD IDEM TO GET STARTED: When the community. It provides a forum for the open exchange of organization was founded in 1995, freedom of expression radical views on library issues. was not well protected. Ad IDEM’s co-founders—Brian LOCATION: Located in Toronto, this chapter is part of the U.S. Rogers, Daniel Henry and Marc-André Blanchard—wanted to Progressive Librarians Guild (PLG). Other Canadian chapters bring the issue to the forefront. exist in Edmonton and London. KEY CONTRIBUTIONS: Because of Ad IDEM’s work, some MANDATE: PLG chapters concern themselves with social provinces now have a notice system that informs the media justice and equality. They focus on the stewardship of of publication bans in effect. Leblanc says judges are better knowledge, champion open access to information and informed about journalists’ rights too. preserve common spaces. They are interested in freedom ON THE HORIZON: Protection of journalists’ sources is an of expression, attacks on Canadian heritage, freedom of important project. Ad IDEM also keeps abreast of other information, privacy, censorship, copyright and the increasing countries’ efforts to protect free expression and meets with corporate influence on libraries. similar groups every two years. WHAT MOTIVATED THE TORONTO CHAPTER TO GET STARTED: Some librarians were frustrated with the lack of progressive voices in traditional library associations, says member Jane Evidence for Democracy Schmidt. In Toronto, these librarians admired the work of (E4D) other PLG chapters, so they got together to organize. This four-year-old national organization promotes evidence- KEY CONTRIBUTION: The #freedaleaskey archive, a collection of based policy making and opposes the muzzling of government public statements, press releases and blog posts, was created scientists. after the publisher Herbert Richardson and the Edwin Mellen LOCATION: E4D is based in Ottawa. Press filed defamation lawsuits in Ontario against academic MANDATE: The organization promotes public-interest science librarian Dale Askey in June 2012. and the role of evidence in forming strong public policies. On a U.S. blog, Askey had criticized the quality of the WHAT MOTIVATED E4D TO GET STARTED: In recent years, company’s scholarly books. In 2013, the press discontinued government policies have increasingly eroded public science, its lawsuit. In 2015, Askey reported that his dispute with disregarded the best evidence and restricted government Richardson was settled. scientists’ ability to talk about their research with journalists In 2014, the Toronto Chapter won the Ontario Library and the public, says Dr. Katie Gibbs, the executive director. Association’s Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award for the Many research facilities, including the world-renowned #freedaleaskey collection. Experimental Lakes Area, have seen funding cuts and closures. ON THE HORIZON: Of major concern are the provisions of The science community, concerned about these trends, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015: the tracking of library patrons’ organized a large Death of Evidence rally on Parliament Hill in Internet usage, borrowing histories and privacy. ♞ Ottawa in July 2012. The organizers later formed E4D. Caitlin Smith is a fundraiser and writer in Toronto.

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 11 PERSPECTIVES

The LANGUAGE and STORIES of RECONCILIATION By 'Cúagilákv/Jess Housty be called a story of hope. I am only 29 years old, and mine is the first y name is 'Cúagilákv1, generation in my family in which no and I am also called child was forcibly taken away. Thus Jess Housty. I come we are reminded, Indigenous and from the Heiltsuk Settler Canadians alike, that the stories Nation,M whose homeland stretches of the painful past are not actually from the mainland of B.C.’s central so far in the past. And as we explore coast out into the open ocean. This the institutions, laws and policies is who I am, and in our tradition, the that made room for these historical story of the storyteller comes before atrocities, we begin to understand the storyteller’s story. Although the that those same mechanisms, largely story I am about to tell may be difficult unchanged, still exist today. The to read, be patient. It’s an important story of hope lies in changes to those one—and one that we share. institutions, laws and policies.    After all, telling stories is one thing. Extracting and applying their Before the country of Canada Linda Lavallee © 2015 teachings is another. As the question appeared, there was Indian Country. Architect Patrick Stewart was aptly posed by many after the Indigenous peoples spanned this ceremony illegal. Perhaps the most TRC’s conclusion, we’ve heard the continent: tribal territories, traplines devastating story is the story of truth. Are we ready to work for the and moccasin trails were written the residential school era, which is reconciliation? across the landscape. The stories of our remembered by a dark slogan: “Kill the peoples situated us in our respective Indian in the child.” It took the form of    geographies with a sense of identity an assault on the bodies and identities On April 23, 2015, Nisga'a Ph.D. that was intimately tied to the places of Indigenous children, beginning candidate Patrick Stewart defended his we came from—our homelands. After with the act of beating the children dissertation at the University of British first Settler contact, a different story for speaking their mother tongues. Columbia. What sets him apart from began to unfold. These stories remind us of all we have other Indigenous graduate students? What became the story of withstood as Indigenous people and His 52,438-word dissertation, titled Canada is fundamentally a story of remind us of our resilience. “Indigenous Architecture through injustice—a story controlled, first The survivors of this painful history Indigenous Knowledge,” eschews most and foremost, by Settler culture. For have been generous with their stories. punctuation, upper-case letters and generations, Indigenous people and Even though they are heavy ones, we even standard paragraphs. Stewart is Settler Canadians have been like have a responsibility to hear them quoted in the National Post describing characters in one another’s stories, and acknowledge them. We are aided his work as “a form of grammatical but they haven’t done the hard work of by processes such as the Truth and resistance.” building a common story. Instead, the Reconciliation Commission (TRC), The dissertation issues an important Canadian narrative has typically been which in June 2015 concluded a seven- challenge to the customary language one of Indigenous erasure while the year process that included hearing the of academia. Its expression mimics Indigenous narrative has been largely stories of survivors. Processes such as the oral quality of many Indigenous one of resistance and survival. the TRC have just begun translating tongues, and in his insistence that My grandparents’ generation still these stories into recommendations this form should be validated, Stewart tells stories about the Indian Agents that represent a way forward, not just has done important work to help who policed their movements on- and for Indigenous peoples but also for the shift institutional paradigms. The off-reserve. My parents’ generation Settlers with whom we now share this examining committee unanimously still tells stories of the Potlatch Ban, land. accepted his dissertation. which made the practice of Indigenous The story of my generation could First Settler contact, and everything

12 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 that followed, has radically changed nurture them toward resurgence. the way we (as Indigenous peoples in Languages shape our thoughts and Canada) speak and think. Conventions practices. That Indigenous languages of Western culture and language were explicitly targeted by the are very different from the ways of residential schools is a testament to knowing and speaking inherent to their power as the foundation of our the hundreds of unique Indigenous Indigenous identities and worldviews. cultures and languages across Canada. Indigenous change-makers such as Having grown up with English as Patrick Stewart, with their “acts of Courtesy of Northern News Services Ltd. my first language, I’ll never be able grammatical resistance,” use language to think in Heiltsuk the way my and storytelling as tools to leverage grandmother does, or even to think in long-overdue institutional shifts. And a mixed tongue the way my mother the mothers of the next generation, by does. positing the idea that our Indigenous And so a dissertation can become an languages have a critical place in the act of radical resistance. As Indigenous dialogue, remind us that reconciliation citizens, we are advancing ourselves can and must be multilingual. not by assimilating but by challenging SahaiɁa May (left) and Shene Catholique-Valpy    institutions to adapt to our ways of On February 15, 2014, Shene As these examples remind us, we all knowing, thinking and speaking. Our Catholique-Valpy, a Chipewyan woman have a deep responsibility to sit with ways of storykeeping and storytelling. in the Northwest Territories, gave birth the stories of this country. The truth of The challenges posed individually by to a baby girl. She named her SahaiɁa2, those stories is the only fertile ground people such as Stewart and collectively a Chipewyan word that means “when for a new, emerging narrative of by processes such as the TRC deeply the sun just peeks through.” But when Indigenous-Settler relations in Canada. reinforce the need for change, and Catholique-Valpy tried to register And the reconciliation comes when institutions are beginning to take her daughter with the government’s that narrative inspires us to action. notice. Following the TRC report, vital statistics department, she was We all have a role as storytellers and a Universities Canada—an umbrella informed that the glottal stop in her responsibility to make space for one group representing 97 universities baby’s name is not part of the Roman another’s stories. When the telling of across Canada—announced a plan alphabet; therefore, her baby could stories, the language of stories and that includes substantively rewriting not be registered. Though Chipewyan the culture of stories become a part curricula, increasing Indigenous is one of 11 official languages in the of our common practice, we enter a staffing at all levels and creating space N.W.T., Catholique-Valpy was forced to dynamic space in which, I believe, for meaningful dialogue—all with the alter the spelling of her child’s name so hope is present and transformation is aim of making academia an agent of the child could qualify for documents imminent. The story we are creating reconciliation. such as a territorial ID and health card. together, Indigenous and Settler Once upon a time, as some SahaiɁa and her mother are not people alike, is critical to the future storytellers say, aspiring Indigenous alone in this situation, and Indigenous of this country. We have a lot at academics such as Stewart had to language advocates assert that stake—our whole identities, individual confront government policies that provincial and territorial governments and collective—in the telling. Why? stripped them of membership in their have a responsibility to recognize and Because, in the words of Cherokee Nations before they were eligible to accept Indigenous peoples on their scholar Thomas King, at the heart of it participate in institutions such as own terms—and by their own names. all, “the truth about stories is that’s all academia. Today, these tribal scholars Catholique-Valpy continues to insist we are.” ♞ are agitating for important change on and advocate for institutional 'Cúagilákv/Jess Housty (@heiltsukvoice) within those institutions, and the change, with the hope that her is a poet, politician and community institutions are beginning to respond. daughter will someday be registered organizer from the Heiltsuk Nation,    with the correct Chipewyan spelling of on the outer coast of British Columbia. This work is still nascent, however, her name. Her work focuses on Indigenous and though academia may be leading As Indigenous languages across sovereignty, storytelling, and social and the way, colonial institutions still have the country struggle to survive—the environmental justice. many miles to walk before our trails languages of our original stories—it 1 Pronounced “Jew-WA-GEE-lauk.” will run parallel. is critical that we protect them and 2 Pronounced “Sah-HYE-uh.”

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 13 PERSPECTIVES Where to Draw the Line Censorship and Self-Censorship in Canadian Newspaper Editorial Cartooning Dan Murphy

Dan Murphy’s animated video satirized an Enbridge ad. By Paul Weinberg maintains that other members of his lawsuit launched by Bill Vander ditorial cartoonists in profession have faced similar issues Zalm, the former provincial minister Canada occasionally with employers. In some newspapers, of human resources, against Bob experience censorship Murphy says, publishers have decided Bierman, the editorial cartoonist of and perhaps more often “to get rid of the loosest of cannons Victoria’s Times Colonist, who had Eself-censor to avoid getting into that upset advertisers.” depicted Vander Zalm picking wings trouble with their bosses. But the Tyrell says that the full-time editorial off flies. The court upheld the right seriousness of this issue depends on cartoonist represents an endangered of cartoonists to ridicule and satirize whom you speak to in the profession. species. In some mid-sized cities like their subjects. “I would say that the censorship Ottawa, there are no newspapers In more recent years, Dan Murphy thing is not a huge problem,” says featuring a daily editorial cartoonist faced his own censorship eruption Wes Tyrell, a Toronto-based cartoonist satirizing local politics. In fact, Tyrell and said he did not see it coming. On and illustrator and president of the estimates there are roughly 20 or fewer staff for 29 years at The Province in Association of Canadian Cartoonists full-time staff editorial cartoonists in Vancouver, he had drawn plenty of (ACC) which “promotes the interests Canada today. mocking editorial cartoons, including of staff and freelance cartoonists in Younger people have difficulty several targeting the high-profile oil Canada.” breaking into this profession because pipeline company Enbridge, without But he also concedes he may it is largely staffed by crusty older any interference or reprimand from not have a clear picture since his white guys who have decades of editors or management. colleagues are loath sometimes to experience under their belts. After However, that all changed in June publicly discuss their conflicts media organizations downsize, 2012 when The Province suddenly with their editors. these same men increasingly find pulled from its website Murphy’s One editorial cartoonist who themselves out of a job, reports Tyrell. animated spoof of an Enbridge claims to have directly experienced There is some legal protection. In advertisement in which he caricatured censorship is freelancer and current 1980, the Court of Appeal for British the company’s perennial problems ACC member Dan Murphy. He also Columbia ruled on a defamation with messy oil spills. “Enbridge was

14 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 mad and threatening to yank their [Sun] TV and it was quite right wing, years, he has not spiked anything of ad money from Postmedia papers, which I am really not,” continues mine which is pretty good.” [including The Province],” he says. Dewar. MacKay says that editorial (Enbridge denied the claim.) She suggests that the financial cartoonists across North America The Province and its owner, insecurities of media organizations still are far more careful about what they Postmedia Network, received an trying to devise a successful business mock than ever before. At the top embarrassing public black eye. So, model in the Internet age are making of his no-go list are caricatures of Murphy says, The Province later some editors and managers cautious. Muhammad (after the Charlie Hebdo featured on its website his second “When the company is financially massacre in Paris) and staid ethnic animated cartoon on Enbridge. It insecure, then the editor becomes stereotypes. showed how another Enbridge ad insecure, and then you end up in a And he expresses mixed feelings erased some of the islands in the situation where they second-guess about the readers who appear to Douglas Channel along the B.C. everything, because they are afraid connect more emotionally with coast where ships bearing tar sands for their jobs, so they second-guess commemorative, unfunny and oil would have to pass. “[The cartoon] you and you end up second-guessing ultimately “sentimental” cartoons was even harder than the first one, yourself, and everybody second- about fallen soldiers or deceased and I sent it in because it had to be guesses everything.” political leaders. He cites the 2014 said,” says Murphy. To avoid outright rejection of an National Newspaper Award given to Murphy was not fired, but his editorial cartoon, a cartoonist has cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon for his job as full-time editorial cartoonist to know ahead of time his or her rendition of the mourning after the was eliminated in November 2012. red lines, advises Graeme MacKay, killing of Corporal Nathan Cirillo at Subsequently, he left The Province The Hamilton Spectator’s full-time the National War Memorial. rather than accept a less-defined editorial cartoonist. Early on in his MacKay is not denying the editorial position, he says. Now in career he encountered editors who poignancy of MacKinnon’s drawing. his early 60s, the Vancouver-based were nervous about reader reaction But he worries about what he cartoonist continues to freelance to his drawings. “The biggest fear,” he describes as an insufficient public for newspapers across Canada and says, is “a cartoon that provokes reader appetite in the twenty-first century remains outspoken on behalf of his cancellations [of] subscriptions.” for the irony expressed in the best profession. MacKay says he gets more reactions of editorial cartooning. “So what The story appears to be quite from readers for cartoons involving often happens is that I use my quirky different for Sue Dewar, a veteran staff lively local Hamilton concerns than sense of humour to appeal to a very cartoonist also employed by Postmedia about anything on the foibles of small [portion] in the audience. If which in early 2015 purchased the national politicians. they get something out of it—good,” Sun newspaper chain where she had MacKay says. worked under different owners. One of Local sensitivities played a the very few women in the profession, role in April 2005 when Spectator Notwithstanding MacKay's remarks, Dewar reports that every editorial management refused to publish a there is little evidence that censorship cartoon she has submitted so far has MacKay cartoon that ridiculed the and self-censorship are any less or been used. In fact, once she finishes awarding of an honorary doctorate more serious today in Canada than drawing them, they head straight into by McMaster University’s president to in the heyday of print media. But the hopper for publication. “There are former prime minister Jean Chrétien, the broad newspaper audience is no going to be some areas [which may be whose reputation had been tarnished more. People are getting their news touchy], but I haven’t tripped yet with by the Quebec sponsorship scandal. from different sources, and younger this gang,” says Dewar. “I think [the cartoon] hit home hard cartoonists are taking their work A different state of affairs existed for some of our editors because it online where the audience can be both under the chain’s previous owner, ridiculed the university’s president, segmented and international. Quebecor. Then, editorial cartoons an active member of the community Nevertheless, the old rule set by the were rejected by former Sun News who would have been rather chummy late Bob Bierman still applies. One Network executive Kory Teneycke, in the various partnerships between must be fearless and have nerves of Dewar says. “He was quite finicky McMaster and The Hamilton steel to go after the powerful and the about cartooning and a lot of stuff got Spectator,” says MacKay. ridiculous. ♞ pulled.” Teneycke did not reply to a The situation is much improved Paul Weinberg is a Hamilton-based request for comments. under current Spectator editor Paul freelance writer. He can be reached at “You had to follow the line of the Berton, MacKay says. “In the last five [email protected].

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 15 PERSPECTIVES ff Limits Who Decides What Kids and Teens Get to Read?

By Nicole Brewer n February 2015, as our team at the Book and Periodical Council was gearing up for Freedom to Read Week, young-adult (YA) literature took centre stage in a freedom of expression controversy: Raziel Reid’s novel When Everything Feels Like the Movies, winner of the 2014 Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, was decried as a “values-void novel” by a National Post columnist. Soon afterward, a group of concerned parents, YA authors, teachers and others started an online petition to revoke the award, citing the book’s “offensive” and “inappropriate” content. IAge appropriateness is among the top reasons for challenges made to books and magazines in school and public librar- ies. In the end, Reid’s book wasn’t censored, but the controversy had writers, teachers, librarians, booksellers and publishers thinking twice about how to sell, recommend or talk about it. That got us wondering: how much does age appropriateness determine what literature gets into the hands of kids and teens? We asked people from the Canadian literary scene for their thoughts about the impact of age appropriateness on the selection of books for young people.

I DIDN’T EXPECT THE CONTROVERSY Still, the headline-grabbing attacks were surrounding the age appropriateness of a sobering reminder that we must all When Everything Feels Like the Movies, defend the freedom to read and that a but I suppose I should have. I remember book that some deem offensive can also constantly being underestimated in my possess the ability to transform, and even youth. Teens, especially in the digital age, save, lives. are more sophisticated than ever. I’m —Brian Lam, publisher, still trying to wrap my mind around the Arsenal Pulp Press preposterous notion that literature is a corrupting force in the time of the Internet. WE AT WESTMINSTER BOOKS DO NOT We should be celebrating that young people believe in censorship. I don’t refrain from are reading at all, not trying to protect them purchasing anything that may contain from the act. “questionable” content; however, books with mature content may be shelved in a —Raziel Reid, author section alongside the other YA but identi- fied as having older or mature content. WE WERE SHOCKED WHEN [REID’S novel], which we published, was attacked A recent example is Raziel Reid’s When by a National Post columnist and became Everything Feels Like the Movies. After When Everything Feels Like the Movies the subject of a petition to have its Governor by Raziel Reid. (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2014) much thought and discussion with others General’s Award revoked. Many of the negative comments who had read this Canada Reads title, I shelved it in our were predicated on the fact that the book was marketed as Canadian fiction section with the other nominees. I thought young adult, but YA books have come of age in recent years, the book was exceptionally well written but quite graphic in exploring subjects once deemed off-limits to young readers. nature, so that was the reason. In our opinion, it’s not acceptable that young people be I did hand-sell it to teachers and librarians, but not without shielded from reading and talking about important issues a brief discussion concerning the content. Many customers that directly concern them. Thankfully, many readers, trust me to make them aware of such things, and I take that including writers, librarians and booksellers, came to the quite seriously. book’s defence, including those who supported it during the —Norine McGinn, children’s and young- Canada Reads debates (where the book was runner-up), and adult book buyer, Westminster Books, an it has been embraced by many communities—old, young, independent bookseller in Fredericton, N.B. LGBT, straight—as an important asset in the fight against homophobia and teen suicide. OFF LIMITS CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

16 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016 MEANWHILE IN QUEBEC... Warning: Controversial Provincial Writers’ Union Red-Flags the Work of Its Own Members

By Charles Montpetit potentially offensive items in the enouncing censorship Répertoire and tacked the following goes far beyond lines next to them: writing pithy articles. Warning: Some passages could As a free speech offend certain readers. A reading defender for the by teachers is recommended before UnionD des écrivaines et des écrivains any use with students. québécois (UNEQ), I’ve repeatedly In two instances, the phrasing was been asked to set things right. But coyer, hinting that “some books” while obvious parallels can be drawn in an author’s bibliography were with crime fighting—unearthing controversial without specifying felonies! battling evildoers!—I which ones. Oddly, all the never thought I’d face one warnings were added even of the hoariest tropes of the though each page in the police procedural … catalogue already featured Sorry, I’m getting ahead of a note urging teachers to myself. First, you need to know ensure that their choices were that a cornerstone of the Quebec age appropriate. literary landscape is the Répertoire The targeted authors and titles were: de ressources culture-éducation, an • Luc Baranger (“some books”) online government catalogue of about • François Barcelo (J’haïs le hockey; Lise Viens 250 writers who visit classes from Nulle part au Texas; Rire noir; Moi, kindergarten to grade 12. This UNEQ- les parapluies) operated website offers information • Natasha Beaulieu (all books) One newspaper article about a single book prompted about each author, and teachers often • Jacques Bissonnette (Sanguine; the labelling of 110 titles. consult it to shore up their reading Gueule d’ange) In the end, 110 titles were affected— lists. • Benoît Bouthillette (all books) roughly a tenth of the works listed in But when a grade 11 teacher • Laurent Chabin (“some books”) the Répertoire. assigned Jacques Bissonnette’s noir • Sébastien Chabot (all books) novel Sanguine to his students in This practice, known as red-flagging, • Annie Cloutier (all books) the spring of 2014, La Presse’s star is widely frowned upon. Like a scarlet columnist, Pierre Foglia, wrote • Héloïse Côté (all books) letter, it basically urges readers to a scathing column decrying the • Jacques Côté (all books) avoid marked authors, no matter how inclusion of this gory tale in the • Geneviève Desbiens (all books) renowned they are. For Luc Baranger Répertoire (even though the lone • Corinne de Vailly (L’âme à vif ) (one of the rare Quebec writers picked complainant quoted in the article • Mathieu Fortin (all books) up by the prestigious publisher Gallimard in Paris), it only meant had already accepted an alternative • Mireille Gagné (Noirceur et autres one thing: “Ever since my books were selection on behalf of his daughter). couleurs) stamped as ‘risky’ material, I stopped Within hours, the provincial • Hervé Gagnon (Damné ) Department of Culture had compelled receiving school invitations.” • Guy Lalancette (all books) UNEQ representatives to admit Not only was this a surprising • André Marois (all books) publicly that a warning should have move from a group enforcing the • Nadine Poirier (Adios) appeared beside the book’s title. “moral, social and economic rights” Fearing that the government might • Luc Pouliot (all books) of all authors (uneq.qc.ca/a-propos/ start pulling works from the catalogue, • Jonathan Reynolds (all books) statuts/), it specifically contradicted the union endeavoured to identify • Hélène Rompré (Au cœur d’Azalée) WARNING CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 17 PERSPECTIVES

WARNING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 inevitably generate more warnings, The final round occurred in two prior UNEQ decisions: she even asked the authors to point December 2014. At UNEQ’s annual • In 1996, a single writer was tagged out further titles that warranted such general assembly, three members with a similar warning in an early treatment! submitted a formal proposal calling for prototype of the Répertoire. (Full Undeterred, the protesters moved the removal of all individual warnings disclosure: it was yours truly.) After on to UNEQ administrators. The titles and for unequivocal opposition to any six months of protests and the saddled with warnings had initially such additions in the future. Everyone tabling of a formal grievance, UNEQ been included without reservations who spoke up supported the idea, director Pierre Lavoie admitted in the catalogue, they argued, so the and the motion was carried by a large that such a warning was indeed absence of criteria justifying a change majority. “prejudicial” to an author. was troublesome. New grievances were So there you have it: UNEQ finally • In 2003, UNEQ edited, printed and filed and the board was asked to step spoke up against red flags, the joint distributed a francophone version in. committee accepted it and the of the Book and Periodical Council’s This time, the results were mixed. Répertoire returned to its pristine self. Freedom to Read Declaration, Most (not all) of the warnings In other words, this rogue agent got to having co-signed it with 55 other disappeared without explanations, defeat his own superiors with the help associations. Among the practices but only “until the issue had been of the underdogs he was coaching. denounced in that declaration was examined by a joint Education/ Yes, the story may sound a bit the decision “to label ‘controversial’ Culture/UNEQ committee,” said clichéd, but hey, I wouldn’t have it any books.” Lauzon. The statement provided other way. ♞ In October 2014, armed with such little comfort to those who’d already arguments, most of the aggrieved experienced a drop in speaking Charles Montpetit (cmontpetit@ writers requested to have the red flags engagements. If the government’s hotmail.com) used to sign off this removed. To their amazement, UNEQ’s response to Foglia’s column was any column as UNEQ’s “freedom of Répertoire coordinator, Geneviève indication, the red flags could return expression coordinator” but, for some Lauzon, dug in her heels. Recognizing the moment any other criticism was reason, this installment was written in that future complaints would expressed. his own name.

OFF LIMITS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 materials, but I cannot restrict the freedom of others to make THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK OURSELVES WHEN use of that same material (unless, of course, it is found by a considering any new title is “Who is the intended audience for court to be obscene, hateful or seditious). this book?” Then we decide if the topic, reading level, themes Knowing and respecting all of this, I can still be moved to and language are age appropriate. When dealing with complex stretch this understanding further. I recently heard anti-cen- subjects, we make sure the information can be effectively sorship hero Judy Blume speak at the Toronto Public Library. distilled so it’s interesting and accessible to young readers. What a remarkable ability she has to bring humour and insight Annick has always been prepared to publish books that deal to potentially fraught topics. When discussing censorship, with difficult issues, keeping in mind that the topic must be rather than focus on sex or violence, she told us a story about appropriate for the target market in terms of reading level and a woman who didn’t read a section of Tales of a Fourth Grade social and emotional maturity. Nothing to her children, because she didn’t want them to hear —Rick Wilks, publisher, Annick Press about the incompetent father who has trouble looking after I’VE BEEN A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN FOR MORE THAN 20 the kids while the mother’s away. Blume recounted her advice years, and I know that age appropriateness, particularly in to this woman: “Read it to them and then talk about it … Don’t relation to child and teen development, is an essential consid- be afraid!” eration when selecting materials for library collections. I know This inspired me as a parent and a public librarian. It that the range of people involved in this assessment (creators, applies to all topics and the many stages involved in getting marketers, reviewers, etc.) and my personal bias introduce literature that speaks to kids and teens into their hands. Fear subjectivity. I also know I need a strong materials selection should never guide us, and we should always encourage open policy to guide me, one that endorses intellectual freedom and discussion—even (and arguably especially) when the content children’s rights, one that supports the principle that children makes us angry or uncomfortable. ♞ are entitled to open access to materials and that parents and —Lisa Heggum, child and youth advocate, legal guardians are responsible for monitoring this access. Toronto Public Library I know my right, and the rights of others, to discuss ideas Nicole Brewer is a writer and editor in Toronto. She is a found- and opinions openly. I can make decisions about my use of ing editor of the micropress words(on)pages.

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RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS that can kill you if you fall asleep in not alone, and I think we’re the ones bed before publishers find a way to keeping these troubled places called print the book for half the price in bookshops alive. paperback. 5. LIMIT COPYCAT BOOKS. Can there be any better A million unpublished writers out demonstration of naked greed? there have original stories to tell, so 3. DON’T GIVE AWAY PLOTS why do publishers keep searching for IN INTRODUCTIONS AND imitations of books that have already BACK-COVER BLURBS. been hits? Is keeping a secret that hard? You know what I’m talking about. By Jason Proctor If authors such as Michael Connelly Someone writes about how a year OVERS OF LITERATURE and Jo Nesbo can keep readers spent learning the art of baking have been at the heart of guessing up until the final paragraphs bread taught him a lesson about life, some of history’s fiercest of an entire novel, then surely someone and suddenly we’re inundated with censorship battles. can write a dust-jacket summary existential takes on everything from But let’s face it: not all without giving away the ending. butchery to bathrooms. book-related struggles Ditto for introductions. Case in Did we really need a whole shelf of Lare that momentous. And some are point: I recently read Graham Greene’s books about inspiring animals? Take downright trivial. The right not to have The Heart of the Matter for the first Marley and Me, The Puppy Diaries: Ben Affleck on the cover of my edition time. Something devastating and Raising a Dog Named Scout, Alex and of Gone Girl, for instance? Or the crucial to the whole thing happens Me, Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable words “Now a Major Motion Picture” in the last 20 pages. Love Story of an Owl and His Girl and, emblazoned across the front. So why did James Wood have to my favourite, Dewey: The Small-Town Is the most interesting thing about a say exactly what that was in his Library Cat Who Touched the World. book really the fact that it’s been made introduction to my Penguin Classics You love your pet. Enough already. into a film? edition? 6. UPDATE AUTHORS’ PHOTOS. Bear these thoughts in mind and I get it: you’re the smart kind of guy Getting old is tough, I know. But allow me to introduce myself as the who writes introductions to “import- surely there should be some type of champion of the reader’s pet peeve. ant” books as opposed to the novels truth-in-advertising law that applies Here is my proposed charter of rights! themselves. Don’t take it out on me. to the pictures that accompany those 1. NO MORE MOVIE STARS ON 4. ENOUGH ALREADY ABOUT over-explained back-cover blurbs. Or BOOK COVERS. E-BOOKS. at least a 20-year limitation on using I don’t know about you, but I go out I don’t want to take anything away the same photograph. of my way to buy books that don’t from people who love reading on their 7. DON’T MARK UP MY BOOK. have pictures of movie stars on the Kindles and Kobos. But I like old- Finally—sellers should stop putting front cover. I feel like saying, I liked fashioned books, and I’m tired of being black marker on sale books. It makes this when it was just a book! In fact, made to feel like a dinosaur. a scarlet letter—one that screams I may even have liked it better! I like looking at the shelves full of “cheapskate”—out of a book whose 2. PUBLISH HARDCOVERS AND books I’ve spent time with. I enjoy only crime is being remaindered. And PAPERBACKS AT THE SAME TIME. pulling these old friends out once in aren’t all books equal in the reader’s Why do hardcovers even exist in a while and searching for passages I eyes? ♞ this day and age? enjoyed, and I love putting bookmarks Jason Proctor has written for news- It’s certainly not because technology that were given to me by loved papers and is a reporter at CBC or some kind of natural order demands ones between ink and paper pages. Vancouver. He splits his time between that a book has to appear in a format And you know what? I think I’m reality and fiction.

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 19 PERSPECTIVES UNDERSTANDING CANADIAN DEFAMATION LAW HOW By Nicole Brewer and Reva Pomer If you’ve ever attended an event on press freedom, you’ve heard the question: HOW CAN I MAKE SURE WHAT I’M PUBLISHING WON’T GET ME SUED? The defamation lawsuit is a concern for anyone who speaks or writes about controversy. So, to help you better understand defamation law, we’ve put together this primer.

 OCCURS IN WHAT SLANDER CONVERSATION IS DEFAMATION? IS THE PUBLICATION   OR BROADCAST OF A DEFAMATION IS LIBEL DEFAMATORY STATEMENT A BROAD LEGAL CATEGORY BOTH ARISE FROM STATEMENTS THAT LOWER THAT COVERS A PERSON’S REPUTATION OR EXPOSE THE BOTH PERSON TO HATRED, CONTEMPT OR RIDICULE. THEY COULD HURT A PERSON’S LIVELIHOOD. SLANDER

DOES LIBEL LAW AFFECT FREEDOM LIBEL HOW OF EXPRESSION? Libel law may not directly curb your right to free expression, 

but it can intimidate writers and media into silence.  DEFAMATION LAW IN CANADA IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING LIBEL CHILL There have been both victories is the result of such intimidation—the fear of a libel lawsuit  and losses for free expression. can discourage discourse. Strategic Litigation Against Public The list of accepted defences is still Participation (SLAPPs) are lawsuits that censor, intimidate growing, thanks to the work of and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal lawyers, journalists and free defence until they abandon their criticism or opposition. expression organizations. Many aspects of defamation In November 2015, only two provinces had anti-SLAPP legislation: Quebec and law are still undefined.  Ontario. British Columbia once had an anti-SLAPP law but it was repealed.

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DO YOU DEFEND AGAINST HOW A DEFAMATION CLAIM? There are a few common-law defences against a defamation claim, including TRUTH, FAIR COMMENT and RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION

TRUTH. THE DEFENCE OF is an absolute defence against defamation. A true statement  CANNOT be actionable—no one is entitled to an undeserved RESPONSIBLE OCCURS IN good reputation. However, it can be very difficult to prove that a COMMUNICATION statement is true in a court of law through admissible evidence. SLANDER CONVERSATION was established in 2009 to allow the publication of defamatory statements on matters of public interest, even if they can’t be proven as true. The defence was IS THE PUBLICATION “I see libel law as the invisible created to avoid “libel chill.” To use this defence, the OR BROADCAST OF A defendant (e.g., writer, publisher, broadcaster) must hand of censorship.” be able to show diligence in the effort to verify the LIBEL DEFAMATORY STATEMENT defamatory information before publication and —Brian MacLeod Rogers, Canadian lawyer at least an attempt to include the other side’s views.

RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION THE DEFENCE OF IN COURT   Grant v. Torstar Corp. (2009) FAIR COMMENT and Crookes v. Newton (2011) is often used for editorials and criticism, but can also cover any • In Grant v. Torstar Corp., the court ruled that broadcasts or published statements of opinion and interpretation the existing defamation law in Canada was overly on matters of public interest. To be defensible as fair comment, the strict: “This, in turn, may have a chilling effect on statement must express an opinion that someone could honestly hold what is published. Information that is reliable and without malice or hidden motive. It must also be based on true facts in the public’s interest to know may never see the that are presented in the same story or are generally known. light of day.” This ruling resulted in the creation of the “responsible communication” defence FAIR COMMENT IN COURT for journalists. WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson (2008) • In Crookes v. Newton, the court ruled that • This libel lawsuit helped strengthen the defence of fair comment. publishing a hyperlink to defamatory material • On air, a WIC Radio host made defamatory comments about does not make one liable for defamation. The a political activist. ruling helped increase protection for journalists.

 • The trial judge agreed the comments were defamatory but ruled that the defence of fair comment applied. The Supreme Court of  Canada agreed. DISCLAIMER: Defamation law can vary from province to province, and it is important to check the legislation in your province. This infographic FACT: The largest award in Canada for is not a substitute for the legal advice of a media a defamation lawsuit was $1.6 million in lawyer. A good rule of thumb for anyone concerned Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto (1995). about defamation: when in doubt, consult a lawyer!

This infographic draws on information in The Canadian Press Stylebook, 17th edition, and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s online article “Defamation, Libel and Slander: What Are My Rights to Free Expression?” Thanks also go to Brian MacLeod Rogers for his advice. Any mistakes or omissions are solely the responsibility of the BPC.

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 21 PERSPECTIVES Is Canada Becoming a Surveillance State? By Elizabeth Raymer

AST JULY, A CIVIL bill. The CCLA decided that it was than 100 Canadian professors of law rights organization sufficiently problematic ... to challenge and related disciplines wrote an open and a journalists’ it right from the outset,” especially letter to members of Parliament, group launched a the portions relevant to information calling Bill C-51 “a dangerous piece Charter challenge to sharing, she said. of legislation in terms of its potential the Anti-terrorism The challenge addresses five key impacts on the rule of law, on Act, 2015 that components of the Anti-terrorism constitutionally and internationally had been passed in Parliament the Act, which the CCLA and CJFE protected rights, and on the health of Lprevious month, calling the new act contend violate the Charter. These Canada’s democracy.” They urged that a fundamental threat to Canadians’ Bill C-51 “not be enacted in anything rights and civil liberties. resembling its present form.” In late June, the Conservative Andrew Clement, a professor government had passed the emeritus in the Faculty controversial act, previously of Information at the known as Bill C-51, into University of Toronto law. Among other and coordinator of changes, the the Information Anti-terrorism Policy Research Act, 2015 provided Program, called new powers to the the new legislation Canadian Security very dangerous. Intelligence Service (CSIS), “It creates a secret Canada’s civilian spy agency, police in CSIS,” he said. “CSIS and made it easier for government now has the power to intervene departments and agencies to share and disrupt otherwise legal activities information about individuals. viewed as potentially threatening, The Canadian Civil Liberties with little to no oversight.” Association (CCLA) and Canadian components have amended the CSIS Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) Act, the Immigration and Refugee are challenging parts of the new law, Protection Act, and the Criminal Canada’s Lack notably the anti-terrorism provisions Code with respect to “advocating or that give CSIS the ability to apply for promoting terrorism”; they also form of Transparency judicial warrants to collect information the new Secure Air Travel Act and the The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2015 is part on Canadians. new Security of Canada Information of an international trend toward The court challenge may be the Sharing Act. greater state surveillance and opening salvo in a battle for the The challenge is “likely to be mea- large-scale collection of information privacy rights of Canadians. sured in years rather than months,” about citizens. To understand the “From the moment we had a chance said McPhail. As of November, the implications for privacy, Canadians to go over the bill, we had concerns Ontario Superior Court of Justice had might look first to the United States. regarding its constitutionality,” said not yet decided to hear the case. In June 2013, documents leaked Brenda McPhail, director of the CCLA’s Other academics and legal experts by Edward Snowden, a former Privacy, Technology and Surveillance across Canada were likewise alarmed subcontractor for the National Security Project. “There are fundamental by the implications of the new Agency (NSA), revealed that over the flaws with specific portions of the legislation. In February 2015, more previous 15 years the NSA had been

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able to achieve near comprehensive the basis of the minister’s sign-off and experts say there is very little in the collection of electronic data. then some limited review, sometimes new legislation that will make Canada The NSA works closely with years after the fact, by the CSE safer. its partners in the Five Eyes commissioner. Truly a paltry system And although a popular rhetorical alliance—Australia, Canada, New of transparency and accountability.” argument is that if one has nothing Zealand, the United Kingdom and to hide, one has nothing to fear, “it the United States—and documents discounts the rights of the majority show the involvement of Canada’s Chilling Effect who are being watched for no Communications Security good reason,” said McPhail. “Their Establishment (CSE) agency, which of Surveillance information is being caught up in a collects and monitors signals Digital technology—including e-mail, mass sweep to catch one person. As intelligence. social media and cloud-based a society, we need to think if that’s The captured data can be mined storage—has facilitated broader appropriate.” and used in any number of ways, surveillance than ever before, and said Michael Geist, a University of surveillance is “happening on a far Ottawa law professor who holds the broader scale than most appreciate,” New Government, Canada Research Chair in Internet and Geist said. This surveillance restricts E-commerce Law. the freedom to communicate in a New Legislation? Last year it was discovered that democratic society “without Big Public opinion had started to swing Canada had experimented in accessing Brother watching over your shoulder. against the Anti-terrorism Act, and downloading millions of pieces I think it really does have a chilling Clement said, by the time of the of data per day from free storage units effect,” he noted, “especially if you federal elections in October. Surveys such as SendSpace and RapidShare, know that you’re speaking about things showed that Canadians increasingly he said, without users’ knowledge. that might attract attention.” opposed the new legislation following Geist is also concerned about the The act’s reference to “encouraging “much more scrutiny, active debate information-sharing provisions of terrorism,” which is not defined, and campaigns” against it. the act. could put innocent individuals under Indeed, following the Liberal “There should be an ability for suspicion, and the possibility of being Party’s win, party officials and other governments to share information monitored can have a chilling effect sources indicated that the new internally, but this is widespread on free expression. “Is our phone government would quickly overhaul sharing with no oversight,” he said. call being monitored right now? Are the controversial act. The revised “I think everyone who has looked they listening for key words?” asked legislation is expected to include the at this from a non-partisan basis Clement. “That’s inimitable to our creation of a multi-party, joint House thinks oversight [of CSE and CSIS] is concepts of democracy.” of Commons–Senate committee which insufficient. It doesn’t compare with Canadians have high expectations would have strategic oversight of any of our allies.” of their right to participate in civil government departments and agencies Micheal Vonn, a lawyer and policy society, Vonn noted. with national security responsibilities, director of the British Columbia Civil “That this [act] is a massive chill a source familiar with the content told Liberties Association, concurred. on political participation is what the National Post in October. “We’re used to thinking of ‘Canada the Canadians are furious about,” she said. Whether revised legislation will good,’” she said, but “Canada truly has “It’s also important to acknowledge produce sufficient oversight of the CSE the worst accountability, transparency that certain aspects of C-51 will and CSIS remains to be seen, but the and oversight of security agencies in disproportionately affect certain changes won’t come too soon for the any of the Five Eyes countries.” communities, in particular Muslim act’s critics. The minister of national defence, communities. This is something, out “Effectively, a secret security state who oversees the CSE, carries the of a [sense of] fundamental fairness, within a state exists, out of public authority independently to give that is starting to aggrieve Canadians.” view,” Clement said. “The potential for directives on surveillance. “There is The government’s stated aims of a police state is very real.” ♞ no judicial or special court process protecting Canadians and enhancing for this, no parliamentary committee national security have allowed it to Elizabeth Raymer is a Toronto-based that okays or reviews any of these operate in secret, she said, which is journalist and former editor of programs,” Vonn said. “It’s done on even more concerning when security Freedom to Read.

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 23 FRONT LINES › TWUC

CENSORSHIP, COPYRIGHT AND COMPELLED EXPRESSION Should We Also Have the Freedom NOT to Speak? By John Degen Over the last couple of decades, an author’s copyright is “an innate right e tend to define freedom writers have been fighting growing in his own person, namely, to prevent of expression as the right challenges to the ownership of our another from having him speak to to speak, write, read and work from a bold culture of entitled the public without his consent” and publish freely, without infringement. Our print work is concludes that “copyright infringement W digitized without our permission. is ventriloquism practiced on an interference or threat. In other words, the rights we’re concerned with are Our works are freely shared without unwilling subject.” active rights. The doing of these things. our consent, altered without our Consider, as an example of this But what about not doing them? consultation, sometimes even ventriloquism, the recent development What about not speaking? Not reading? presented as original without of the Clean Reader app for iOS and Are those rights as well? acknowledgement of our authorship. Android devices. Sold with the tag It’s difficult to think of an example All these experiences are routine for line “Read books, not profanity,” where individuals are compelled to today’s writers. Clean Reader is a legally suspect read something against their will. piece of digital technology designed School, perhaps. Yet required-reading to censor text. It blocks swear words lists are more about completion of from appearing in a given e-book file. education credits than they are about It will also offer an alternative word compulsion. Any student may still to replace what it has identified as choose to not read one of the required offensive profanity. “Damn” becomes readings on a course list. That student “darn,” for instance. simply has to find a way to absorb Clean Reader doesn’t just censor information about the reading in writing: it changes writing from good some other way or receive a low mark. to bad, from effective communication Neither of those outcomes involves to inept babble, all with the original forced reading. So, yes, we do have What’s more, many educators now author’s name still attached. In effect, the right to not read if we wish. Why claim a right to disseminate unlicensed the Clean Reader app forces good anyone would wish to not read is a copies of our work to their students as authors to speak as bad authors to question I can’t answer. part of a course curriculum. In other their readers. Is it any wonder authors I would argue that we also have the words, required-reading lists now are offended by the very idea of Clean right to not speak, to remain silent contain the “speech” of authors who Reader? by choice, and that this right and the have not been offered the choice of not As an author, I respond to the right of free expression are intimately speaking in that context. Clean Reader app by demanding my intertwined. The case for considering own silence. If the only way my work Not revealing one’s vote, not infringement of copyright as forced might reach a specific consumer is in expressing a political or religious speech is relatively obscure, but it’s a censored form, I’d rather the work opinion, not posting that hundredth there. Dr. Abraham Drassinower, not reach that consumer. In other selfie on Facebook, not putting up a legal scholar at the University of words, as far as that particular reader one’s hand in class when one is unsure Toronto, published a paper called is concerned, I choose to remain silent of the correct answer: these are all “Copyright Infringement as Compelled unless and until the app is disengaged instances we accept as valid claims of Speech.” (See New Frontiers in the from my writing. Is it my right to say the right to not speak. Not speaking is, Philosophy of Intellectual Property, this? clearly, a right we cherish and protect. edited by Annabelle Lever and I believe it is. ♞ For authors, though, the right to not published by Cambridge University John Degen (@jkdegen) is a novelist speak faces a growing threat: the Press in 2012.) and poet. He also works as executive increasingly blurred lines of copyright Drassinower refers to Immanuel director of the Writers’ Union of Canada infringement. Kant’s much earlier proclamation that (TWUC). Visit him at jkdegen.com.

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“IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN A NEWSROOM THAT SHOULDN’T, YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT IT. Q&A THINGS THAT USED TO HAPPEN DON’T BECAUSE WE’RE HERE. WE GIVE A VOICE TO DISSONANCE, THE COUNTER-NARRATIVE.” Debra Friedman Canadaland’s Jesse Brown By Tom Henheffer administrator wouldn’t publish my stuff, and I was incensed JEWISH KID KICKED OUT OF HEBREW SCHOOL, at this affront to my freedom of speech, so I started my own the teenage founder of an award-winning underground newspaper and got 100 students to do a report Toronto-wide paper and a man who came to card on our teachers. journalism via the circuitous route of designing The administration flipped out. They threatened me with pranks for Michael Enright. It seems almost in- expulsion. NOW Magazine found out, then CBC, and they evitable that Jesse Brown would start Canadaland loved this story. Andy Barrie at Metro Morning had me on; A(canadalandshow.com), a media criticism podcast and blog then he had my principal on. Barrie said, “I understand your that is less polite, less guarded and more willing to give a voice concerns, but we have freedom of expression in this country.” to the counter-narrative than most of Canada’s mainstream My principal was kind of speechless. It was amazing. media. It’s a controversial outlet, and Brown has had some Q: But you didn’t have an interest in journalism, so you went missteps. But he has also, undeniably, become an important to McGill and started making cartoons. alternative voice at the leading edge of Canada’s new media. A: It was during the first Internet bubble. We were having fun [Jesse Brown volunteers for Canadian Journalists for Free and felt we’d be doing the next South Park. That did not come Expression, where Mr. Henheffer is the executive director, and to pass. CJFE has also advertised on Canadaland. This interview has Q: (Laughing) Why not? been edited for length.—Editor] A: A lack of talent I’d say? We ran out of money, and I got Q: What were you like growing up? interested in media pranks. I’d seen how vulnerable the press A: I grew up in Toronto, I had a Jewish upbringing and I was was. They weren’t checking the facts. kicked out of my Hebrew school in grade 5. I was a jerk, Q: Then you got a prank column at Saturday Night, and and my aunt was the vice-principal, so she had to make an Michael Enright hired you to do a prank for his show. example. I went to public school after that. A: It resulted in a legal threat to the CBC, so they ditched it. So Q: How’d you get from there to journalism? I said, “Why don’t you commission me to do a documentary A: I was doing cartoons and columns for the school for you?” I found myself getting a lot of really hands-on newspaper, taking the piss and trying to write polemics. Some JESSE BROWN CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 25 FRONT LINES › OLA

FREEDOM TO READ V. POLITICAL CORRECTNESS Should Anyone Dictate What You Can Read?

By Donald Lynch The depictions of savagery in the merit or a history of wide acceptance, hile I may be controversial children’s book are it should be considered for addition offended by things anachronistic and reflect a view from to any library’s collections. Where to that I read, see or the other side of the ocean in the place it is another matter. In the case hear (and I have 1930s. Placed in that context, Tintin in of the Winnipeg Public Library, the been, at times), America illustrates an impression that decision to move Tintin in America I would never was once widely held but no longer is, from the children’s section to the want to see any of and that fact alone is educational. adults’ graphic novel collection seems Wthem banned. Freedom of expression to be an acceptable compromise. Let comes with a price, and that price is parents and children read it together that some people may be offended. and then discuss it in context. Unfortunately, in today’s climate of In April 2014, the Toronto Public political correctness, many creative Library was asked to remove Hop on works have become controversial. Pop by Dr. Seuss, published in 1963, Political correctness and immunity because one person was offended from offence do not extend to all by a perceived depiction of violence members of society but do shield a directed at fathers. The complainant few groups with the “correct” take on completely missed the anti-violence specific issues. point of the book and, thankfully, the Controversy over the stereotypical library kept it because it was a quality depiction of Indians as savages in work from a respected author. Had Tintin in America, a dated comic a single complaint about a different book by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé, book come from a politically sensitive revisited Winnipeg’s library system group, the result might have been in March 2015. I choose the word different. “Indians” deliberately to illustrate the As a child, I was tremendously pernicious nature of politically correct If a work has artistic impressed by Helen Bannerman’s The language. Am I to be condemned Story of Little Black Sambo, a work that for using a term that is deemed to merit or a history of wide was originally published in 1899 and be unacceptable in 2015 instead of acceptance, it should be has never been out of print. Here was “indigenous,” “aboriginal” or “First a story about a young boy living in a Nations people”? Or might I be given a considered for addition to foreign land with hungry tigers. He is pass because I have Indian status and at first a victim but, using his wits, he reside on an Indian reserve? any library’s collections. triumphs in the end. He even turns his After individuals complained about antagonists into something wonderful. Hergé’s “racist” depictions, librarians To react to a few loud voices from What a hero! first pulled Tintin in America from any group that is immune from The criticisms of this story are circulation in 2006 and placed it in a criticism due to ethnicity or other numerous. If you’re not familiar with children’s historic literature research political considerations and remove the book, it’s about a little boy in India, collection, but the book made its a creative work from public view not Africa, whose parents give him way into general circulation when simply because some people might be a red coat, blue pants, purple shoes the collection was removed in 2013. offended is wrong. If a work has artistic and a green umbrella. As he wanders

26 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 FRONT LINES › OLA ftr 2015

about, Sambo encounters tigers who the story with people from sub- 55 and Sambo 169, critics of the book threaten to eat him. He saves himself Saharan Africa, even though the story say it implies that black people are by flattering the tigers, one by one, is about tigers and it says butter is gluttons. How ridiculous! I am glad and giving them each one of the items. called “ghi” in India. In response to the to say that the book is still available Eventually, the tigers’ foolish pride criticism, newer versions feature more from libraries in Canada, in spite of the causes them to fight with each other. realistic illustrations. controversy, and I was able to obtain a They grab each other’s tails and begin Still, they have not stopped the copy through inter-library loan. racing around a tree, faster and faster, criticism of the story itself. The Free expression can be offensive, and until they turn into butter, which depiction of the colourful clothes is if you’re looking to be offended, you Sambo’s father finds and brings home said to stereotype black people as surely will be. ♞ so that Sambo’s mother can make flamboyant dressers. (No explanation Donald Lynch is chair of the Six pancakes. is given for the green umbrella.) The Nations Public Library Board and past- It is probably the stereotypical butter scooped up from the ground president of the Ontario Library Boards’ illustrations found in the first North apparently implies that black people Association. He has Indian status and American editions, and perhaps the are unsanitary. Finally, because the resides on the Six Nations reserve in title, that led some readers to associate mother eats 27 pancakes, the father Ontario.

JESSE BROWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 people got their feathers ruffled. It was just a sign that we instruction from David Gutnick and Karen Levine. [They] were on the right track. But that criticism, which we got for taught me how to make radio docs. the “women fleeing newspapers” story, shifted when people Q: You had two shows, The Contrarians and Search Engine, found there were lapses in my reporting. My attitude shifted and then you were a tech columnist for Maclean’s and very quickly. I said, “Oh my God, we owe an apology and we Toronto Life. How did you move from there to Canadaland? have to make this right.” A: I’ve always been interested in how the media construct Q: What bothers you most about the Canadian media? stories, when they get things right or wrong. I started to pitch A: The way it lends comfort and support to the status quo, straight-ahead media stories and no one would buy them. the establishment, at the expense of the media’s natural role, My wife ultimately said, “Look, you don’t seem to be able to which is to be questioning, critical, adversarial, an advocate let this idea go, so stop asking permission and just do it.” for the reader and not for the business community or for Q: How’d it start? Ottawa. A: I had to beg to get interviews. But I had an immediate Q: Where do you see journalism in Canada heading? audience [that grew to] 10,000 people. A: Newspapers are sprinting off a cliff. They’re wasting obscene Q: And the Ghomeshi story put you on the map? amounts of money on some middle-aged manager’s idea of A: I can’t deny it was a real breakthrough, but when that revolutionary digital media. story broke Canadaland was already the first successfully We already see international brands moving to Canada crowdfunded podcast in Canada. and starting offices. It’s wonderful that Vice is hiring a lot of Q: How do you see Canadaland’s role? people in Canada, it’s wonderful that BuzzFeed and HuffPo A: If something happens in a newsroom that shouldn’t, you can see an opportunity. But I am very skeptical about what that tell us about it. Things that used to happen don’t because we’re will mean for telling our own news stories, covering our own here. We give a voice to dissonance, the counter-narrative. government, the bread-and-butter coverage people rely on. Q: What was the first “oh crap, I’m in trouble” moment you I’m looking really closely at what guys like Joey Coleman or had? the Halifax Examiner are doing. I wonder if super-local news A: We did a video called “The Globe and Mail Hates Young coverage can be a viable crowdfunded exercise. People.” I got a call in the middle of the night from an Q: Last question: who’d win in a fight between you and executive at Bell [which had commissioned the videos], and [popular CBC Radio and podcast host] Terry O’Reilly? You I was told John Stackhouse was livid. I like that kind of have the size, but I hear he knows karate. [situation]. If people at very high levels are very upset with A: (Laughing) He would destroy me. He doesn’t even need what you’re doing, that might be an indication that you’re the black belt. I’m an Internet tough guy; I don’t like physical doing something right. To know the editor of The Globe was confrontation! ♞ pissed was really validating. Tom Henheffer is executive director of Canadian Journalists for Q: Do you have a process for dealing with controversy? Free Expression (cjfe.org). A: I was not very sensitive when the entrenched [media]

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 27 FRONT LINES › PEN CANADA

Tracking Do wn Censorship

By Elise Moser ou are an average Canadian who cares about freedom of expression, and you’re feeling a chill lately. Is it you, or are instances of censorship really increasing? How can you tell? Censorship Tracker can help. Launched in November 2014, Censorship Tracker compiles censorship incidents in Canada and makes them visible to anyone with an Internet connection. PEN Canada was inspired by the Media Freedom Map Ydeveloped by Britain’s Index on Censorship. That map tracks infringements of media freedom throughout Europe. Recognizing that no such centralized database of censorship existed in Canada, PEN Canada led the creation of the On the Censorship Tracker site, incidents are searchable by Censorship Tracker. type of expression, who is doing the censoring and what form Understanding that such a tool would be effective only if the censorship takes. Once you’ve chosen your parameters, widely used, PEN Canada invited its sister organizations—the dots representing reported incidents appear on the map. British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Simply click to open them. Civil Liberties Association and Canadian Journalists for Free A variety of limitations to freedom of expression have Expression—to collaborate. Together, they asked how the tool been recorded. They include the police teargassing of May might be used and by whom, and they created categories that Day protesters in Montreal and a Canadian Press access-to- allow users to search widely or narrow their parameters to find information request for a ministerial directive on how the the information they need most. Canadian Forces handles information that could put someone In 2015, the crowd-sourced interactive map showed at risk of torture. The government sent back documents with incidents across Canada ranging from books being removed heavily blacked out sections. Some incidents have been verified from the local library (in Winnipeg, Tintin in America was by PEN Canada’s staff. Colour-coded for user-friendliness, temporarily withdrawn in response to a complaint) to a reports are supported by media links and other details. mayor being hit with what he describes as a SLAPP suit (in Because the ability to access information is important Calgary, Mayor Naheed Nenshi was served with a $6-million to freedom of expression and vital to the functioning of a defamation suit that he believes is intended to discourage democratic society, the map also includes cases where people public discourse). couldn’t get information to which they are legally entitled. One The more incidents are reported, the more useful the example is that of whistleblower Evan Vokes, who publicized Censorship Tracker becomes. safety concerns about pipelines operated by his employer, In the first eight months of operation, users submitted more the TransCanada Corporation, and was subsequently denied than 50 violations of freedom of expression, according to PEN access to his personnel records by the company. Canada’s executive director Tasleem Thawar. Although the To date, Censorship Tracker has been used mostly by the record may never be complete, newly added incidents will partner organizations, given that they often hear about show trends that can be used to make choices about research incidents directly. To encourage the public to submit more and action. reports, plans are afoot to increase publicity for the site. PEN “For example,” says Thawar, “if we could identify that the Canada plans to analyze the reports one year into the project incidence of censorship instigated by the government or to see what the trends might look like and to make any updates private sector is increasing, [the information] would allow needed to make the site as useful as possible. us to set priorities for our work. Likewise, if we realize that Visit Censorship Tracker at censorshiptracker.ca. ♞ defamation only seems to be a real problem in one province or Elise Moser is a writer, a PEN Canada board member and an territory, we will be better able to focus our work.” associate editor at Linda Leith Publishing.

28 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 FRONT LINES › CLA ftr 2016 Library Challenges from A to Z Results of the 2014 Survey of Challenges to Resources and Policies in Canadian Libraries By Alvin M. Schrader twice as likely as children’s titles to and Donna Bowman be challenged. Among materials intended for adults, non-fiction was WHAT DO THESE MATERIALS HAVE targeted much more frequently than IN COMMON? fiction. Challenges to children’s picture • Nazi occultism in a graphic novel books outnumbered challenges to all • a DVD laced with the “F-word” other children’s materials combined. • a children’s picture book accused of Graphic novels made up almost half promoting a negative female body of all challenged books, and many image more book titles than DVD titles were • an adult novel judged too explicit singled out. for a public library collection The grounds that complainants • claims of a wartime love affair in a gave for challenging library resources biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower were multi-layered and diverse. • grammatical errors in a Chinese- Complainants averaged two reasons language children’s picture book per title, and two-thirds of all • a graphic novel reportedly challenges clustered around four depicting a one-sided view of the broad themes: explicit sexuality, age Gaza Strip conflict inappropriateness, violence and • a DVD about the “homosexual offensive language. These reasons lifestyle” Vampire Cheerleaders: Paranormal Mystery Squad: predominated in the previous three • a book that contains allegedly Monster Mash Collection © 2012 Seven Seas Entertainment LLC, Adam Arnold and Shiei years as well (though not in the same defamatory statements freedom, who objected and why, and order every year). Other reasons THE ANSWER: they were all owned how libraries responded. cited include nudity, inaccuracy, by publicly funded Canadian libraries political viewpoint, insensitivity, in 2014, and they were all challenged The 2014 survey shows that 108 religious viewpoint, drugs/drug use, for expressive content deemed challenges were made to resources hate incitement, homosexuality, objectionable in library collections. and policies by 65 complainants, inappropriate for any age, suicide, Each time library staff are pressured mostly library patrons, who typically grammatical errors, sexism and racism. to ban or restrict materials, they wanted and sometimes demanded Of the 25 challenges to policies confront anew the conundrum of that materials be banned, relocated, involving library intellectual freedom whether bans or restrictions are ever reclassified, re-rated or labelled issues related to services, collections justified or whether libraries should because of their content. Individual or space, more than half were linked to guarantee access to all constitutionally titles were singled out 80 per cent of complainants’ previously unsuccessful protected expressive works, including the time. The other challenges involved attempts to have items removed or those that some consider to be, in library intellectual freedom policies restricted. the words of the Canadian Library that affect access to collections, Other policy challenges included: Association’s (CLA) intellectual services or library space. • special library membership cards freedom statement, “unconventional, Challenged series outnumbered for people with disabilities unpopular or unacceptable.” those reported in any of the survey’s • unlimited student computer use The 2014 Annual Challenges Survey, eight previous years. Four graphic and time limits conducted for the ninth year and novel collections, tallying 23 titles, • privacy of library staff names and based on voluntary reporting by the were targeted (Gangsta; I Don’t Like home addresses CLA, creates a national snapshot of You at All, Big Brother!!; Oreimo; • unfiltered children’s Internet use objections experienced by publicly Vampire Cheerleaders) as well as one • classification and physical location funded Canadian libraries. It covers DVD documentary series, The Paradise of book materials objections to materials, services and Lost Trilogy. • DVD rating systems and physical policies related to library intellectual Adult titles in all formats were LIBRARY CHALLENGES CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 29 FRONT LINES › CLA

LIBRARY CHALLENGES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who locations Did Good appeared to be a self-help • unlabelled materials publication but the content was Two unprecedented policy decried as “porn.” The DVD Black challenges in K-12 schools were Butterflies, which deals with abortion, reported in 2014. They both dealt with was described by one challenger as “a upholding rather than diminishing disturbance to decency.” open access to materials. In the only direct challenge to The complainants, in different material in school curricula, a parent parts of the country, opposed massive complained about numerous aspects “levelling” programs instituted by of both the book and DVD versions school officials. These programs, of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, carried out without consultation, describing it as “pornographic; graphic amount to the indiscriminate weeding pornographic conversation; vulgar; of materials in school library and masturbation instructions; bestiality; classroom collections. Levelling offensive language; unsuitable for practices violate professional norms teens; suicide; violence.” and policies that guide library Lili se fait piéger sur Internet by Dominique de Saint Every challenge to expressive collection management and ensure Mars. Illustrated by Serge Bloch. (Calligram, 2006) content in library materials is viewed students’ rights to age-appropriate Falun Gong in a Chinese parental within a framework of the established learning materials. The use of these guide for children’s safe use of the library mandate, professional practices raises two urgent questions: Internet titled Zheng Jiu Wang Yin values and library policies related How widespread are these practices Shao Nian. In the illustrated early to intellectual freedom and access. across Canada? How can institutional reader Lili se fait piéger sur Internet, Every decision requires that a transparency and accountability be protagonist Lili accidentally comes defensible balance be struck between safeguarded? across “pornography” (actually consideration of a complainant’s In 2014, two-thirds of all challenges cartoon images of naked adults) on the views and honouring free expression to resources and policies resulted in no Internet and wonders what the images principles and the public’s right to change in their status. But a few books mean; a parent expressed concerns know. were reclassified, a few DVDs were about a child’s ability to understand Sandra Singh, CLA president and re-rated, other items were labelled what was happening in the book and chief librarian of the Vancouver Public or restricted, and four titles were objected to its inclusion in the school Library, notes: “Intellectual freedom is removed. Two access policies were also library. The children’s DVD Camp fundamental to a free and democratic changed in response to challenges. Harlow was challenged for deceptive society, innovation and human Library staff never dismiss the packaging because it failed to mention advancement. For well over 100 years, concerns of complainants, and the story’s pervasive religious theme. school, public and academic libraries they regularly engage in free speech The young-adult novel Daniel Half across Canada have worked tirelessly discussions and debates with library Human was believed by one parent to to ensure that every Canadian has users and fellow staff members. be “too graphic for 15-year-old boys” access to the ideas and information A few examples of the challenges to keep in a school library collection. they need to explore our world and received in 2014: One complainant A university student complained enrich their lives. At times, this work insisted that there should be a caveat that a sacred text should be shelved has involved helping community on the cover indicating the “dark adult in a separate “revered” location, members understand why libraries content” of the audiobook version not in the general collection. The build broad collections that may of Daniel Smith’s Monkey Mind: A book 3D Printing was challenged contain materials considered offensive Memoir of Anxiety. Another challenge as a misleading compilation of to some as well as taking a stand concerned outdated language in dubious Wikipedia articles. An against censorship when the need “The Mentally Retarded” in Music for alleged “tar sands apologia,” Our arises.” ♞ Elementary Classroom Teachers. In Petroleum Challenge, was described Alvin M. Schrader and Donna Bowman another, the racist portrayal of African- as propaganda that had no place in a are colleagues on the Canadian Library Americans in D.W. Griffith’s The Birth public library. A university professor Association’s Intellectual Freedom of a Nation was said to make the challenged the inclusion in a genocide Advisory Committee. DVD unsuitable for any public library collection of three “genocide denial Survey results since 2006 are shared with collection. books” dealing with the Armenian the Canadian public. Reports and databases A group complained of gratuitous massacres in Ottoman Turkey. The of challenged titles and policies can be and misleading depictions of the adult audiobook Tough Sh*t: Life found on the CLA’s website (cla.ca).

30 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 PRINT MATTERS ftr 2016 Book Profiles though they do criticize Stephen and keep a file so you can track your Harper for the “broken ... promises” request’s progress. They remind us and “unfulfilled pledges” that he made to paper-clip sheets together, the about greater transparency in his 2006 intellectual equivalent of “to make ice election platform. But the authors’ cubes, first put water in a tray.” They overall neutrality becomes irritatingly lay out procedures for complaint and cool; they could have enlivened the appeal. topic with a better use of anecdotal The book is reasonably helpful if you information. want to file an ATI request. One of their claims to fame, Hilary McLaughlin is an Ottawa writer mentioned briefly, is the information and communications consultant. they sought on the RCMP use of Taser stun guns in the death of Robert Dziekanski. His death in 2007 at the Vancouver airport was well known to many Canadians. If the authors had used this case as an example of how to track an inquiry from application to resolution, they would have amply illustrated the rationale for an ATI Your Right to Know request, the difficulties in getting the desired information and the use to By Jim Bronskill and David McKie which it could be applied. There are (Self-Counsel Press, 2014) some other samples—outside the Reviewed by Hilary McLaughlin main text—of requests and responses. THIS HANDBOOK HELPS ORDINARY At no point do the authors present citizens call their governments a complete case study, which would (federal, provincial and municipal) to have been a way to ground the process account. It lays out procedures and in reality and humanity. strategies for extracting information The basic assumption of the book from often-reluctant authorities and seems to be that all information is refers particularly to Canada's access- ours to have because we have paid The Tyranny of Silence to-information (ATI) laws. for it and we should demand it. (The By Flemming Rose The authors, Jim Bronskill and authors do note, without rancour, (Cato Institute, 2014) legitimate exemptions and exclusions, David McKie, two parliamentary Reviewed by Franklin Carter journalists who teach together at including legal, security, privacy and Carleton University in Ottawa, are not proprietary commercial concerns; they IN 2005, FLEMMING ROSE, THE on a crusade against any particular are less sanguine about the exemption culture editor of the Danish newspaper political group. They assume (probably of Parliament from scrutiny.) However, Jyllands-Posten, noticed that some correctly) that if Canadians want they mention that the “operations of artists—a Danish comedian, Danish information from their governments, government” excuse for withholding illustrators, a British art-gallery Canadians are going to have to go information is overly broad and director—feared telling jokes, drawing through a maze to get it. This book “problematic.” pictures or displaying art that could provides a road map to the maze. The book provides excellent anger Muslims and provoke violence. Your Right to Know: How to Use footnotes, good sources for more Rose and his fellow editors decided to the Law to Get Government Secrets is detailed information and checklists of address this fear in the newspaper. clearly written (albeit not devoid of procedures for making ATI requests. On September 30, 2005, Jyllands- typos) but surprisingly bland. It is as if The authors spend a lot of time stating Posten published a full-page feature the authors are determined not to trap the obvious: research your interest first titled “Muhammeds ansigt” (“Face of themselves into any political stance, to find out what is already available BOOK PROFILES CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 31 PRINT MATTERS

BOOK PROFILES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 office of Charlie Hebdo on January serendipity and a keen sense of Muhammad”). An editorial written 7, 2015, for publishing cartoons of knowing when to follow a lead, by Rose warned readers that the Muhammad, many people supported Coleman managed to immerse herself fear of offending Muslims led to the magazine, but most English- in the hacker community and gain self-censorship and threatened free Canadian news media excluded the their trust. She walks readers through expression. Twelve cartoons—most cartoons in reports. The defence of free Anonymous’s growth over the course depicting Islam’s founder— expression in The Tyranny of Silence of six years. accompanied the editorial. One remains as relevant as ever. At times getting quite technical, cartoon showed Muhammad Coleman delves into the group’s wearing a bomb-shaped turban. operational details, creating a valuable A crisis erupted. Within days, documentation of its activities. offended Muslims in Denmark began However, her most important demanding legal action against the contribution may be the reminder that newspaper and a nationwide ban people don’t stop being human online. on insults to Islam. Within a few Anonymous members are typically months, Muslim governments and portrayed (by their own choosing) as organizations outside Denmark were faceless, but Coleman brings these boycotting Danish goods, stoking characters—who are, of course, real deadly riots outside Danish embassies people—to life. Highlighting extreme and demanding a global ban on personalities and deep moral debates, insults to Islam. she humanizes an activist group Years later, after fending off that most of us have, until now, been accusations of racism and religious unable to relate to. Their internal prejudice, Rose wrote The Tyranny discussions, structures and power of Silence: How One Cartoon Ignited dynamics are not unlike situations a Global Debate on the Future of Free we have all experienced. Speech. He sought to explain his Transparent in her role as an thinking, defend his actions and academic, Coleman observed the examine the wider implications of the group’s foray into online activism crisis. without intervening. Her insider access Rose argues that the popular instinct Hacker, Hoaxer, lets us relive events we previously to ban offensive expression—for Whistleblower, Spy watched from the outside, including example, blasphemy or insults to By Gabriella Coleman the infamous attacks on MasterCard religion—to maintain peace and (Verso, 2014) and PayPal for refusing to accept order in the secular democracies of Reviewed by Laura Tribe donations to WikiLeaks. the West is a serious mistake. Because Along the way, Coleman describes almost any expression may be deemed THE WORLD OF INTERNET HACKERS her emotional journey and the stress of offensive, the list of taboo subjects can is a mystery to most of us. What we do following these events so closely. She only grow, and citizens risk losing their see in the media reinforces stereotypes observes as Anonymous members are freedom to discuss sensitive public of hackers as meddlesome, mean- arrested or ostracized from the group. issues. spirited pranksters and criminals. She suffers from fear and burnout. But Outside the West, political and An in-depth, nuanced study of Coleman leaves questions unanswered. religious leaders use bans on this subculture is long overdue, Did she ever see the group taking on blasphemy and heresy to silence and it’s finally arrived in the form activities she wanted to prevent? Did religious dissidents, atheists and of Gabriella Coleman’s fascinating she ever feel compelled to intervene? skeptics. The punishments include Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy is fines, imprisonment and death. Many Faces of Anonymous. Coleman, a valuable contribution to the broader Rose cites examples not only in an anthropologist at McGill University, discussion about Internet activism. predominantly Muslim societies such provides the ultimate guide to It debunks myths about Anonymous as Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan but hacktivism through a detailed account and hackers in a way that humanizes also in predominantly non-Muslim of the rise of Anonymous, the secretive, the online world and makes it more societies such as Russia and India. shape-shifting collective that’s been relatable. Today, the question of how to linked to protests, disruption and ♞ respond to anti-religious cartoons per- cyberattacks worldwide. Laura Tribe (@ltribe) is the digital sists. After terrorists attacked the Paris Through a combination of rights specialist for OpenMedia.

32 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 CELEBRATING FREEDOM TO READ ftr 2016 2015 Free Expression Awards THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA (TWUC) AWARD: 2015 Freedom to Read Award AWARD WINNER: Ron Brown THIS ANNUAL AWARD recognizes advocacy on behalf of free expression in Canada. ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Ron Brown is a TWUC member and former chair of the organization, a member of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee, a champion of the annual Freedom to Read Week, a passionate defender of free speech, a journalist and an author.    CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (CLA) AWARD: 2015 Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada AWARD WINNER: Brian Campbell Vicki Ilgacs THIS AWARD honours outstanding contributions to intellectual freedom in Canada by individuals or groups. ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Brian TWUC award winner Ron Brown (left) and media lawyer Brian Rogers at the BPC’s 2015 Freedom to Read Week event Campbell was chosen for his Excerpt from Ron Brown’s Acceptance Speech tireless championship of the library profession’s core values of intellectual February 25, 2015, Toronto It was one Thomas Bowdler, a freedom and information access FOR ME, IT ALL BEGAN WITH MACBETH. nineteenth-century doctor who felt that during a library career that lasted In grade 12, we were handed that dark Shakespeare was trying to purchase more than three decades. He served Shakespearean tragedy to study. But I laughter at the price of decency, many years as director of systems and began to realize that some parts might be whose name is the origin of the word special projects for the Vancouver missing. So I compared it to the versions “bowdlerize.” Public Library. my parents had at home and, sure But, in fact, it was all the work of his    enough, the school system was censoring sister Harriet who didn’t want it known CANADIAN COMMITTEE FOR my Shakespeare. that a lady of her status had been reading WORLD PRESS FREEDOM One notable deletion was in act 2, Shakespeare in its original uncensored (CCWPF) scene 3, known as the porter-at-the-gate form. In other words, it’s okay for me to scene. In it, Macduff returns to the castle read and judge but not for you to. We AWARD: 2015 World Press Freedom and gets into a spirited debate with a see that in school book challenges, even Award rather inebriated porter, who goes off on today. AWARD WINNER: Kathy Gannon a rant on the impact of too much alcohol: Or as [English comedian] Tony Hancock THIS AWARD goes to a Canadian “It provokes the desire, but it takes away once said, “I hate to think of this sort of journalist or media worker who has the performance.” In other words, the book getting into the wrong hands. After I made a significant contribution to same limp excuse men use to this day. finish reading it, I’ll recommend they ban press freedom during the past 15 Finding those missing pieces simply it.” . . . months. made me appreciate the Bard’s ribald Sadly, the same school system that had ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: On April 4, 2014, humour that much more. Censorship can been censoring my Shakespeare continues as Gannon and photographer Anja do that. If you writers want to increase to pose some of the greatest challenges AWARDS CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 sales, try to have your book banned. to freedom to read. ♞

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 33 CELEBRATING FREEDOM TO READ

infringement of citizens’ human rights of PEN Canada. Filkow was deeply at home and abroad. committed to the cause of freedom of expression. AWARD: 2015 International Press ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: James was Freedom Award recognized for her tenacity in AWARD WINNER: Safa Al Ahmad uncovering an abuse of power and her THIS AWARD recognizes the commitment to fostering a national outstanding courage of journalists conversation in the face of censorship. around the world who work tirelessly “James’s struggle shows what lengths at great personal risk and against the government will go to suppress enormous odds to share crucial, dissent on key policy issues,” said hard-hitting news stories. William Kowalski, former chair of PEN ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Safa Al Ahmad Canada’s Canadian Issues Committee. is a Saudi freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker who has AWARD: 2015 One Humanity Award produced documentaries on uprisings AWARD WINNER: Eskinder Nega in the Middle East, most notably in THIS AWARD is given to a writer whose Saudi Arabia and Yemen. She has work transcends the boundaries risked her life and liberty numerous of national divides and inspires times in countries that have some of connections across cultures. the worst press freedom records. ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Eskinder Nega AWARD: Investigative Award is a prominent Ethiopian journalist. AWARD WINNER: On September 14, 2011, Nega was Billiam James Ken Rubin PEN Canada/Ken Filkow Prize winner Franke James THIS AWARD celebrates a journalist, arrested on terrorism-related charges AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 investigative researcher or media after publishing a column disputing Niedringhaus prepared to cover the worker who has made a significant the government’s claim that detained presidential election in Afghanistan, contribution to advancing public- journalists were suspected terrorists an Afghan police commander shot interest reporting in Canada. and for criticizing the arrest of a well- them. Niedringhaus died instantly, but ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Ken Rubin known actor and government critic. Gannon survived the six bullets that is an Ottawa-based public-interest Nega was convicted and, on July 13, left her severely wounded. Gannon is researcher and citizens’ advocate. 2012, he was sentenced to 18 years in an Associated Press special regional He is a well-known commentator prison.    correspondent for Afghanistan and on secrecy practices and the right Pakistan. to information in Canada. He has ONTARIO LIBRARY    written many articles and reports on ASSOCIATION (OLA) government secrecy and privacy and CANADIAN JOURNALISTS FOR AWARD: 2015 Les Fowlie Intellectual surveillance practices. He has acted as FREE EXPRESSION (CJFE) Freedom Award an access-to-information consultant to AWARD: Vox Libera AWARD WINNER: Kathy Scardellato media and public-interest groups and AWARD WINNER: Jameel Jaffer THIS AWARD recognizes courage shown individuals. THIS AWARD is granted to a Canadian    in defending the rights of library who has demonstrated an outstanding patrons to full access to information. commitment to the principles PEN CANADA In 2000, the award was renamed of free expression and who has AWARD: PEN Canada/Ken Filkow the Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom made an important and sustained Prize Award in memory of the former chief contribution—at home or abroad—to AWARD WINNER: Franke James librarian of Toronto Public Library those same principles. THIS ANNUAL AWARD is given to an whose efforts on behalf of intellectual ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Jameel Jaffer is a individual who has demonstrated freedom in Canada are legendary. Canadian-born, U.S.-based lawyer and courage and integrity in the interest ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Kathy a deputy legal director of the American of freedom of expression. It is named Scardellato, former executive director Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as well in memory of Kenneth A. Filkow, of the Ontario Council of University as director of the ACLU’s Center for Q.C., who died in 2014. He was a Libraries, was recognized for her Democracy. He has become one of distinguished Winnipeg lawyer, tireless work with universities in the pre-eminent critics of American chair of the Manitoba Human Rights building a collection that is accessible national security policy and its Commission and an active member both now and in the future. ♞

34 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 GET INVOLVED ftr 2016 GET INVOLVED There are lots of ways to mark Freedom to Read connection. This year we take you to a newsroom; we’d Week. Last year, groups across the country celebrated love to get your suggestions for other workplaces you’d with events as diverse as a “poetry through subtraction” like us to visit. There’s also a great tool for the classroom, event in Regina, Sask., an Internet privacy workshop in the access-to-information infographic. And, as always, Nanaimo, B.C., and a vote for the favourite banned book we invite you to test your free expression knowledge with at a college campus in Yarmouth, N.S. our quiz and word search. We’ve gathered a few more ideas to inspire you. A If you’re looking for more inspiration, visit the great starting place is our list of challenged books and freedomtoread.ca website and check out the “Get magazines. We’ve also added a new feature: we take you Involved” and “Events” sections. Celebrate Freedom to behind the scenes in a workplace with a freedom-to-read Read Week, February 21–27, 2016. ♞

We Go Behind the Scenes at The Hamilton Spectator By Julie Payne

WHO DECIDES WHAT NEWS IS FIT to print? How has the Internet changed the way we consume news and understand issues that affect us? In a new series for Freedom to Read, we take you into different industries that affect your freedom to read. We start with the newspaper—a rapidly changing medium, but one that has existed for centuries. Did you know that the first newspaper to be made with a printing

press, Relation, was published in Scott Gardner Strasbourg, France, in 1605?* But what is a newspaper? Newspapers have been described as a first rough draft of history. Basically, a Components of one of The Hamilton Spectator’s presses were used to print the Watergate stories at the Washington Post. newspaper is a publication—produced And if you’ve heard that newspapers Q: How many people work at The at least once a week—that contains are a dying breed of media, consider Spectator and how often do you news, opinion pieces, announcements these two facts: nine out of 10 publish? and usually advertising. It takes a Canadians read newspapers in print, A: There are approximately 75 in team of skilled workers to create a online or on a tablet or phone once editorial. Overall, there are 400 newspaper. A large newspaper usually a week, and there are 112 dailies people working at the newspaper. The employs journalists, photographers and more than 1,000 community Hamilton Spectator also handles the and editors; it may also have newspapers in Canada. printing for several other newspapers. cartoonists, managers, accountants, I sat down with Jim Poling, managing We publish six days a week for the customer service representatives, editor of The Hamilton Spectator print edition, seven for online. lawyers, press operators, advertising (first published in 1846) to learn more Q: How has the newspaper changed salespeople, graphic designers and about newspapers and why they are since you started working here? others on staff. important to our freedom to read. BEHIND THE SCENES CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 35 GET INVOLVED

BEHIND THE SCENES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 doing is unique and revolutionary, and we have good relationships with A: When I started, I was working on and I’m excited by how newsrooms people like [media lawyer] Brian a typewriter. Then came computers, are thinking about new forms of Rogers. I don’t think Canadians but there would be one computer for storytelling. understand how closed Canadian four or five people. Then personal Q: How are journalists’ jobs changing institutions are. We don’t have open computers hit the market, followed by in the era of mobile technology? courts; in fact, we have shrouded laptops, and now we have the ability to A: We are adding more jobs for courts. take pictures and video and write and information experts who aren’t Q: In some countries, newspapers edit stories on smart phones and other journalists. People who can write code, are targeted or attacked or censored mobile digital devices. [Newspapers understand algorithms, manipulate by people in power. How is it have] always been an industry that is content for different devices, have different in Canada, and do you think dependent on technical revolutions. database management skills. In the we take our freedom for granted? Q: How is the newspaper adapting to future, journalism schools may have A: It’s a complicated question and my the digital age? to add these skills to their curriculum. instinct is to say yes. In this country, A: It’s rapid and it’s frightening and When I was at J-school, typing was one we have very good journalists and in a way exciting. Digital means we of the courses! newspapers that are committed to have analytics on what people are Q: What do you think the newspaper democracy and transparency. We reading in the newspaper [the online will look like in 20 years’ time? generally don’t face the same bald risks edition]. Before, our decisions about A: I don’t know what it will look like in that journalists in other countries do, what to run were highly subjective; two years’ time. I think it’s going to be but don’t think that governments and these days we have more information a lot more about the air-traffic control agencies don’t thwart our efforts. on what people are reading. Will we of information. We will become hubs. A lot of people don’t seem to crowdsource what goes on the front But we will still be the reliable source realize that much information in page one day? Maybe. Perhaps it will and add value to the information. the courts, police blotter, city hall, be more like “build your own paper.” Q: Why are newspapers important provincial legislatures and the federal I recently spent some time at the to Canadian society? government departments is their Toronto Star looking at how they A: People fundamentally trust what information. It’s public and should be are writing and producing stories we do. We write for the masses. We made public. for digital tablets. What they are are accessible. We are credible. We Often police will tell people at a are fundamental to the mainstream crime scene or police event not to understanding of our communities. YOU BE THE JOURNALIST talk to media. That’s not the role of People are allowed to express police and it infuriates me. A thinking 1. Look through a newspaper and themselves. And finally, journalists society is an informed society. We see if you can find an article are advocates. can’t and shouldn’t tolerate people in that has something to do with Q: What is your favourite thing about any position who hoard or suppress free expression: for instance, working at a newspaper? information that the public has a right articles that mention censorship, A: The shared experience. Storytelling. to access. access to information (ATI), The privilege of going into people’s If the taxpayers want to test this, whistleblowers, attacks on the lives. People open their lives to you, urge them to file an access-to- media or a journalist using an and we share that with others. We information request. I think the access-to-information request. get to build, create. It’s a creative average person would be shocked See page 38 to learn more about endeavour. and angry at the delays, costs and making your own ATI request. Q: What advice would you give to suppression involved. 2. Write an article for your school someone who would like to work for Q: Can you imagine a world without newspaper or blog. Remember a newspaper one day? newspapers? to follow the five w’s and one h A: It’s a great profession. Think long A: No. Not one I’d like to live in, of journalism: who, what, when, and hard about what you want to though the newspapers have to be free achieve and why. Pay attention to where, why and how. and independent. ♞ what you read, and read broadly. Write 3. Post a comment about an article Special thanks to Jim Poling and The frequently, and rewrite even more or write a letter to the editor of Hamilton Spectator (thespec.com). frequently. your local newspaper. Q: What impact does free expression * Some sources point to a much earlier publication, 4. Celebrate World Press Freedom the Acta Diurna, published around 69 B.C. in Rome, as have on your work? the world’s first newspaper. In Canada, our newspaper Day on May 3. A: Freedom of expression is a heritage dates back to March 23, 1752, when the first fundamental. We campaign on it, edition of The Halifax Gazette was published.

36 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 ftr 2016

Challenged Books and Magazines This list features selected titles that have been challenged in Canada in the past five years. For more information about these titles and why they were challenged, visit cla.ca and freedomtoread.ca.

Docteur Dog Babette Cole Children’s Books His Dark Materials series Philip Pullman Alligators All Around: An Alphabet Maurice Sendak I Don’t Like You at All, Big Brother!! vol. 1–8 Kusano Kouichi Battle Bunny Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett l8r, g8r Lauren Myracle Bone Dog Eric Rohmann The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky Christmas Tapestry Patricia Polacco Summer Moon Jan DeLima Donovan’s Big Day Lesléa Newman Tales from the Farm Jeff Lemire The Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo Dav Pilkey Tintin in America Hergé Girls’ Life Head-to-Toe Guide to You When Everything Feels Like the Movies Raziel Reid Sarah Wassner Flynn and Karen Bokram, editors Wherever Nina Lies Lynn Weingarten Go the F**k to Sleep Adam Mansbach Written in Blood John Wilson Groovy Girls Sleepover Club #2: Pranks a Lot: The Girls vs. the Boys Robin Epstein Adult Fiction Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss American Gods Neil Gaiman If I Ran the Zoo Dr. Seuss Claim Me (The Stark Trilogy, Book 2) J. Kenner It’s a Book Lane Smith Fire and Ice Anne Stuart Je déteste l’école Jeanne Willis How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets Garth Stein Lili se fait piéger sur Internet Dominique de Saint Mars, Love and Rockets series Jaime Hernandez Serge Bloch Maria Monk Sylvie Ouellette Lizzy’s Lion Dennis Lee Murphy’s Law Colin Bateman Miss Mousie’s Blind Date Tim Beiser Warlord: An Alex Hawke Novel Ted Bell Qu’est-ce que vous faites là? Dominique Jolin The Sissy Duckling Harvey Fierstein Adult Non-Fiction Jack Canfield, Sleeping Dragons All Around Sheree Fitch Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul Mark Victor Hansen, Heather McNamara Spooky ABC Eve Merriam Deadly Sins Thomas Pynchon and others The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race of His Business Werner Holzwarth, Wolf Erlbruch Jon Stewart Maxwell Eaton III Two Dumb Ducks The Facts on Halloween John Ankerberg, John Weldon, The Waiting Dog Carolyn Beck Dillon Burroughs Fifty Mighty Men Grant MacEwan Young-Adult Books The Way I Am Eminem The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian What I Meant to Say: The Private Lives of Men Sherman Alexie Ian Brown, editor Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain As She Grows Lesley Anne Cowan Magazines and Newspapers Boy O’Boy Brian Doyle Allure Daniel Half Human David Chotjewitz, NOW translated by Doris Orgel Rolling Stone

FREEDOM TO READ 2016 | 37 GET INVOLVED What You Need to Know to Get What You Need ACCESS TO INFORMATION Your Right to Know: How to Use the Law to Get Government Secrets by Jim Bronskill and David McKie was invaluable in the creation of this infographic

The Laws Who Uses 1. The Right to Information: Canadians have BUSINESSES Access to the right to information that has been collected 39% using taxpayers’ money. This right is important THE PUBLIC Information? in ensuring that a government is held 40% REQUESTS COME FROM: accountable to its citizens. THE PUBLIC (40%) 2. Balancing the Right to Know with Certain BUSINESSES (39%) Protections: The most sensitive records, MEDIA (15%) such as those involving national security, ORGANIZATIONS (4%) ORGANIZATIONS 4% are often withheld. MEDIA ACADEMIA (2%) 15% (Source: Treasury Board/ 3. Privacy: Access-to-information laws are just ACADEMIA 2% Info Source Bulletin 2013) half of the equation; the other half is privacy. Citizens should reasonably expect that details about their personal lives stay private. USE VISIBLE PUBLIC INFORMATION TO HELP FORMULATE YOUR REQUEST 4. Fees: There is usually a small fee for WHAT YOU KNOW 10% access-to-information requests. Before making your request, do your 5. The Right to Complain: If there is a research. Work out what you know problem, you have the right to complain and what you don’t know. Check to to a commissioner or ombudsman who see if the information is already in the WHAT YOU DON’T SEE 90% can speak for you. public domain. Next, check Info Source (infosource.gc.ca/index-eng.asp). It’s a catalogue that provides a complete list of government records listed by “Deciphering access records is name, description and category a little like reading tea leaves.” number that the department uses to identify the information.

— Jim Bronskill and David McKie Useful Tips • Ask for statistical information in a searchable database format such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. What’s in a Request? You don’t want PDF files. A REQUEST MIGHT INCLUDE: • Try piggybacking on existing requests. You can ask the agency’s coordinator to check if there are relevant requests already • specific types of records (e.g., briefing notes, reports, audits) in the system. • a clear and short time frame: longer requests can lead to delays • Look for previously released records. The Access to Information Act and additional costs requires government institutions to post summaries of completed • scope: what information you are looking for requests on their websites. • exceptions (e.g., exclude records that are obviously cabinet confidences) Did You Know? • request for a fee waiver: give a reason, such as “this is a matter • Canada’s Access to Information Act came into effect of public interest” in 1983. • Canada’s act sits in 59th place on a list of Next Steps freedom-of-information laws from 98 countries. • You should receive an acknowledgement letter. • Sweden was the first country to pass an access law in 1766. • The access analyst or coordinator has a duty to assist you. Follow up! For more information, go to self-counsel.com/your-right-to-know • Although federal institutions are supposed to .html. Other good information sources include the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (oic-ci.gc.ca) and the Global answer within a 30-day time frame, frequently a government Right to Information Ranking (rti-rating.org/country-data). department may take additional time, known as an extension.

38 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016

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FREEDOM TO READ 2016 READ TO FREEDOM 39

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By Julie Payne Julie By

Test Your Your Test Free Expression Knowledge Expression Free

16 20 ftr ftr GET INVOLVED As the people... Ellina Pe Benito and we have the freedom to Angela Aguila are grade 11 students at Sisler High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They study animation, digital voices and visual arts. Jamie Leduc, head of animation at Sisler, asked them to design a short write read comic about the freedom to read. They drew their inspiration from political cartoons, editorials and their experiences writing and drawing comics.

express

A D E X L P Y F J P S C S E H M T W B G G Z L A R Q I G O N U R A A L J Word-Search Puzzle E B E T I E N H Z N F E R U C G U Y Y X D A E R S G T W G V V T K A D A See if you can find the words listed below in the puzzle. The words could be listed in any G V P D P R E R U N D D E A T Z A H direction: up, down, diagonally or backward. E N O R O P O L E A E E I C I I G A L M I S E V R L D N G T L I V N N T Age appropriate Hacktivism Y X N D E S L O N W L E L R I E U R Banned Information C E P R A A S A P I O V A A S L O M Book Language C R S D H E B I T R Y B N C M R Y C Bowdlerize Library H Y W C H H R E O V I C C F Y T R O Caricature Literature N O I T A M R O F N I A E G Y T E D Censorship Magazine D E F A M A T I O N E H T P D V D S Challenge Reading Controversy Slander G T I N T I N N R F I L T E R I N G Defamation Surveillance B F U U R E W O L F L L A W Z L A Z Expression Tintin T O R R A N R R U Z Y R A R B I L B Filtering Wallflower L E O B Y I N P E C Q V X A Z W S A Freedom Young adult I P A K W Y G N D B L L X L S Y B I

40 | FREEDOM TO READ 2016 Censorship is at its most effective when its victims pretend it does not exist. Nick Cohen You Can’t Read This Book: Censorship in an Age of Freedom (Fourth Estate, 2012) Freedom to Read Week February 21–27, 2016

freedomtoread.ca | #FTRWeek | @Freedom_to_Read

Book and Periodical A project of the Council Book and Periodical Council ISSN 1711-9367 Celebrating 40 Years