simple
December 12th, 2001, 06:05 PM
.............Original Email........
Dear Mr.Clark,
The following is an article from the National Post on December 8, 2001. This comes only days after the Supreme Court of Canada heard the appeal of Bell Expressvu v. Can-Am which concerns all Canadians. I am one of those affected by this forthcoming decision and live under the rule of law in Canada.
How can a Minister of the Government disregard our Supreme Court so openly when the "rule of law in" Canada requires just the opposite stance?
This stance clearly puts the system of justice in Canada into disrepute and I will work with many other Canadians to make this point with the public and point out that the citizens last recourse between the Government and the law is now non-existent due to the liberal government stance. It is also an affront to other members of parliament who may not act in such an un-democratic and autocratic manner. This is a clear example of how democracy can fail when one party has such tremendous electoral power and in view of this many Canadians may well change their political allegiance after this point is made.
Mr. Richard Rex, the owner of Ca-Am now finds that he has been dragged through the entire justice system in Canada, first in the B.C. Superior (supreme) courts where he won, then to the B.C. Appeals court where he won again, all at great cost and difficulty to be then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Now only 4 days after presenting his case there at a cost of approaching $100,000.00, he is told that the law in Canada is meaningless and this Minister Shiela Copps as well as Mr. Brian Tobin will decide against him REGARDLESS of what the Supreme Court of Canada rules. This in support of one of Canada's richest communications companies who obtained that position by operating a Government mandated monopoly phone company for many years in this country. This is an outrage and an affront to all of us who live under the "rule of law" and the system by which Canadians have lived throughout our history.
I urge you to take action and bring this to the fore and to ensure that Canadians have the protection conferred on them by our parliament and which we have always had the comfort of. Rejecting our law in support of a commercial interest like Bell Expressvu can encourage Canadians to believe that there is no law in Canada and that only MONEY counts and possibly act accordingly. That is a Canada that could sink into anarchy giving up all that our forefathers have fought for over the last 100 years or more.
Yours truly,
Gerritt.
Ian Jack
Financial Post
December 8, 2001
OTTAWA - The federal government will continue efforts to block grey-market satellite distributors from doing business in Canada regardless of a Supreme Court of Canada decision expected by next spring, sources say.
Ottawa is considering issuing a public statement before Christmas backing Bell ExpressVu and other licensed Canadian operators, and will change the legislation governing satellite distribution if the Supreme Court rules in favour of a small company that sells direct-to-home decoders that receive U.S. signals, sources said.
Sheila Copps, the Heritage Minister, told a Canadian industry group this week she will ensure the government's interpretation of the Radiocommunications Act, which is that it bans grey market satellite distribution, is upheld regardless of the court ruling.
She told the group she wants to issue a statement jointly with Brian Tobin, the Industry Minister, in the coming weeks.
Mr. Tobin would be prepared to sign off on such a statement, a source said.
The government's signaling of its intention is a blow to Can-Am Satellites of Maple Ridge, B.C., and other grey marketers. Can-Am has won two cases in provincial appeal courts, arguing the issue is freedom of expression and unfettered access to public airwaves. Both courts concluded it does not violate the Act, as written, to sell decoders in Canada.
I thank you for reading my email.... and allowing my voice to be heard.
................Reply.........................
----- Original Message -----
From: Clark, Joe - M.P.
To: 'simple@XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.net'
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 4:25 PM
Subject: RE: Freedoms in Canada?? Seems that the Liberals dont believe Canadians can have freedoms?? Only Big business has freedoms here in Canada....
Dear Gerritt,
Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your taking the time and the effort to write to us and share your thoughts on the dispute between Canadian satellite broadcasters and the so-called "grey market" dealers of foreign satellite equipment. Thank you also for sending us a copy of Mr. Jack's article.
As this is a matter that is before the courts, we think it best to let the Supreme Court decide the case without commenting further.
Once again, thank you for your e-mail.
Best wishes,
Joe Clark
..............My Resonse to his response........................
Dear Mr, Clark
I appreciate your speedy reply, I also agree to let the courts decide what is the law and best for Canada as a whole... However one thing troubles me, the fact that Mrs. Shiela Copps/Mr Tobin et al, will regardless of what the Supreme Court of Canada states will ensure that "Grey Market" dealers and end users are in fact commiting an illegal act....Is US radio also Ilegal? are we to become Cuba?
Too many people have lost their livelyhood due to this abiguious law, and the SC will hopefully give them Justice in the end.... however Mrs. Copps will not allow Canada's biggest monopoly face competition... is this because Ma Bell is in the Liberals pocket? Golfing anyone??
Thanks you for giving me the forum to voice my concerns...
Gerritt
Dear Mr.Clark,
The following is an article from the National Post on December 8, 2001. This comes only days after the Supreme Court of Canada heard the appeal of Bell Expressvu v. Can-Am which concerns all Canadians. I am one of those affected by this forthcoming decision and live under the rule of law in Canada.
How can a Minister of the Government disregard our Supreme Court so openly when the "rule of law in" Canada requires just the opposite stance?
This stance clearly puts the system of justice in Canada into disrepute and I will work with many other Canadians to make this point with the public and point out that the citizens last recourse between the Government and the law is now non-existent due to the liberal government stance. It is also an affront to other members of parliament who may not act in such an un-democratic and autocratic manner. This is a clear example of how democracy can fail when one party has such tremendous electoral power and in view of this many Canadians may well change their political allegiance after this point is made.
Mr. Richard Rex, the owner of Ca-Am now finds that he has been dragged through the entire justice system in Canada, first in the B.C. Superior (supreme) courts where he won, then to the B.C. Appeals court where he won again, all at great cost and difficulty to be then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Now only 4 days after presenting his case there at a cost of approaching $100,000.00, he is told that the law in Canada is meaningless and this Minister Shiela Copps as well as Mr. Brian Tobin will decide against him REGARDLESS of what the Supreme Court of Canada rules. This in support of one of Canada's richest communications companies who obtained that position by operating a Government mandated monopoly phone company for many years in this country. This is an outrage and an affront to all of us who live under the "rule of law" and the system by which Canadians have lived throughout our history.
I urge you to take action and bring this to the fore and to ensure that Canadians have the protection conferred on them by our parliament and which we have always had the comfort of. Rejecting our law in support of a commercial interest like Bell Expressvu can encourage Canadians to believe that there is no law in Canada and that only MONEY counts and possibly act accordingly. That is a Canada that could sink into anarchy giving up all that our forefathers have fought for over the last 100 years or more.
Yours truly,
Gerritt.
Ian Jack
Financial Post
December 8, 2001
OTTAWA - The federal government will continue efforts to block grey-market satellite distributors from doing business in Canada regardless of a Supreme Court of Canada decision expected by next spring, sources say.
Ottawa is considering issuing a public statement before Christmas backing Bell ExpressVu and other licensed Canadian operators, and will change the legislation governing satellite distribution if the Supreme Court rules in favour of a small company that sells direct-to-home decoders that receive U.S. signals, sources said.
Sheila Copps, the Heritage Minister, told a Canadian industry group this week she will ensure the government's interpretation of the Radiocommunications Act, which is that it bans grey market satellite distribution, is upheld regardless of the court ruling.
She told the group she wants to issue a statement jointly with Brian Tobin, the Industry Minister, in the coming weeks.
Mr. Tobin would be prepared to sign off on such a statement, a source said.
The government's signaling of its intention is a blow to Can-Am Satellites of Maple Ridge, B.C., and other grey marketers. Can-Am has won two cases in provincial appeal courts, arguing the issue is freedom of expression and unfettered access to public airwaves. Both courts concluded it does not violate the Act, as written, to sell decoders in Canada.
I thank you for reading my email.... and allowing my voice to be heard.
................Reply.........................
----- Original Message -----
From: Clark, Joe - M.P.
To: 'simple@XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.net'
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 4:25 PM
Subject: RE: Freedoms in Canada?? Seems that the Liberals dont believe Canadians can have freedoms?? Only Big business has freedoms here in Canada....
Dear Gerritt,
Thank you for your e-mail. We appreciate your taking the time and the effort to write to us and share your thoughts on the dispute between Canadian satellite broadcasters and the so-called "grey market" dealers of foreign satellite equipment. Thank you also for sending us a copy of Mr. Jack's article.
As this is a matter that is before the courts, we think it best to let the Supreme Court decide the case without commenting further.
Once again, thank you for your e-mail.
Best wishes,
Joe Clark
..............My Resonse to his response........................
Dear Mr, Clark
I appreciate your speedy reply, I also agree to let the courts decide what is the law and best for Canada as a whole... However one thing troubles me, the fact that Mrs. Shiela Copps/Mr Tobin et al, will regardless of what the Supreme Court of Canada states will ensure that "Grey Market" dealers and end users are in fact commiting an illegal act....Is US radio also Ilegal? are we to become Cuba?
Too many people have lost their livelyhood due to this abiguious law, and the SC will hopefully give them Justice in the end.... however Mrs. Copps will not allow Canada's biggest monopoly face competition... is this because Ma Bell is in the Liberals pocket? Golfing anyone??
Thanks you for giving me the forum to voice my concerns...
Gerritt