Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Warman

Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Warman
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2012-10-02
Neutral citation
2012 FC 1162
File numbers
T-1640-09
Notes
A correction was made on june 19, 2014
Reported Decision
Decision Content
Date: 20121002
Docket: T-1640-09
Citation: 2012 FC 1162
Ottawa, Ontario, October 2, 2012
PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Mosley
BETWEEN:
CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Applicant
and
RICHARD WARMAN,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA
and MARC LEMIRE
Respondents
BRITISH COLUMBIA CIVIL LIBERTIES
ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION INC., CANADIAN FREE SPEECH LEAGUE, AFRICAN CANADIAN LEGAL CLINIC, LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF B’NAI BRITH CANADA, CANADIAN JEWISH CONGRESS and FRIENDS OF SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES
Intervenors
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT AND JUDGMENT
OVERVIEW:
[1] This is an application for judicial review of a decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal brought by the Canadian Human Rights Commission under s.18.1 of the Federal Courts Act, RSC, 1985, c F-7.
[2] In the September 9, 2009 decision, the Tribunal determined that the respondent Marc Lemire contravened s.13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, RSC, 1985, c H-6 (hereafter “the CHRA” or “the Act” by posting an article on a website. The Tribunal declined to issue any remedial order against Mr. Lemire on the ground that the restrictions imposed by s 13(1) and ss 54(1) and (1.1) of the Act are inconsistent with s 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [Charter] and do not constitute a reasonable limit within the meaning of s 1 of the Charter.
[3] The Commission seeks declarations that the Tribunal erred in law in refusing to apply s 13(1) and in declining to exercise its discretion under subsections 54(1)(a) and/or (b) of the Act; and seeks orders to set aside the Tribunal's conclusions to the extent that they are inconsistent with the declarations sought and to refer the matter back to the Tribunal for a determination with respect to the remedy.
[4] In these proceedings, Mr. Lemire served a notice of constitutional question on the Attorney General of Canada and the Attorneys General of each province in accordance with s 57 of the Federal Courts Act. The notice requests a declaration that ss 13(1) and 54(1) and (1.1) of the CHRA are of no force or effect pursuant to ss 24(1) [sic] and 52(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, being schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [Constitution Act].
[5] The constitutionality of s 13(1) of the CHRA was confirmed by a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada in Canada (Human Rights Commission) v Taylor, [1990] 3 SCR 892 [Taylor]. This Court is bound by that decision unless there are grounds to distinguish the present case from the precedental authority of that decision. Barring such grounds, the Court must follow Taylor. In doing so, the Court may set out such reasons that indicate that the precedent may be problematic in the present environment. It is for the Supreme Court itself to determine whether Taylor is to be overturned: Canada v. Craig, 2012 SCC 43 at paragraph 21. That question is presently before the Supreme Court in an appeal from the decision of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in Whatcott v. Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal, 2010 SKCA 26, leave granted October 28, 2010, [2010] SCCA no 155 (QL), 2010 CanLII 62501 (SCC). In Whatcott, the constitutional questions stated address whether s 14(1)(b) of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, SS 1979, c S-24.1 infringes s 2(a) of the Charter and, if so, whether it is saved under s 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While the issues in that matter concern provincial legislation, they are analogous to the matters raised in this case and the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal considered itself bound by Taylor.
[6] I take notice of the legislative fact that Bill C-304, entitled An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting freedom), received third reading in the House of Commons on June 6, 2012. Among other things, the effect of the Bill would be to repeal s 13. Under the terms of the Bill’s coming into force clause, the Act would be effective one year after receiving Royal Assent. At the time of writing the Bill remained under consideration in the Senate. This is of relevance in these proceedings only to a limited extent that I will discuss below.
[7] For the reasons that follow, I find that the Tribunal was correct to decline to apply ss 54(1)(c) and (1.1) of the Act and declare that they are of no force or effect. However, I find that the Tribunal erred in failing to apply s 13 and paragraphs 54(1)(a) and (b) of the Act. Consequently, the application by the Commission is granted and the matter is remitted to the Tribunal to issue a declaration that the article posted by Mr. Lemire was in contravention of s 13 and to exercise its jurisdiction under paragraphs 54(1)(a) or (b) of the Act to consider the issuance of a remedial order against Mr. Lemire.
BACKGROUND
[8] On November 24, 2003 the respondent Richard Warman filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that Mr. Lemire had communicated or caused to be communicated hate messages over the Internet in breach of s 13 of the CHRA. He alleged that these messages discriminated against persons or groups of persons on the basis of their religion, race, color, national or ethnic origin and sexual orientation, because the matter exposed them to hatred or contempt.
[9] Initially the complaint cited the content of messages posted on the website "Freedomsite.org" and alleged that Mr. Lemire was the owner and webmaster of that site. The complaint also named one Craig Harrison as a respondent. Mr. Harrison was alleged to have posted a large number of messages on the site in 2002 and 2003. The allegations against Mr. Harrison were referred to the Tribunal separately and a decision was issued by the Tribunal on August 15, 2006 finding that his messages were in breach of s 13: Warman v Harrison, 2006 CHRT 30.
[10] Mr. Lemire received notice of Mr. Warman's November 24, 2003 complaint from the Commission in late March 2004. In responding to the Commission, through his counsel, on April 23, 2004, Mr. Lemire acknowledged that he was the webmaster and owner of the Freedomsite.org website and stated that he had removed the message board from the site prior to receiving notification of Mr. Warman's complaint. The message board, operated from 1999-2003, was a forum for discussions at the website. Visitors could access the content as "guests". Only registered users were allowed to post messages on the board. An article on the Freedomsite.org website referred to in the complaint was removed after the complaint had been filed.
[11] Subsequent to the filing of the complaint, additional allegedly offending material was also found by Mr. Warman on the websites “JRBooksonline.com” and “Stormfront.org” and referred to the Commission investigator in September 2004. This material was included in the investigation report recommending referral to the Tribunal in April 2005 as being linked to Mr. Lemire. In a Joint Statement of Particulars dated December 7, 2005 Mr. Warman and the Commission alleged that Mr. Lemire communicated, or caused to be communicated, material observed on these websites in October 2004.
[12] At the hearing, Mr. Lemire denied the allegations in part on the ground that he had not communicated or caused to be communicated most of the impugned messages. In particular, while he acknowledged, through counsel, having participated in the creation of JRBooksonline.com, he denied having knowledge of or being responsible for any of the content of that website. With regard to material on Stormfront.org, Mr. Lemire argued that the Commission had not established that he had posted the messages and, in the alternative, that it was not discriminatory.
[13] Mr. Lemire brought a motion to have s 13 and the related remedial provisions in ss 54(1) & (1.1) of the Act found to be in breach of ss 2(a) and (b) and s 7 and not saved by s 1 of the Charter. He also cited the Canadian Bill of Rights, SC 1960 c 44. The Attorney General of Canada exercised his right under s 57 of the Federal Courts Act to participate and to adduce evidence at the hearing in respect of the constitutional questions. Several additional interested parties were granted status to participate.
[14] Extensive evidentiary hearings were conducted by the Tribunal between January 29, 2007 and March 25, 2008. Submissions were presented in September 2008. The Tribunal rendered its decision on September 2, 2009: Warman v Lemire, 2009 CHRT 26 [the decision].
[15] On this application, motions for intervenor status were granted for the African Canadian Legal Clinic (hereafter the“ACLC”), League for Human Rights of the B’nai Brith (“B’nai Brith”) , Canadian Jewish Congress (“CJC”), Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (“SWC”), Canadian Association for Free Expression (“CAFE”), Canadian Free Speech League (“CFSL”), Canadian Civil Liberties Association (“CCLA”), and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (“BCCLA”). The respondent Attorney General of Canada and the intervenor CJC took no part in the argument of this application. The position of B’nai Brith and SWC was jointly presented.
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
[16] Sections 24(1) and 52(1) of the Constitution Act read as follows:
Enforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms
24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances.
Recours en cas d’atteinte aux droits et libertés
24. (1) Toute personne, victime de violation ou de négation des droits ou libertés qui lui sont garantis par la présente charte, peut s’adresser à un tribunal compétent pour obtenir la réparation que le tribunal estime convenable et juste eu égard aux circonstances.
Primacy of Constitution of Canada 52. (1) The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of Canada, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect.
Primauté de la Constitution du Canada 52. (1) La Constitution du Canada est la loi suprême du Canada; elle rend inopérantes les dispositions incompatibles de toute autre règle de droit.
[17] The wording of s 13(1) of the CHRA has remained unchanged since the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the predecessor enactment in Taylor;
Hate messages
13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Propagande haineuse
13. (1) Constitue un acte discriminatoire le fait, pour une personne ou un groupe de personnes agissant d’un commun accord, d’utiliser ou de faire utiliser un téléphone de façon répétée en recourant ou en faisant recourir aux services d’une entreprise de télécommunication relevant de la compétence du Parlement pour aborder ou faire aborder des questions susceptibles d’exposer à la haine ou au mépris des personnes appartenant à un groupe identifiable sur la base des critères énoncés à l’article 3.
[18] When Taylor was decided, the remedial powers of the Tribunal were set out in sections 53 and 54 of the CHRA. Section 53 authorized the Tribunal to order that a person cease a discriminatory practice and take measures to prevent its recurrence (at s 53(2)(a)), make available to the victim the rights that had been denied (at s 53(2)(b)), compensate the victim for wages lost and expenses (at s 53(2)(c)), and compensate the victim for the costs and expenses of obtaining alternatives (at s 53(2)(d)). In addition, s 53(3) permitted the Tribunal, if the person had engaged in the discriminatory practice willfully or recklessly or the victim had suffered, to order compensation not exceeding $5,000 to be paid. Section 53(4) authorized the Tribunal to order that premises and facilities be adapted to accommodate disabilities if reasonable. Section 54 allowed the Tribunal to make only the orders listed in s 53 and prohibited orders firing or evicting employees or tenants in good faith.
[19] In 1998, Parliament enacted amendments to the Act, which, with the prior legislation, had the effect of conferring additional remedial powers on the Tribunal: SC 1998, c 9, ss 27-28. A new s 53(2)(e) allowed the Tribunal to order compensation to victims in an amount not exceeding $20,000 for their pain and suffering. The amount which could be ordered paid under s 53(3) was raised from $5,000 to $20,000 and 53(4) was added, permitting the compensation order to include interest. As well, a new s 54(1)(b) empowered the Tribunal to order, in addition to the remedial measures which were in place at the time Taylor was decided, compensation not exceeding $10,000 for a victim specifically identified in the communication that constituted a discriminatory practice; and a new s 54(1)(c) provided for a penalty of not more than $10,000.
[20] Section 54(1.1), also added in 1998, set out the factors that the member or panel must take into account in deciding whether to order the person to pay the penalty at s 54(1)(c), such as the nature of the discriminatory practice, the intent of the person who engaged in the practice, any prior history, and ability to pay.
[21] In 2001, Parliament further enacted, at s 13(2), that for greater certainty, discriminatory practices included communications via computers or the internet: Anti-terrorism Act, SC 2001, c 41, s 88 [Anti-terrorism Act].
[22] The relevant provisions of the CHRA as they read now are as follows:
Purpose
2. The purpose of this Act is to extend the laws in Canada to give effect, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, to the principle that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered.
Objet
2. La présente loi a pour objet de compléter la législation canadienne en donnant effet, dans le champ de compétence du Parlement du Canada, au principe suivant : le droit de tous les individus, dans la mesure compatible avec leurs devoirs et obligations au sein de la société, à l’égalité des chances d’épanouissement et à la prise de mesures visant à la satisfaction de leurs besoins, indépendamment des considérations fondées sur la race, l’origine nationale ou ethnique, la couleur, la religion, l’âge, le sexe, l’orientation sexuelle, l’état matrimonial, la situation de famille, la déficience ou l’état de personne graciée.
Prohibited grounds of discrimination
3. (1) For all purposes of this Act, the prohibited grounds of discrimination are race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability and conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered.
Motifs de distinction illicite
3. (1) Pour l’application de la présente loi, les motifs de distinction illicite sont ceux qui sont fondés sur la race, l’origine nationale ou ethnique, la couleur, la religion, l’âge, le sexe, l’orientation sexuelle, l’état matrimonial, la situation de famille, l’état de personne graciée ou la déficience.
Idem (2) Where the ground of discrimination is pregnancy or child-birth, the discrimination shall be deemed to be on the ground of sex.
Idem (2) Une distinction fondée sur la grossesse ou l’accouchement est réputée être fondée sur le sexe.
Hate messages
13. (1) It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.
Propagande haineuse
13. (1) Constitue un acte discriminatoire le fait, pour une personne ou un groupe de personnes agissant d’un commun accord, d’utiliser ou de faire utiliser un téléphone de façon répétée en recourant ou en faisant recourir aux services d’une entreprise de télécommunication relevant de la compétence du Parlement pour aborder ou faire aborder des questions susceptibles d’exposer à la haine ou au mépris des personnes appartenant à un groupe identifiable sur la base des critères énoncés à l’article 3.
Interpretation
(2) For greater certainty, subsection (1) applies in respect of a matter that is communicated by means of a computer or a group of interconnected or related computers, including the Internet, or any similar means of communication, but does not apply in respect of a matter that is communicated in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a broadcasting undertaking.
Interprétation
(2) Il demeure entendu que le paragraphe (1) s’applique à l’utilisation d’un ordinateur, d’un ensemble d’ordinateurs connectés ou reliés les uns aux autres, notamment d’Internet, ou de tout autre moyen de communication semblable mais qu’il ne s’applique pas dans les cas où les services d’une entreprise de radiodiffusion sont utilisés.
Interpretation (3) For the purposes of this section, no owner or operator of a telecommunication undertaking communicates or causes to be communicated any matter described in subsection (1) by reason only that the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking owned or operated by that person are used by other persons for the transmission of that matter.
Report
44. (1) An investigator shall, as soon as possible after the conclusion of an investigation, submit to the Commission a report of the findings of the investigation.
Interprétation (3) Pour l’application du présent article, le propriétaire ou exploitant d’une entreprise de télécommunication ne commet pas un acte discriminatoire du seul fait que des tiers ont utilisé ses installations pour aborder des questions visées au paragraphe (1).
Rapport
44. (1) L’enquêteur présente son rapport à la Commission le plus tôt possible après la fin de l’enquête.
Action on receipt of report
(2) If, on receipt of a report referred to in subsection (1), the Commission is satisfied
Suite à donner au rapport
(2) La Commission renvoie le plaignant à l’autorité compétente dans les cas où, sur réception du rapport, elle est convaincue, selon le cas :
(a) that the complainant ought to exhaust grievance or review procedures otherwise reasonably available, or
a) que le plaignant devrait épuiser les recours internes ou les procédures d’appel ou de règlement des griefs qui lui sont normalement ouverts;
(b) that the complaint could more appropriately be dealt with, initially or completely, by means of a procedure provided for under an Act of Parliament other than this Act, shall refer the complainant to the appropriate authority.
b) que la plainte pourrait avantageusement être instruite, dans un premier temps ou à toutes les étapes, selon des procédures prévues par une autre loi fédérale.
Idem
(3) On receipt of a report referred to in subsection (1), the Commission
Idem
(3) Sur réception du rapport d’enquête prévu au paragraphe (1), la Commission :
(a) may request the Chairperson of the Tribunal to institute an inquiry under section 49 into the complaint to which the report relates if the Commission is satisfied
a) peut demander au président du Tribunal de désigner, en application de l’article 49, un membre pour instruire la plainte visée par le rapport, si elle est convaincue :
(i) that, having regard to all the circumstances of the complaint, an inquiry into the complaint is warranted, and
(ii) that the complaint to which the report relates should not be referred pursuant to subsection (2) or dismissed on any ground mentioned in paragraphs 41(c) to (e); or
(i) d’une part, que, compte tenu des circonstances relatives à la plainte, l’examen de celle-ci est justifié,
(ii) d’autre part, qu’il n’y a pas lieu de renvoyer la plainte en application du paragraphe (2) ni de la rejeter aux termes des alinéas 41c) à e);
(b) shall dismiss the complaint to which the report relates if it is satisfied
b) rejette la plainte, si elle est convaincue :
(i) that, having regard to all the circumstances of the complaint, an inquiry into the complaint is not warranted, or
(ii) that the complaint should be dismissed on any ground mentioned in paragraphs 41(c) to (e).
(i) soit que, compte tenu des circonstances relatives à la plainte, l’examen de celle-ci n’est pas justifié,
(ii) soit que la plainte doit être rejetée pour l’un des motifs énoncés aux alinéas 41c) à e).
Appointment of conciliator
47. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Commission may, on the filing of a complaint, or if the complaint has not been
Nomination du conciliateur
47. (1) Sous réserve du paragraphe (2), la Commission peut charger un conciliateur d’en arriver à un règlement de la plainte, soit dès le dépôt de celle-ci, soit ultérieurement dans l’un des cas suivants :
(a) settled in the course of investigation by an investigator,
a) l’enquête ne mène pas à un règlement;
(b) referred or dismissed under subsection 44(2) or (3) or paragraph 45(2)(a) or 46(2)(a), or
b) la plainte n’est pas renvoyée ni rejetée en vertu des paragraphes 44(2) ou (3) ou des alinéas 45(2)a) ou 46(2)a);
(c) settled after receipt by the parties of the notice referred to in subsection 44(4),
c) la plainte n’est pas réglée après réception par les parties de l’avis prévu au paragraphe 44(4).
Conduct of inquiry
50. (1) After due notice to the Commission, the complainant, the person against whom the complaint was made and, at the discretion of the member or panel conducting the inquiry, any other interested party, the member or panel shall inquire into the complaint and shall give all parties to whom notice has been given a full and ample opportunity, in person or through counsel, to appear at the inquiry, present evidence and make representations.
Fonctions
50. (1) Le membre instructeur, après avis conforme à la Commission, aux parties et, à son appréciation, à tout intéressé, instruit la plainte pour laquelle il a été désigné; il donne à ceux-ci la possibilité pleine et entière de comparaître et de présenter, en personne ou par l’intermédiaire d’un avocat, des éléments de preuve ainsi que leurs observations.
Power to determine questions of law or fact
(2) In the course of hearing and determining any matter under inquiry, the member or panel may decide all questions of law or fact necessary to determining the matter.
Questions de droit et de fait
(2) Il tranche les questions de droit et les questions de fait dans les affaires dont il est saisi en vertu de la présente partie.
Additional powers
(3) In relation to a hearing of the inquiry, the member or panel may
(a) in the same manner and to the same extent as a superior court of record, summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce any documents and things that the member or panel considers necessary for the full hearing and consideration of the complaint;
Pouvoirs
(3) Pour la tenue de ses audiences, le membre instructeur a le pouvoir :
a) d’assigner et de contraindre les témoins à comparaître, à déposer verbalement ou par écrit sous la foi du serment et à produire les pièces qu’il juge indispensables à l’examen complet de la plainte, au même titre qu’une cour supérieure d’archives;
(b) administer oaths;
(c) subject to subsections (4) and (5), receive and accept any evidence and other information, whether on oath or by affidavit or otherwise, that the member or panel sees fit, whether or not that evidence or information is or would be admissible in a court of law;
b) de faire prêter serment;
c) de recevoir, sous réserve des paragraphes (4) et (5), des éléments de preuve ou des renseignements par déclaration verbale ou écrite sous serment ou par tout autre moyen qu’il estime indiqué, indépendamment de leur admissibilité devant un tribunal judiciaire;
(d) lengthen or shorten any time limit established by the rules of procedure; and
d) de modifier les délais prévus par les règles de pratique;
(e) decide any procedural or evidentiary question arising during the hearing.
e) de trancher toute question de procédure ou de preuve.
Limitation in relation to evidence
(4) The member or panel may not admit or accept as evidence anything that would be inadmissible in a court by reason of any privilege under the law of evidence.
Restriction
(4) Il ne peut admettre en preuve les éléments qui, dans le droit de la preuve, sont confidentiels devant les tribunaux judiciaires.
Conciliators as witnesses
(5) A conciliator appointed to settle the complaint is not a competent or compellable witness at the hearing.
Le conciliateur n’est ni compétent ni contraignable (5) Le conciliateur n’est un témoin ni compétent ni contraignable à l’instruction.
Witness fees (6) Any person summoned to attend the hearing is entitled in the discretion of the member or panel to receive the same fees and allowances as those paid to persons summoned to attend before the Federal Court.
Frais des témoins (6) Les témoins assignés à comparaître en vertu du présent article peuvent, à l’appréciation du membre instructeur, recevoir les frais et indemnités accordés aux témoins assignés devant la Cour fédérale.
Duty of Commission on appearing
51. In appearing at a hearing, presenting evidence and making representations, the Commission shall adopt such position as, in its opinion, is in the public interest having regard to the nature of the complaint.
Obligations de la Commission
51. En comparaissant devant le membre instructeur et en présentant ses éléments de preuve et ses observations, la Commission adopte l’attitude la plus proche, à son avis, de l’intérêt public, compte tenu de la nature de la plainte.
Hearing in public subject to confidentiality order
52. (1) An inquiry shall be conducted in public, but the member or panel conducting the inquiry may, on application, take any measures and make any order that the member or panel considers necessary to ensure the confidentiality of the inquiry if the member or panel is satisfied, during the inquiry or as a result of the inquiry being conducted in public, that
Instruction en principe publique
52. (1) L’instruction est publique, mais le membre instructeur peut, sur demande en ce sens, prendre toute mesure ou rendre toute ordonnance pour assurer la confidentialité de l’instruction s’il est convaincu que, selon le cas :
(a) there is a real and substantial risk that matters involving public security will be disclosed;
a) il y a un risque sérieux de divulgation de questions touchant la sécurité publique;
(b) there is a real and substantial risk to the fairness of the inquiry such that the need to prevent disclosure outweighs the societal interest that the inquiry be conducted in public;
b) il y a un risque sérieux d’atteinte au droit à une instruction équitable de sorte que la nécessité d’empêcher la divulgation de renseignements l’emporte sur l’intérêt qu’a la société à ce que l’instruction soit publique;
(c) there is a real and substantial risk that the disclosure of personal or other matters will cause undue hardship to the persons involved such that the need to prevent disclosure outweighs the societal interest that the inquiry be conducted in public; or
c) il y a un risque sérieux de divulgation de questions personnelles ou autres de sorte que la nécessité d’empêcher leur divulgation dans l’intérêt des personnes concernées ou dans l’intérêt public l’emporte sur l’intérêt qu’a la société à ce que l’instruction soit publique;
(d) there is a serious possibility that the life, liberty or security of a person will be endangered.
d) il y a une sérieuse possibilité que la vie, la liberté ou la sécurité d’une personne puisse être mise en danger par la publicité des débats.
Confidentiality of application
(2) If the member or panel considers it appropriate, the member or panel may take any measures and make any order that the member or panel considers necessary to ensure the confidentiality of a hearing held in respect of an application under subsection (1).
Confidentialité
(2) Le membre instructeur peut, s’il l’estime indiqué, prendre toute mesure ou rendre toute ordonnance qu’il juge nécessaire pour assurer la confidentialité de la demande visée au paragraphe (1).
Complaint dismissed
53. (1) At the conclusion of an inquiry, the member or panel conducting the inquiry shall dismiss the complaint if the member or panel finds that the complaint is not substantiated.
Rejet de la plainte
53. (1) À l’issue de l’instruction, le membre instructeur rejette la plainte qu’il juge non fondée.
Complaint substantiated (2) If at the conclusion of the inquiry the member or panel finds that the complaint is substantiated, the member or panel may, subject to section 54, make an order against the person found to be engaging or to have engaged in the discriminatory practice and include in the order any of the following terms that the member or panel considers appropriate:
Plainte jugée fondée (2) À l’issue de l’instruction, le membre instructeur qui juge la plainte fondée, peut, sous réserve de l’article 54, ordonner, selon les circonstances, à la personne trouvée coupable d’un acte discriminatoire :
(a) that the person cease the discriminatory practice and take measures, in consultation with the Commission on the general purposes of the measures, to redress the practice or to prevent the same or a similar practice from occurring in future, including
a) de mettre fin à l’acte et de prendre, en consultation avec la Commission relativement à leurs objectifs généraux, des mesures de redressement ou des mesures destinées à prévenir des actes semblables, notamment :
(i) the adoption of a special program, plan or arrangement referred to in subsection 16(1), or
(ii) making an application for approval and implementing a plan under section 17;
(i) d’adopter un programme, un plan ou un arrangement visés au paragraphe 16(1),
(ii) de présenter une demande d’approbation et de mettre en oeuvre un programme prévus à l’article 17;
(b) that the person make available to the victim of the discriminatory practice, on the first reasonable occasion, the rights, opportunities or privileges that are being or were denied the victim as a result of the practice;
b) d’accorder à la victime, dès que les circonstances le permettent, les droits, chances ou avantages dont l’acte l’a privée;
(c) that the person compensate the victim for any or all of the wages that the victim was deprived of and for any expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the discriminatory practice;
c) d’indemniser la victime de la totalité, ou de la fraction des pertes de salaire et des dépenses entraînées par l’acte;
(d) that the person compensate the victim for any or all additional costs of obtaining alternativegoods, services, facilities or accommodation and for any expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the discriminatory practice; and
d) d’indemniser la victime de la totalité, ou de la fraction des frais supplémentaires occasionnés par le recours à d’autres biens, services, installations ou moyens d’hébergement, et des dépenses entraînées par l’acte;
(e) that the person compensate the victim, by an amount not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, for any pain and suffering that the victim experienced as a result of the discriminatory practice.
e) d’indemniser jusqu’à concurrence de 20 000 $ la victime qui a souffert un préjudice moral.
Special compensation
(3) In addition to any order under subsection (2), the member or panel may order the person to pay such compensation not exceeding twenty thousand dollars to the victim as the member or panel may determine if the member or panel finds that the person is engaging or has engaged in the discriminatory practice wilfully or recklessly.
Indemnité spéciale (3) Outre les pouvoirs que lui confère le paragraphe (2), le membre instructeur peut ordonner à l’auteur d’un acte discriminatoire de payer à la victime une indemnité maximale de 20 000 $, s’il en vient à la conclusion que l’acte a été délibéré ou inconsidéré.
Interest 4) Subject to the rules made under section 48.9, an order to pay compensation under this section may include an award of interest at a rate and for a period that the member or panel considers appropriate.
Intérêts (4) Sous réserve des règles visées à l’article 48.9, le membre instructeur peut accorder des intérêts sur l’indemnité au taux et pour la période qu’il estime justifiés.
Orders relating to hate messages
54. (1) If a member or panel finds that a complaint related to a discriminatory practice described in section 13 is substantiated, the member or panel may make only one or more of the following orders:
Cas de propagande haineuse
54. (1) Le membre instructeur qui juge fondée une plainte tombant sous le coup de l’article 13 peut rendre :
(a) an order containing terms referred to in paragraph 53(2)(a);
a) l’ordonnance prévue à l’alinéa 53(2)a);
(b) an order under subsection 53(3) to compensate a victim specifically identified in the communication that constituted the discriminatory practice; and
(c) an order to pay a penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars.
b) l’ordonnance prévue au paragraphe 53(3) — avec ou sans intérêts — pour indemniser la victime identifiée dans la communication constituant l’acte discriminatoire;
c) une ordonnance imposant une sanction pécuniaire d’au plus 10 000 $.
Factors
(1.1) In deciding whether to order the person to pay the penalty, the member or panel shall take into account the following factors:
Facteurs
(1.1) Il tient compte, avant d’imposer la sanction pécuniaire visée à l’alinéa (1)c) :
(a) the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the discriminatory practice; and
(b) the wilfulness or intent of the person who engaged in the discriminatory practice, any prior discriminatory practices that the person has engaged in and the person’s ability to pay the penalty.
a) de la nature et de la gravité de l’acte discriminatoire ainsi que des circonstances l’entourant;
b) de la nature délibérée de l’acte, des antécédents discriminatoires de son auteur et de sa capacité de payer.
Idem (2) No order under subsection 53(2) may contain a term
Idem (2) L’ordonnance prévue au paragraphe 53(2) ne peut exiger :
(a) requiring the removal of an individual from a position if that individual accepted employment in that position in good faith; or
a) le retrait d’un employé d’un poste qu’il a accepté de bonne foi;
(b) requiring the expulsion of an occupant from any premises or accommodation, if that occupant obtained such premises or accommodation in good faith.
b) l’expulsion de l’occupant de bonne foi de locaux, moyens d’hébergement ou logements.
DECISION UNDER REVIEW:
[23] In the decision, the Tribunal found that the evidence did not establish that Mr. Lemire had actual or constructive knowledge of the content of Mr. Harrison’s posts on the Freedomsite.org message board notwithstanding Lemire’s role as administrator of the host website. Similarly, there was no evidence to establish a prima facie case that Mr. Lemire was aware of posts submitted by persons other than Mr. Harrison that could constitute hate messages. These were posted on “threads” or strings of messages that Lemire did not directly control or regularly visit. Mr. Lemire thus did not “communicate or cause to communicate” these messages within the meaning of s 13 of the Act.
[24] With regards to JRBooksonline.com, the Tribunal found that there was “insufficient evidence to establish, even on a prima facie basis, that Mr. Lemire or a group of persons that includes him, communicated or caused to be communicated, the material found on JRBooksonline.com, within the meaning of s 13” (at para 47 of the decision). Mr. Warman had alleged that the website was controlled by Mr. Lemire. The Tribunal found that the evidence showed that while Mr. Lemire had assisted with the registration of the domain at the outset, a third party was the webmaster and the owner of that website and that there was no evidence that Mr. Lemire visited the site or controlled its content.
[25] Regarding a poem Mr. Lemire had posted on the website Stormfront.org, the Tribunal found that the content did not amount to hate speech as defined by the Supreme Court in Taylor. A number of other articles posted by Mr. Lemire or of which he evidently had actual or constructive knowledge, which were posted on his site, Freedomsite.org, were also found to not amount to hate speech as they fell short of expressing the required level of detestation, calumny and vilification to meet the test.
[26] Lemire had control over the posting of articles in a section of the Freedomsite.org site which published the work of authors described as “Controversial Columnists”. Any member of the public could access that section of the website. One of the articles posted there by Lemire was entitled “AIDS Secrets”. The Tribunal found that the article contained material that is likely to expose homosexuals and blacks to hatred or contempt (at para 198 of the decision), and that Mr. Lemire repeatedly communicated the matter within the meaning of s 13 (at para 212 of the decision). The complaint was thus substantiated in respect of that one item. Mr. Lemire has not sought judicial review of that finding.
[27] Turning to the issue of the constitutionality of s 13 of the Act, the Tribunal noted that the question had been determined by the Supreme Court in Taylor. While the Supreme Court had found that s 13(1) infringed Charter s 2(b), it was satisfied that the enactment satisfied both aspects of the test for justification under Charter s 1: R v Oakes, [1986] 1 SCR 103 (a sufficiently important objective and a proportional measure to achieve it).
[28] The Tribunal considered that it could revisit the question of s 1 justification since the s 13 regime had been modified by Parliament since Taylor. As such, the Tribunal found that Taylor was distinguishable from the case at hand. The scheme of the Act had been changed from “an exclusively remedial, preventive and conciliatory” regime (para 262 of the decision) at the time of Taylor to one that was quasi-penal (para 279 of the decision). In the Tribunal’s view, this stemmed largely from the amendments to the Act in 1998 mentioned at para 19 above, which authorized the Tribunal, in addition to issuing a cease and desist order and ordering that the victim be compensated up to the amount of now $20,000, to order the defendant to pay a penalty of up to $10, 000 dollars having considered certain specified factors (the new s 54(1)(c) of 1998).
[29] The Tribunal found that the Commission’s