It isn't without merit that Canada is becoming a laughing stock when it comes to political correctness and the attack on free speech. Until recently, Canada has had a proud history of protecting speech. However, now there's a battalion of pompous and presumptuous bottom-feeders who have taken it upon themselves to act on behalf of all Canadians, threatening anybody who doesn't agree with their take on reality and speech with legal action and incarceration. Not content in minding their own business, these meddlers attempt with increasing success to control who can speak and what they can say.

One such person is Francois Houle, for whom I couldn't bother finding the right key on my keyboard to add the accent to his name.

Whether you like Ann Coulter or not is beside the point. She has a right to speak and people have a right to hear her.

She has been invited by several Canadian Universities to speak. One of these is the University of Ottawa. Houle, the Provost of the University, took the liberty to represent the entire country in warning Coulter to behave or else.

Dear Ms. Coulter,

I understand that you have been invited by University of Ottawa Campus Conservatives to speak at the University of Ottawa this coming Tuesday. We are, of course, always delighted to welcome speakers on our campus and hope that they will contribute positively to the meaningful exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of a great university campus. We have a great respect for freedom of expression in Canada, as well as on our campus, and view it as a fundamental freedom, as recognized by our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I would, however, like to inform you, or perhaps remind you, that our domestic laws, both provincial and federal, delineate freedom of expression (or "free speech") in a manner that is somewhat different than the approach taken in the United States. I therefore encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here.

You will realize that Canadian law puts reasonable limits on the freedom of expression. For example, promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges. Outside of the criminal realm, Canadian defamation laws also limit freedom of expression and may differ somewhat from those to which you are accustomed. I therefore ask you, while you are a guest on our campus, to weigh your words with respect and civility in mind.

There is a strong tradition in Canada, including at this university, of restraint, respect and consideration in expressing even provocative and controversial opinions and urge you to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus. Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in our beautiful country, city and campus.

Sincerely,

Francois Houle,
Vice-President Academic and Provost, University of Ottawa

What an embarrassment to Canada this sad sack represents. Voltaire is probably rolling over.

Mark Steyn, in an article in the National Post, remarked:

I've no idea what Ann Coulter's reaction to this letter is, but I suspect it's "Go ahead, Princesss Fairy Pants, make my day.

What she's actually doing, according to the Post:

"Now that the provost has instructed me on the criminal speech laws he apparently believes I have a proclivity (to break), despite knowing nothing about my speech, I see that he is guilty of promoting hatred against an identifiable group: conservatives," Coulter wrote in an e-mail to the Ottawa Citizen Monday. The Citizen had requested a telephone interview with Coulter, but instead received the e-mail from the author.

She questioned whether every speaker booked at the university receives a similar warning, or just the conservative ones.

"The provost simply believes and is publicizing his belief that conservatives are more likely to commit hate crimes in their speeches. Not only does this promote hatred against conservatives, but it promotes violence against conservatives," Coulter wrote.

She added she will ask the human rights commission to investigate, but didn't specify which one.

"I was hoping for a fruit basket upon my arrival in Canada, not a threat to criminally prosecute me," Coulter said.

Houle, as well as Canada's Human Rights Commission, should be shipped via one way ticket to North Korea. I'd certainly chip in. But in the meantime, I'll have to be content in just ridiculing the fools and publishing their names so that all good and logical Canadians may take part in skewering their pompous, presumptuous and dangerous buffoonery.

Addendum: Houle got his way and Coulter's talk was cancelled by the University of Ottawa. The fearful stench of 'Borg-like' socialism continues to spread.

Related: It's time this abused and outrageous law was struck down by Canada's Parliament.

Inform yourself. Find out why PEN, The Canadian Association of Journalists and even Noam Chomsky are against it. And if you agree, please feel free to take the ad, post it on your blog and spread it around.