E-mail from the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF)

Dear all,

This is yet another unprecedented attack on the Arabic Community in Canada. This is sickening and deeply alarming. Please note the implications of this bill in giving the police the right to enter People of Arabic/Muslim homes at any time and search them on the excuse that one might be watching Arabic Satellite Television. What is behind this. This must be publicised in the media and copies of e-mail should be sent to as many Human rights and civil liberties organizations around the world. I suggest also that you have your e-mails addresses added to CAF list above.

Action Alert

CAF needs your help. The Canadian government is reviewing a new bill in the house of commons called Bill C-2, An act to ammend the Ractiocommunications Act. Bill C-2 will make it illegal for anyone to watch Al Jazeera, ART Global, ART movies, Dubai Satellite Channel, ESC-1, Future TV, LBC, MBC, Nile Dram even if you pay for a subscription by a non-Canadian provider. Anyone caught watching these channels will be liable to a $25, 000 fine or a year in jail under the new proposed law. Bill C-2 will treat as criminals those who watch Arabic language channels. MPs Carolyn Parrish and Alexa McDonough have been active and vocal about this problematic bill. Make your opposition heard by writing to the chair and vice-chair of the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, MP Brent St. Denis at [email protected][/email]. Marlene Jennings is the Vice-Chair and she can be reached at [email protected]. Please be sure to cc. your own Member of Parlaiment and CAF at
[email protected][/email]. Points to be raised:


a.. This bill criminalizes those who enjoy cultural programming that is not made available by Canadian providers


b.. The bill fails to distinguish between those who steal satellite signals and those who pay for it legitimately

c.. There are over 500, 000 Arabs in Canada who are being deprived of their right to programming that maintains their links to language, culture and religion

d.. This is a violation of freedom of _expression and the targetting of specific communities and their civil liberties


e.. Clause 5 of the bill is very problematic in that it allows extraordinary powers to inspectors who can enter any place where these channels are being recieved and to remove or copy any item or document


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In appreciation Several weeks ago CAF sent out an action alert to write in support of MP Pat O'Brien. We were very pleased to hear your responses. Since then CAF has learned that members of the Jewish community have been placing a large amound of pressure on Mr. O'Brien to retract his comments about the Israeli wall turning Palestinian areas into concentration camps. Thanks to your emails and calls of support, Mr. O'Brien has refused to retract or back down from his comments. Congratulations to all who wrote in. This is but one example of how CAF and the community can work together to affect change. An article about the meeting with Mr. O'Brien and the Jewish community can be found at http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=2806.

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More information on Bill C-2

Since our last bulletin that contained an action alert on the proposed Bill C-2, CAF has heard from many people who are concerned over the impact of this bill. If passed, Bill C-2 will not only affect the Arabic-speaking community. Bill C-2 will also make it illegal for Canadians to watch Spanish, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Iranian and Vietnamese satellite stations. In some cases these channels are being received illegally and in other cases, people are paying a monthly subscription to Dish Network. Bill C-2 will not distinguish between those stealing the signal and those that are paying for it. The fines for individuals receiving any of the channels will be one year in jail or $25, 000. Satellite dealers will be fined $200, 000.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has already given licenses for at least one Arabic, Spanish, Polish and Russian channel to be carried by Bell Express View. However, Bell has indicated that it is not interested in carrying minority ethnic channels. If this bill passes, all viewers of foreign satellite stations will be treated as criminals, regardless of whether or not they are paying for the service. Because Canadian carriers such as Bell refuse to carry ethnic channels, the consequence is that ethnic programming will no longer be available for Canadians to view as a means of maintaining links to their language and culture.

Members of Parliament Alexa McDonough and Carolyn Parrish have both expressed their opposition to this bill. Click on CAF's website to read Ms. McDonough's statement http://www.caf.ca/t_publications/Pr...0Bill%20C-2.pdf and Ms. Parrish's letter to the Prime Minister http://www.caf.ca/t_publications/Pr...Bill%20C-2.pdf.


CAF needs your help. Bill C-2 has already passed 2nd reading in the House of Commons and has been referred to the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Please contact the committee chair MP Brent St. Denis at [email][email protected] and vice chair Marlene Jennings at [email protected]. to express your opposition. For the Arab community Bill C-2, if passed will treat as criminals anyone watching Al Jazeera, ART Global, ART movies, Dubai Satellite Channel, ESC-1, Future TV, LBC, MBC, Nile Drama. This will occur even if you pay for a subscription by a non-Canadian provider. Anyone caught watching these channels will be liable to a $25, 000 fine or a year in jail under the new proposed law. When you write in, please be sure to cc. your own Member of Parliament and CAF at [email][email protected]. Points to be raised:

No one opposing this bill is justifying stealing satellite signals or legalizing the black market. What we are advocating for making cultural programming legally available and accessible to Canadians who want to maintain links to their cultural heritage.

This bill criminalizes those who enjoy cultural programming that is not made available by Canadian providers

The bill fails to distinguish between those who steal satellite signals and those who pay for it

If the bill is passed, there are over 500, 000 Arabs in Canada who will be deprived of their right to programming that maintains their links to language, culture and religion

Clause 5 of the bill is very problematic in that it allows extraordinary powers to inspectors who can enter any place where these channels are being received and to remove or copy any item or document

This is a violation of freedom of _expression and it targets specific communities and their civil liberties

See CAF's website www.caf.ca for more details about which MPs support your right to watch Arabic TV.

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*** Sig will be edited -> see rule #5 regarding political/religious content
Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization: "Spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly."