We’ve just officially lost the right to free speech

So, how is your society faring today? Ours is not doing too well. We’ve just officially lost the right to free speech.

Our government passed a law that imposes sanctions on “hate speech” and “hate propaganda” with penalties of up to $70,000 and life imprisonment for posting unapproved words on the internet.

Here is how the hate is defined: “the content of a communication that expresses detestation or vilification of an individual or group of individuals” But don’t worry, they thought about us overreacting and specified that this is not an attack on free speech: “Speech would not fall within the definition of hate speech solely because it expresses dislike or disdain, or it discredits, humiliates, hurts or offends”

Now, who and how will decide if an opinion is detestation or dislike? The wrong people, like always. The new law is supposed to be enforced by human rights tribunals, a paralegal activist organization akin to a kind of ADL or SPLC, but backed by law.

What’s funny is that they presented it as a package meant to protect children, discussing sexual crimes and legitimate issues, only to include provisions on “hate speech.” However, laws addressing these sexual crimes have existed for a long time. The only new aspect is the law controlling speech.

The bill would introduce new regulations for online platforms, including a vaguely defined “duty to act responsibly.” A commission of five politicians will determine what “responsibly” means, and unsurprisingly, they will likely be from the same party.

Moreover, individuals could be placed under house arrest or required to wear an ankle bracelet if there is a belief that they will post something hateful online in the future.

According to the government’s own background information: “As this is a preventative measure to protect all people in Canada, there wouldn’t be a need for evidence that an offense has actually been committed.”

We lost the right to free speech. Now, our ability to express ourselves will be in the hands of five bureaucrats and a bunch of activists who will dictate who can and cannot speak. What could possibly go wrong?

This law will have significant real-life consequences.

Is this a good time to prepare a placard with “Long live Trudeau, the father of our nation, and our peoples party!”? Just to err on the safe side.