FC: Canadian Supreme Court recognizes free speech may be a good idea

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Here's a (long) URL to another article on the same topic:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C,B/20020221/wscoc2102?hub=homeBN&tf=tgam%252Frealtime%252Ffullstory.html&cf=tgam/realtime/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wscoc2102&date=20020221&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad_pa

-Declan

----- Forwarded message from owner-politech () politechbot com -----

From: "Michael Gurstein" <mgurst () vcn bc ca>
To: "Politech@Politechbot. Com" <politech () politechbot com>
Subject: FW: [CPI-UA]: Important free speech decision Supreme Court 
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 11:24:31 -0500

I think this may be of interest to your readers.

Mike Gurstein

Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
(Visiting) Professor: School of Management
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ

---------------------------------------------

> From the (Toronto) Globe and Mail:
===================================
Consumer beefs part of free speech

Supreme Court strikes down bylaw that barred sign denouncing company

By KIRK MAKIN Friday, February 22, 2002 ­ Print Edition, Page A5

JUSTICE REPORTER -- The Supreme Court of Canada struck a strong blow for
free speech yesterday, ruling that consumers enjoy a vital constitutional
right to publicly criticize companies, products and services.

"This type of communication may be of considerable social importance --
even beyond the merely commercial sphere," Mr. Justice Louis LeBel wrote
for a 9-0 majority.

The court ruled that Canadians have a right to express their
dissatisfaction via conventional media, the Internet and on signs.

"It is a form of expression of opinion that has an important effect on the
social and economic life of a society," Judge LeBel wrote. "It is a right
not only of consumers but of citizens."

The appellant, Roger Guignard, is a Quebecker who fought city hall after
being convicted of illegally posting a sign in a residential area. The sign
violated a City of Saint-Hyacinthe bylaw.

Mr. Guignard's sign -- posted on a building he owned -- denounced his
insurance company for not having paid a claim filed several months earlier.
He supplied the dates of the claim on the sign and wrote: "Commerce Group
-- The Incompetent Insurance Company Has Still Not Indemnified Me."

[...]



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