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The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday. January.30. 1992-Page 5
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■ . By, DAVID LAZARUS
MONTREAL -
Jewish groups say that they will keep a close watch on how the federal Justice Department handles the case of a Montreal-based computer ' 'bulletin board" containing anti-Semitic messages arid other hate propaganda.
What appears to be at central issue in the case — involving bulletins accessible to anyone owning a personal computer with a telephone modem hookup — is whether such communications constitute private conversation or public dissemination.
If the former, the communications are almost certainly not subject to legal sanction.
But if they are public — in the sense of being theoretically accessible to anyone — they could conceivably be found, to be breaking a section of the Canadian Human Rights Act and even to be criminally culpable of spreading hate propaganda.
The Gazette reported last week that the case involves a Montreal main connected with the "Ulrich's Renegade Press Service Party." or "Urps," described as a wing of a local racist group called the Canadian National Party.
The man. unidentified in the story, reportedly uses a free Montreal computer message service — Nirvana — to post lengthy "articles" with anti-Jewish and anti-black messages.
Two of the articles cited were The Jewish Jmnsion and While Man, Think Again:
The Gazette cited a second message service that has stopped carrying Urps.
Martin Theriault, co-ordinaibr of the Canadian Centre oh Racism and. Prejudice, registered a complaint with the federal Justice Department, apparently to open the door for criminal prosecution under federal law that bans propagating hate.
But speaking to The CJN. Jewish groups said the criminal court system is not necessarily the most exp^itious method to shut down such operations.
According to Ian Kagedan, director in Ottawa of government relation for B'nai Brith Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has been the
I Bernie Farber
most useful way to deal with hate material disseminated electronically through video games or through hate message telephone answering machine lines.
Kagedan and Bernie Farber, the associate national conimunity relations director for Canadian Jewish Congress, said the CHRC has been particularly effective in closing down a number of racist phone lines in Canada, by enforcing Section 13a of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits telephonic transmission of material promoting hatred or contempt.
Farber said the commission has not yet addressed the specific issue of whether computer bulletin board messages, carried by phone line, also fall under Sec-lion 13a, because that form of communication has not come up before the commission.
But Farber said Canadian Jewish Congress will consider filing a complaiint agianst Urps if the commission decides it does come under 13a.
Kagedan, for one, said he would be "stunned" if the CHRC did not think Section 13a applied.
In Kagedan's view, Theriault probably chose the least efficient way to stop the Urps line, considering the time and trouble involved in launching a criminal action, which would require the approval of Gil Remillard, Quebec's attorney-general, and then proof in court that Urps* intent was to incite hatred.
MONTREAL -
Israeli immigration to Canada increased steadily through the 1980s, according to statistics just published by Immigration Canada.
The statistics report shows that 1,740 persons whose country of last permanent residence was Israel landed in 1989. The figure in 1983 was about a third of that
- 584.
A major upsurge began in 1986 when 1,200 people arrived from Israel. The following years saw 1,461 and 1,435 in 1987 and 1988, respectively.
Of the I,740in 1989, the great majority are under 40. and thiere are a significant proportion of children in the group.
The intended destinations of the vast
increases
majority were Ontario (1,038) and Quebec (608).
Most came to Canada as independent immigrants (1,152) ^ while 392 came under the family class, 110 under assisted relative class, 70as entrepreneurs, 15 as self-employed and one as a refugee.
Largest classified occupation groups that year were: fabricating, assembling and repairing; natural sciences, engineering arid mathematics; machining and related; and clerical and related. A total of 472 persons aged 18 aivd over entered as students.
The niimber of Israelis by birth emigrating to Canada was somewhat less: 1 i2% in 1989, but slightly more by country of citizenship: 1,768.
Name Game
There is a story in almost every Jewish surname and Toronto lawyer FRED M. CATZMAN has been researching their orpins over the past few years. Mr. Catzman reports on his research in The CJN.
WETSTEIN
My friend Label Wetstein is a master "plaitze" giver — Yiddish for steam bath masseur; He believesthat his name means wet stone, a concrete concept: I can find no authoritative analysis of the name, although I discern a resemblance to the English word Whetstone — a stone which was used to sharpen metal cutters like knives, swords and axes.
While the use of "whet" appears to have dried out, you find it in association with appetite so that whetting your appetite connotes sharpening by the stimulation of your salivary glands.
KRONIK - KRONGOLD - KRANGLE
Kron is the German word for crown. From it is derived surnames like Kronik, Kroneneberg (Crown Hill) and Krongold (gold crown). Krangle appears to be a contraction of Krongold.
CHAT Reunion!
Attention All CHAT Alunftii! _ Please join us at our
"Come As Ybu Were"
Reunion Sat, Feb. 29, 8:30 p.m.
at Community Hebrew Academy 200 Wilmington Ave., Downsview
Music, Refreshments, Nostalgia, Etc.
Cost: $10 per person; $15 at the door
Dress is casual ! All former teachers welcome!
RSVP to Marilyn Cohen (Co-ordinator)
636-4755
More help is welcome on our planning committee
It
ONTARIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR
human rights
OF B'NAI BRITH CANADA
Canada's leading community based advocacy organization is looking for a highly skilled, and pro-active individual to assist in the fight against anti-Semitism and racism.
The successful candidate will posses strong interpersonal, writing, oral, administrative and organizational skills. Knowledge of human rights and race relations issues an asset. The position requires an ability to function under pressure and display initiative in anti-defamation work. The ability to work with lay and professional supervision is required.
Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience/
Please submit resumes by February 14, 1992 to:
Lou Ronson, chair, personnel committee, B'nai Brith Canada, ^ 15 Hove Street,
Downsview, Ontario, M3H 4Y8 or FAX 630-2159.
CANADIAN JEWISH CONGRESS
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CONGRESJUIF CANADIEN
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no PLENARY ASSEMBLY
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CONFRONTING THE FUTURE: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD FACE a CaVENIR : FAITESVOUS ENTENDRE
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE
The Israel Government Tourist Office, Shalom K Tours and El Al Israel Airlines, recently hosted a ljuncheon to commemorate the mission of 800 people in the Western Ontario Region of the Pentecostal Assemblies Gathering in Jerusalem, the largest-ever Christian group to leave from North America to Israel, and to launch 1992 as the year of Pentecostal Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Pictured (from left) are Rev. Ray Priddle of the Emmanuel Bible Collie in Kitchener: Roberto Schliesser, DSM Ontario & Western Canada, El Al Israel Airlines; Yehuda Shen, director for Canada, Israel Government Tourist Office; Shalom Even, founder of Shalom K Tours: and Rev. Jim Cantelon of 100 Huntfe\ Street.
Please he advised that the Canadian Jewish Congress 23rd Iriennial Plenary Assenihlv will he held in Toronto, Ontario, at the Regal Constellation Hotel, May 20 to 24, 1992.
The Plenary is the highest decision-making body within Canadian Jewish Congress.
For delegate information and complete registration package, please contact either the Plenary Olfice, 4600 Bathurst Street, Willowdale, Ontario, M2R 3V2, (416) 635-2S83, fax (416) 635-14()S;theNationalOffice, 1590DocteurPenfieldAyeniie, >Iontreal,Quel)ec,H3GlC5,(514)931.7531,fa\:(514)931-()548; or, after February 18, your regional CJC office.