Bruce Dowbiggin
Criminalizing Speech: The Moral Panic Sets In
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“Hatred means the emotion that involves detestation or vilification and that is stronger than dislike or disdain.” Bill C-38 defines hate speech
Canada’s proposed Bill C-38 is a product of morally panicked people who think “too many people in Canada are victimized by hate speech and hate crimes and we have to make sure we are tackling this”. Whose hate? What is hate? Hands up if this reminds you of the U.S. Supreme Court trying to decide what constitutes pornography in The People Vs. Larry Flynt?
Is this truly a crisis? Not really. But having expanded hate speech from Holocaust denial to “suspend the financial records of people who criticize the PM” the radicals behind the legislation have been able to create “crisis” statistics for gormless media to regurgitate. But it’s just a start on repressing speech.
C-38 wants to make even thinking about alleged hate into a crime— and it will allow a third party to anticipate this. “A person may, with the Attorney General’s consent, lay an information before a provincial court judge if the person fears on reasonable grounds that another person will commit (a) an offence under section 318 [advocating genocide] or subsection 319″ [inciting or promoting hate, promoting hatred].”
In doing so Canada’s Moral Panic Police have jumped the fence and are now about to root around in your recycling bin for material to use against you. The urge to cancel culture (it’s now a verb) pervades every corner of discourse these days. Thinking you’ll escape the moral arbiters is delusional.
Example: This week I on was on the popular Toronto Mike podcast to talk about— wait for it— Tony Bennett versus Frank Sinatra with my old running mate Steve Paikin, he of TVO renown. I’d been on twice before and enjoyed the format.
Unbeknownst to me, before we began Mike felt it incumbent to read a cheeky disclaimer: “The following episode of Toronto Mike is not an endorsement of Bruce Dowbiggin or his tweets. The host and producer of this podcast does not share in Bruce’s constant praise of Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Nor his support of the Freedom Convoy and recent criticism of Ukraine president Vladimir Zelensky. Peace and love and vaccinations for all… “
I give Mike credit (even though the Donald Trump shot is fantasy). He was resisting the moral panic police in having Heretic No.1 on his show in spite of what “Bruce is spewing on social media”. In this climate defying the mob is not an insignificant thing with listeners who say things like, “How can you have him on the show?
I also give him props for letting me respond before we delved into Tony’s bel canto and Frank’s phrasing. I referred him to a recent column I’d written on my Groundhog Day experience in understanding the West. I then reminded him and his listeners that Woke Toronto is a cult of elitist centralist snobs— just ask Jordan Peterson, a proud Albertan transplanted to Toronto. The West’s pushback is going to happen, says Peterson, “given Trudeau’s antipathy toward the economic engines of the west. It’s absolutely inevitable. Wake up, Toronto.”
Mike asked Steve if he thought my moving to Alberta had changed me. Steve smartly chose a safe ground between us, saying my politics had evolved over the years as I moved from Montreal to Toronto to Calgary. But unless I said something illegal he had no problems with me. Then we talked about Tony and Frank for 90 minutes. And I didn’t get cancelled. For now.
The takeaway is that, in a time of C-38 moral panic, when people are mortified to remove their face diapers, we now must have disclaimers when we leave our safe spaces to duel with contrary opinions. That’s if we duel with them at all. The bullies have cleansed public discourse.
As I wrote last year, veteran broadcaster Wendy Mesley losing her career in June of 2020 over using the N word in a story meeting is no longer an outrage. “Looked at from a June 2021 perspective it all seems of a piece. Snitches are now running amok, stories are progressive narratives and censorship of perceived enemies is cool. Snobs Rule.
“Everything is identity politics. Try getting a white male bank president on the Corp or TVO these days. Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than have an inappropriate political messenger soil the lineup sheet dominated by the downtown Toronto aristocracy. Most alarming is that the Canadian media, culture and government are all located there, imposing their tortured worldview on the nation.
Which brings us to the PM who consistently uses his own hate-speech aggressions on those he fears. Racist, Nazis, misogynists, science deniers, purveyors of misinformation and conspiracy theorists were just a few of the bouquets he tossed at the truckers who forced him into hiding. Yet Canada’s purchased media considered this petulance all part of his charm. And pounced on the truckers.
Apparently Trudeau’s charm escapes journalists abroad. Concurrent with Trudeau’s UK jaunt, watch this evisceration of the PM by Brits not resident in the 416/613/604. (BTW: It was the second nomination for Plank of the Week for Trudeau.) Luckily for these Brits they’re out of the long reach of C-38.
Trudeau is Plank of the week in Britain. Total disdain. But none of Canada’s gelded media will concur. They’re too busy covering up for him hiding. Best to boot the truckers so Skippy will love them. Pathetic. Then they talk about how brave they are. https://t.co/He3AYmVjIm
— bruce dowbiggin (@dowbboy) March 9, 2022
So are Dutch journalists. Befuddled by Trudeau’s word salads, they were grimly annoyed at how PMJT won’t any answer questions directly. But then, he is protected by a Media Party who use Trump as a punchline for their witticisms. But then apply an entirely different standard to Trudeau, master of disguise, occupant of hiding places, punchline to anyone outside the Canadian knowledge culture.
If Canadian media need help on punchlines or how to proceed maybe they could ask American comedian Andrew Schulz. Schulz has also been watching Canada’s PM in hiding and has some thoughts that might fall afoul of C-38. Will there be a hate-crime charge waiting Schulz if he ventures north to Canada for JFL in Montreal? Would the Liberals caucus not consider this mockery to be hate?
Roasting Trans-Punjabi Justin Trudeau in Toronto…#TheInfamousTourhttps://t.co/ESE9SE2nxn pic.twitter.com/UZsxhbFfEl
— Andrew Schulz 👑HEZI (@andrewschulz) March 8, 2022
But Canadian self-pitying media are far too busy feeling the “hate” themselves after the Convoy fiasco. Edmonton bingo caller Sarah Ryan: “I am shaking I am so mad right now. When we got into journalism this was not the norm. This hate towards the media is being perpetuated by people in positions of power and it needs to stop NOW”.
Sure. Just as soon as C-38 gets passed.
{Update: Let’s not leave out Trudeau’s wonderful C-67 Bill which thrusts CRT into Canadian schools under the guise of racial harmony.}
Bruce Dowbiggin @dowbboy is the editor of Not The Public Broadcaster (http://www.notthepublicbroadcaster.com). The best-selling author was nominated for the BBN Business Book award of 2020 for Personal Account with Tony Comper. A two-time winner of the Gemini Award as Canada’s top television sports broadcaster, he’s also a regular contributor to Sirius XM Canada Talks Ch. 167. His new book with his son Evan Inexact Science: The Six Most Compelling Draft Years In NHL History is now available on http://brucedowbigginbooks.ca/book-personalaccount.aspx
Bruce Dowbiggin
From Deal With It: A Cruel, Senseless Fate Ends A Brilliant Career
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The tragic death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a car/ bike accident last Thursday in New Jersey was sad beyond words. The pair, riding home from a rehearsal dinner for their sister’s wedding the next day, were killed by a drunk driver who’d passed on the right side of a vehicle ahead. Words fail.
The loss of the brothers reminded us that in our new book Deal With It we dealt with a key moment in Gaudreau’s NHL career when he abandoned Calgary, the only NHL team he’d known since 2014, for Columbus in a controversial decision. Here’s what we said:
“If 2017-18 had been a turning point, 2021-22 was the major breakthrough that saw Gaudreau as a HHoF legend in the making, one who could have his number someday in the rafters in Calgary… should he choose to remain there. As it was, Flames supporters who had seen the team win just one playoff series since 2004, were eager to see how high the new-look Flames could soar and if Gaudreau might finally find his playoff scoring touch. They also looked forward to a possible matchup against the Oilers who’d had to work to even make the postseason.
Against stingy Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger, the Flames had to work just to escape in seven games, with Gaudreau notching just two goals in the series. Both would be game winners as Calgary outlasted the Stars in a nailbiter. His brilliant Game 7 overtime snipe— going short-side top corner near Oetinger’s head— was his highwater mark in a flaming “C,” sending the club into their first postseason clash with the Oilers since 1991. Coach Sutter praised his little winger’s efforts, saying Gaudreau had “taken that step to perform as well in the playoffs” as in the regular season. Gaudreau’s play in the series against Dallas was not helped by indifferent play from Tkachuk, who seemed disinterested in going to the danger areas and only mixing it up physically with the underdog Stars when scrums or opportunities for face washes were provided.
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Unfortunately for the Flames, the struggles of their top line against Dallas caught up to them in a passionate showdown with McDavid and the Oilers. In Game 1, Calgary raced to a lopsided 5-1 lead before seeing McDavid bring the Oilers back to tie it at 6-6 in the third frame. Tkachuk got the last laugh on this occasion, burying the third of his three goals that ensured a ridiculous 9-6 series-opening win for Calgary. In Game 2, Calgary once again took an early lead only to watch Edmonton roar back again again. This time, the Oilers made their resurgence hold up and claimed a 5-3 win. After dropping Game 3 in concerningly easy fashion (4-1), then trailing for the bulk of Game 4, the Flames seemed to turn a corner when they came back to tie Game 5 3-3. Looking for a turning point on Edmonton ice, they instead sagged as the Oilers scored twice in the final seven minutes.
Facing elimination in Game 5, Gaudreau’s Flames toyed with fans’ emotions as they possessed the lead twice only to see Edmonton get the equalizer both times. Pushed to the brink, the gut punch of McDavid potting the winner in OT was the final touch on Calgary’s wasted chance at a deep championship run. As it turns out, it was also the early end of an era that once held so much promise. “Missed opportunities,” the Sutter lamented postgame. “It’s not being critical, that’s just true. They’re going to tell you that, too. Missed opportunities go the other way.” The subduing of Calgary’s top line (just six goals including Tkachuk’s Game 1 hatty) was a key to Edmonton’s shockingly decisive triumph, leading to the same old questions about Gaudreau. Those questions also applied to Tkachuk, with doubt cast upon building around them for playoff success. There would be little time for reflection in the offseason talent market.
Instead of Calgary entertaining trades, the options would be in Gaudreau’s hands. As the July 1 trade deadline approached, Gaudreau announced that, despite an enormous eight-year, $80M contract offer from the Flames, he would test free agency. The star winger claimed to many in private that he wanted to go home so his wife could have their baby in the USA. As such, it was believed his preferred venues were the Islanders, Devils or Flyers (closer to home and a childhood favourite team, given he grew up just across the Delaware River from Philly). Still wishing something could be worked out, Calgary management hoped against hope for a reversal of his decision to entertain other cities after the UFA market opened. But Flames fans quietly resigned themselves to losing him for nothing.
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To the shock and surprise of many, Gaudreau would go only as far as Columbus, Ohio, when it came to finding a new home. Accepting less than Calgary’s max offer to go play on a team with few real hopes of playoff contention– a ten-hour drive from the Jersey shore where he supposedly wanted to be– Gaudreau sent a missile into Flame country. The optics were terrible for the 29-year old superstar, after insisting he wanted to be near the family home on the Jersey shore. Eric Duhatschek, shortly after, summed up the stunned reaction in The Athletic, writing “The fact that it took Gaudreau so long to choose effectively sabotaged the Flames’ off-season, because it closed so many possible Plan B options to the organization. Closer to home, but not close — because if close to home was the absolute priority, then he could have picked the New Jersey Devils, who also tabled an offer. Columbus is more easily reached by private jet than Calgary, but it’s not as if he’ll be dropping into his mom’s house for dinner after a game or a practice — or getting emergency babysitting service if they need someone right this minute to help out on the home front.” Calgary’s abandonment was best summed up by CBC broadcaster Andrew Brown’s sign-off that day, “And that’s the news for now, I’ll be back here at 11, unless a news station in Columbus offers me way less money… and I’ll probably go do that.”
Gaudreau himself put a salty punctuation on dumping Calgary at his welcome presser in Columbus. “It didn’t matter where I was signing. Our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary.” From America, the reaction was more sympathetic to Gaudreau. In the New York Post, Larry Brooks sneered, “The hysterical response to Johnny Gaudreau’s decision to leave millions on the table in Calgary and instead sign with Columbus was indeed just that. Players are routinely lambasted across the professional sports landscape for being greedy mercenaries. Now this one is being targeted for taking a road less traveled.”
On Barstool Sports, personality “The Rear Admiral” summed up a scathing putdown with “Hell hath no fury like Canadian media (allegedly) scorned… But when media members wail and stomp their feet because a fellow adult opts to work in a new location, well that’s a special kind of entertainment.” For Flames GM Treliving, whose contract wasn’t renewed at season’s end, there was some resignation over the hand he’d been dealt. “At the end of the day, the players make decisions,” Treliving said. “You always reflect back on how you go through a process. I feel very, very comfortable that the ownership of this organization, the management team here did everything possible to have [Tkachuk and Gaudreau] sign and stay. They chose, they didn’t want to. Not a lot you can do about that so you move forward.”
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Bruce Dowbiggin @dowbboy is the editor of Not The Public Broadcaster A two-time winner of the Gemini Award as Canada’s top television sports broadcaster, he’s a regular contributor to Sirius XM Canada Talks Ch. 167. His new book Deal With It: The Trades That Stunned The NHL And Changed hockey is now available on Amazon. Inexact Science: The Six Most Compelling Draft Years In NHL History, his previous book with his son Evan, was voted the seventh-best professional hockey book of all time by bookauthority.org . His 2004 book Money Players was voted sixth best on the same list, and is available via brucedowbigginbooks.ca.
Bruce Dowbiggin
Dear Vladdy: Now, A Few Helpful Words From Vladimir Putin
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If you feel you’re lost in the No-Fun House these days you’re not alone. We already noted the disquieting sequence of events this summer, “Since Joe Biden went full Sling Blade in his debate with Donald Trump to a near-fatal assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania to the Democratic Party staging a Covid-inspired coup against Biden. And now Ms. Montreal, Kamala Harris, being retro-fitted into the Dems’ nominee against Trump while her media pals hastily erase her past.”
If you believe the current polling (you shouldn’t) she’s moved from ugly Biden duckling to Obama swan in just weeks. F1 cars don’t move this fast. But when the combined weight of Hollywood and the media party are playing Wag The Dog, you shouldn’t be surprised when the Dems try to put Trump in Rikers Island jail later this month.
Here in Canada, prime minister Trudeau is busy employing Harris’ Marxist strategy. “What can be, unburdened by what has been“. Like an actor from some bad prequel, he’s harassing steel workers with the novel concept that “I’m not who you think I am”. His pollsters are hinting he’s set for a breakout from the abysmal numbers he now has versus Pierre Poilievre, aka Little Trump.
Again, the embedded forces of the Canadian media, fat with Trudeau handouts, are not to be underestimated when the federal election rolls around in late 2025. A fourth term is always possible in the Land of the Gullible. For now they await the lessons that will be learned from the 2024 presidential election stateside.
The most likely outcome in Trump v. Harris is neither side accepting defeat. (Which will play havoc with Tom Hanks’ fatuous promise to move to Canada should trump prevail.) A drawn-out debate in the U.S. Supreme Court seasoned with a garnish of Electoral College hanky-panky seems a promising scenario for Trudeau— even with Jagmeet Singh, the man long bitching from Justin’s sidecar, now severing their entente..
As we say, it’s all disturbing. What most people in the West can agree on, however, is that Vlad Putin is a bad dude. So bad that both sides of the divide insist their opponent is in the pocket of the man in the Kremlin. The Left is yet again saying Putin funnels money to Trump’s pocket while the Right insists that Putin is working the Obamites to end America’s energy hegemony.
So it comes as a surprise when Alex Ovechkin’s favourite setup man actually nails a few home truths about what is happening socially in the Excited States, Canada and there EU. As we noted in October of 2021, Mr. Baddy sat down at a conference to impart wisdom about censorship and free speech now unfolding in the West.
“Incidentally, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of other opinions, different from their own. I think this should remind you of something that is happening… (in) the 1920s, the Soviet couture Tagore came up with the so-called ‘Newspeak’, and they thought that thereby they were building a new consciousness and coming up with new values, and they went so far that we feel the consequences up until now.
“There are some monstrous things when from a very young age, you teach to children that the boy can easily become a girl and you impose on them this selection, this choice. You push the parents aside and make the child take this decisions that can destroy their lives… all of that under the banner of progress, while some people just want to do that.”
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“This is something we saw in Russia. It happened in our country before the 1917 revolution; the Bolsheviks followed the dogmas of Marx and Engels. And they also declared that they would go in to change the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of morality, the basic principles for a healthy society.
They were trying to destroy age and century-long values, revisiting the relationship between the people. They were encouraging informing on one’s own beloved and families. It was hailed as the march of progress. And it was very popular across the world, and it was supported by many, as we see, it is happening right now.
It is with puzzlement that we see the practices Russia used to have and that we left behind in distant past. The fight for equality and against discrimination turns into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity, when great authors of the past such as Shakespeare are no longer taught in schools and universities, because they announced as backward classics that did not understand the importance of gender or race.”
You go, Vlad. There is some recent grassroots pushback to uncontrolled Wokeism, but not enough. Despite the activities of Obama and others, the virtue seekers of the U.S. and Canada seem complacent in the face of such caution. As conservative critic Mark Steyn observes of the gradual U.S. decline— and that of Canada, too— “The good news is that we’re unlikely to get another decade of complacency, because, absent any serious pushback, we’re transitioning from the ‘gradually’ to the ‘suddenly’ phase.”
Which will make today’s discomfort seem like a walk in the park.
Bruce Dowbiggin @dowbboy is the publisher of Not The Public Broadcaster A two-time winner of the Gemini Award as Canada’s top television sports broadcaster, he’s a regular contributor to Sirius XM Canada Talks Ch. 167. His new book Deal With It: The Trades That Stunned The NHL And Changed hockey is now available on Amazon. Inexact Science: The Six Most Compelling Draft Years In NHL History, his previous book with his son Evan, was voted the seventh-best professional hockey book of all time by bookauthority.org . His 2004 book Money Players was voted sixth best on the same list, and is available via brucedowbigginbooks.ca.
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