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The case against a B.C. man ac- cused of using the Internet to incite hatred is unraveling in the wake of The Canadian Human Rights Com- mission's suspension of a lawyer who publicly Criticized the agency. John Micka was scheduled to ap pear before a tribunal next week to answer a complaint against his Web site,which he argues is "anti pedophile" and "pro-heterosexual," but not antigay. But the case has been delayed until June, because lead lawyer Eddie Taylor was told to leave his workplace on Monday. Citing the ouster, one expert wit ness said yesterday he may no longer testify. "This business about his being suspended seems outrageous to me," said Gary Prideaux, a linguist whose expertise in analyzing im plicit meanings was used in a simi lar complaint against Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel. Dr. Prideaux said that because he holds Mr. Taylor in high regard, he would be "very reluctant" to testify in the case against Mr. Micka, should it be handed off to another, commission lawyer. "I'm really astounded that the hurnan-rights commission is using the same tactics that a certain polit- ical party is using to deal with its dissenters," Dr. Prideaux said, |
drawing a comparison to the Canadian Alliance. In an interview that was published Saturday in The Globe and Mail, Mr. Tavlor criticized his organization's leadership and direction and said the body had lost its moral authority. Many of his criticisms were echoed in an internal report work, a work place assessrnent that found the commissions stall also had harsh criticisms. 'Throwing him out of the office and escorting him out of the building in that way seems to us to be extremely inappropriate.' The tribunal granted a delay in the case after the commission's general counsel requested it in a letter on Monday. "Due to unforeseeable circumstances, Mr. Taylor is no longer available," he wrote. Earlier that same day, Mr. Taylor was marched Out of his workplace of 10 years and informed he was under investigation for both his conduct and his published com- ments Many complaints of harassment and discrimination will be affected by the suspension, said Joel Richler, |
a lawyer who is now looking into filing a lawsuit on Mr. Taylor's behalf. "He's got a large number of cases on his plate—his number to me was about 23 or 24—more than anybody else as far as I'm aware," Mr. Richler said. " Throwing him out of the office and escorting him out of the building in that way seems to us to be extremely inappropriate and detrimental to the public interest." Mr. Richler argues the matter has less to do with the outspoken lawyer's conduct than his public statements, though commission executives have said the opposite. Mr. Micka said he finds the suspension curious. "It would be ironical if Mr. Taylor's inability to be available is related to his exercising his Freedom of Speech," he wrote in an e-mail sent to the tribunal. Canadian Alliance member Rahim Jaffer raised the suspension in the House of Commons yesterday, describing it as the only action the commission has taken since the report. Justice Minister Anne McLellan responded by commending the commission for the workplace study, adding she is confident managers will address concerns. The stress of recent days may have taken a toll on Mr. Taylor, who was in the emergency department of the Ottawa Civic Hospital last night after complaining of chest pains. "He's doing fine," said a nurse, addling he was awaiting the results of bloodwork Investigations@globeandmail.ca |