In its decision, the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal misinterprets “equality” as including a legal “right” not to be offended by “discriminatory” comments. Gabriel’s mother said that she encountered people who thought she was rich and who accused her of taking advantage of her son. Ward’s insinuations about Gabriel’s mother profiting from her son’s handicap, and denying him proper care in order to purchase a sports car, are clearly defamatory. In human rights proceedings launched by Gabriel and his parents against a raunchy Quebec comedian, the defendant garners much less sympathy. Long before human rights commissions, the common law provided victims of false accusations with a real remedy to protect their reputation: defamation.

Source: National Post July 28, 2016 03:56 UTC