Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.
Yorkton-Melville		 News Release

For Immediate Delivery

December 10, 1998

CANADIANS SHOULDN’T CELEBRATE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE CANADA ROUTINELY VIOLATES ARTICLES 12 AND 17

Ottawa – Today, International Human Rights Day, is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, took the opportunity to warn Canadians that Canada routinely violates the articles guaranteeing your right to privacy and your right to own property.

Article 17(2) of the Declaration guarantees that ‘no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.’ "The federal government violates this article every time it forces a prairie grain farmer to sell his wheat and barley to the Canadian Wheat Board," said Breitkreuz. "Under this Liberal regime, farmers don’t even own the grain they grow. The government doesn’t hesitate to use their considerable force. The government throws farmers in jail for violating their arbitrary edicts. If the government can take property of 150,000 western farmers then what’s to stop them from taking yours?" asked Breitkreuz. "I can’t understand why all Canadians aren’t upset over the federal government’s violation of this most fundamental and natural right?"

Article 12 of the Declaration guarantees that ‘no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence.’ "The Department of Justice recently ignored 40 recommendations made by the Privacy Commissioner concerning eight forms produced to enforce the new firearms registration system," reported Breitkreuz. Commissioner Bruce Philips wrote in a November 23rd letter, "…applicants could be providing more personal information that would be necessary to determine if, in owning firearms, they might pose a threat to themselves or others." Breitkreuz provided further evidence, "The Minister of Justice has completely ignored the Privacy Commissioner’s warnings in his 1996/97 annual report." In that report, Mr. Phillips said, "Since the [firearms] regulations themselves provide little detail, it now appears that the only forms and schematic of the process will provide the answers – far too late to provide legal protection."

Breitkreuz advised that this breech of U.N. privacy rights pales in comparison with the unprecedented ‘inspection powers’ Bill C-68 gives firearms officers and police to enter anyone’s home (whether you actually own firearms or not). "Police now have the power to invade your privacy to search for and seize your property without any evidence that a crime has been or is about to be committed. The government can’t take land without some clear public purpose and without providing fair compensation to the owner," said Breitkreuz. "However, the government can and will confiscate, without compensation, anything else you own – Bill C-68 proves that. Canada can’t criticize human rights abuses in other countries as long as it is violating these two articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - nor should Canadians celebrate."

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The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394