First, the section of the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, to which the commission is subject, must be re-written.

In that Act, one subsection forbids publishing anything "likely to expose a person or a class of persons to hatred or contempt."

That subsection must be removed. All sorts of people from politicians to journalists to used car dealers are the subject to hatred or contempt. The problem is not just that what constitutes hatred or contempt is often subjective, as are those who are punished, but that unless such expressions include advocacy of violence, the state has no business interfering in opinions -- even tart, nasty, or objectionable ones. Legitimate human rights advocacy has lately been undermined by the triumph of the "right" not to have injured feelings. That needs to change.

The second remedy is that costs should be borne by the complainants if unsuccessful...