(correspondence)

December 10, 2009

Hon. Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

On behalf of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom, we would like to express our deep concern regarding allegations of harassment of a visiting American journalist as she entered Canada.

Amy Goodman is a widely-acclaimed and admittedly controversial broadcast journalist in the United States, recipient of the 2008 Right to Livelihood Award, the “Alternative Nobel Prize”. On Nov. 26, Ms. Goodman was stopped by Canadian Border Services while traveling to Vancouver for a speech promoting a new book. She has since reported that she was interrogated about the nature of her speech and repeatedly asked whether she intended to criticize the 2010 Winter Olympics. She was required to hand over her notes and had her computer searched.

While we recognize the legitimate duty of border personnel to ensure foreign visitors do not represent a threat to Canada, this incident appears to have gone far beyond that role. It suggests a blatant attempt to intimidate critics of the Vancouver games. It has given this country a black eye at a time when Canada should, on the contrary, be serving as an example to the world.

Our committee applauds Prime Minister Harper’s staunch defence of personal freedoms and human rights when he visited China last week. We ask that your government demonstrate the same commitment to freedom of expression that we as Canadians demand of others.  We urge you to investigate the incident involving Ms. Goodman and issue a public apology if warranted. And to state categorically that your government will not tolerate attempts to stifle press freedom in this country.

Yours sincerely,

Charles Morrow, Secretary for Members
Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom

cc:
Mr. Stephen Rigby,