In a circular sent out recently, the Toronto-based Canadians for Decency, called attention to two items in particular. One was the disclosure by Robert Payne, head of the Ontario Film Review Board, that his board is giving its seal of approval to films and videos containing explicit sex scenes.
Canadians for Decency maintains that by allowing the distribution of such material the Board is ignoring many court cases as well as the Criminal Code of Canada.
Manitoba
The second item concerns court cases in Manitoba.
In the summer of 1989, Donald Butler of Extasy Video Stores in Winnipeg, was acquitted of 250 obscenity charges by a lower-court judgment. Judge Wright said that, while the tapes were obscene under the Criminal Code, they were protected under the Charter section guaranteeing freedom of expression.
On November 2, 1990, the Manitoba Court of Appeal rejected this ruling and convicted Butler of the charges he had faced. Judge Huband ruled that obscenity has no redeeming value which would allow it protection under the Constitution. This judgment is now being appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Canadians for Decency is organizing a petition calling upon Parliament to recognize the harm pornography does and to uphold the laws concerning obscenity.
Seminar
Canadians for Decency is holding its 9th annual seminar, under the title “A Generation At Risk,” on Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, Don Valley, Toronto. One of the three featured speakers is Dr. James Check, Professor of Psychology, York University, who has carried out a great deal of research on the effects of pornography on the individual.
For further information contact Canadians for Decency, P.O. Box 637, Station “B”, Willowdale, Ontario, M2K 2P9. Phone 416-438-2374.
