Historic Internet Gag Law Hearing Takes Place Monday in British Columbia

Wed Jun 22 17:16:50 2005
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By: NCC

(Toronto, February 20, 2004) On Monday, February 23, a courageous Canadian will take on an archaic internet election gag law in the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Paul Bryan, a BC software developer, is challenging, with the financial support of the National Citizens Coalition, Section 329 of the Canada Election Act which prohibits the "premature transmission of election results."

"Paul was charged with a crime because during the 2000 federal election he posted some real time voting results on his web site before the polls closed in B.C.," explains NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. "Paul believes he was simply exercising his right to free speech."

Nicholls points out that the charges against Paul Bryan were dismissed last fall when the BC Supreme Court ruled that Section 329 was unconstitutional.

"That should have been the end of the story," says Nicholls, "But Elections Canada bureaucrats appealed his victory meaning Paul and the NCC are once again being forced to defend freedom in court."

Nicholls says he hopes the BC Court of Appeal upholds the lower court ruling.

"Paul Bryan is fighting for free political speech on the Internet," says Nicholls. "That’s a right no bureaucrat or politician has the right to take away."

To learn more about Paul Bryan’s case visit his website at www.electionresultscanada.com or visit the NCC’s website at nationalcitizens.ca

Article originally appeared: February 20, 2004