Open press gallery to all journalists: an open letter

An open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urges the House of
Commons to allow all journalists access to the parliamentary press
gallery, not just the “clique” members of the private corporation.

Here is the letter reproduced in full:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada,
Hon. Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons,
Mr. Derek Lee, MP, Scarborough-Rouge River,
Hon. Irwin Cotler, MP, Mount Royal,
Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,
Mr. Stephen Chaplin, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Legal Counsel,
Hon. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition,
Hon. Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP,
Hon. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois,
Mr. Borys Wrzesnewsky, MP, Etobicoke Centre,
 
July 21, 2010
 
Honourable Representatives:
 
Re: Request for compliance by Canada with the United Nations Human Rights Committee 1999 Views to provide access to the House of Commons parliamentary press gallery services without membership in the private corporation, Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery Inc.
 
1. The Hon. Roland Michener, who was Speaker of the House of Commons
 
When television was introduced in Canada in the early 1950s, TV journalists were denied access to the parliamentary press gallery “because they were not members of the press,” according to the clique who runs these publicly funded services provided by the House of Commons for the media.
 
The Hon. Roland Michener, who was Speaker of the House of Commons at the time, invited the CBC TV reporters to sit in the Speaker’s Gallery to report on Parliament. Eventually, after 2 years of wrangling, he was able to persuade the press gallery clique to stop the foolishness and the TV journalists were provided equal access to the House of Commons parliamentary press gallery services and facilities.
 
Recently, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Peter Andrew Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston-and-the-Islands, announced he will not stand for office in the next Federal Election in Canada.
 
2.  A matter of important unfinished business to be concluded properly
 
There is a matter of unfinished business that needs to be concluded properly and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution Acts 1867 to 1982 that provide for freedom of expression (the right to seek, receive and impart information), equality before the law, freedom of association and, the right to participate in the political process as a Canadian citizen.
 
The unfinished business to be rectified before Speaker Milliken retires pertains, in particular, to UN HRC Case No. 633/1995 finding a violation of freedom of expression by Canada and to provide a remedy.
 
The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Peter Milliken, is requested to comply, in particular, with the 1999 Views of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and provide equal access for The National Capital News Canada, established in 1982, to the House of Commons parliamentary press gallery facilities and services without the prior condition (restraint) of membership in a private corporation, the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery Inc. ?
 
3.  Request to provide fair, equal and full access to the House of Commons parliamentary press gallery facilities and services without further delay
 
This violation by Canada of the fundamental right of freedom of expression defined as the right to seek, receive and impart information without interference, is deemed of sufficient importance to have been included by the United Nations in Selected Decisions of the Human Rights Committee 633/1995 published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, New York and Geneva.

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/SDecisionsVol6en.pdf
  .
The Speaker of the House of Commons who funds and staffs the publicly funded parliamentary press gallery facilities and services continues to be in violation of Article 19, refusing to provide an Appeal Hearing.
 
4.  Provide remedy before next election
 
Speaker Milliken is requested to provide fair, equal and full access to the House of Commons parliamentary press gallery facilities and services without further delay and not pass this problem on to his successor and to all future Parliamentarians to restore this right that was illegally revoked without cause and without due process.
 
This Speaker’s claim that the ruling of Canada’s violation of Article 19 by the United Nations Human Rights Committee as read in 1999 by the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, before the Annual General Assembly of the United Nations is “not binding on Canada” or that “Parliamentary Privilege” places Canada beyond the Rule of Law undermines the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
5.  Any law (ruling) that overrides a provision of the Canadian Constitution Acts, the supreme law of the land, is of no force or effect.
 
Speaker Milliken is requested to correct this infringement of the fundamental right of a Canadian citizen without further delay.
 
The UN, as was The League of Nations, can only be as effective the good faith of its members to honour commitments.  The Hon. Peter Miliken and all Canadian Parliamentarians should be leading the way by example respecting the Rule of Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all Canadians, insisting that Canada comply with the 1999 UN Human Rights Committee ruling without further delay.
 
6.  Reply requested
 
Mr. Speaker, acknowledgement of this letter is requested and your favourable reply at your earliest convenience.
 
7.  Thank you for your consideration,
 
Robert G. Gauthier, Proprietor,
The National Capital News Canada –
Le journal de la capitale canadienne,
174 Bank St., rpo 71035,
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K2P 2L9
 
robertggauthier@aol.com
 
613-276-8788