The Lynch List, 23-Apr-2012

First: The next instalment of the Prayer Wars: An atheist in Saskatoon has threatened to launch a human rights complaint because he had to endure a prayer at a volunteer-appreciation night. I’m sure the city won’t be appreciating him any longer when he runs up their legal bills.

“It made me feel like a second-class citizen. It makes you feel excluded,” said  Solo, who is an atheist.

Funny – it makes people of all religions feel like second-class citizens when they are silenced and forced to scrub any sign of their faith from public life.

Barbara Kay has her own opinion on this matter.

Second: Shirish Chotalia, the current chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, has taken a stress leave. According to a string of decisions from the Federal Court, she was responsible for the stress of many of her employees. Her future is uncertain, especially as her deputy has now taken over all of her responsibilities.

Third: I want my birth certificate to say I am 21 years old, was born on Mars, and was fathered by Elvis Presley. Oh, and I want citizenship in every country of the world. You shouldn’t need to prove anything in order to get insignificant letters changed on your birth certificate, right?

Fourth: The BC Court of Appeal has an opportunity to rectify a grievous overreach by the BC Human Rights Tribunal, in which law partners are “considered employees for the purpose of the Code”. Let this case be Exhibit A to the gradual and inexorable expansion of the scope of human rights legislation.

Fifth: It’s hard to know who’s right – and who’s wrong – in a human rigthts case, says the Toronto Sun. But who cares? So long as it’s someone else being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness, we can all feel better about ourselves, right?