The journalist, commentator, and political activist Ezra Levant discusses his book, Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights (McClelland & Stewart, 2009), with Joseph Planta.

Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights by Ezra Levant. (McClelland & Stewart, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Shakedown

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

My guest now has written what is widely considered to be the most important book of the year. Ezra Levant’s book, Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights, is a stirring, shocking, and sometimes frightening look at the world of human rights commissions in Canada. It’s amazing the power these bodies have, and when wrought, dangerous. This is a well-researched, passionate book, and in part due to Mr. Levant’s own experience with the Alberta Human Rights Commission when as publisher of the Western Standard magazine, he reprinted those controversial Danish cartoons of Mohammed as a part of a news story. He remains the only person in the world who has faced sanction over printing those cartoons. He not only discusses that experience, but a litany of disturbing and peculiar cases which have made their way to these tribunals, and have cost those involved very much financially. The ramifications for all of us are tremendous, least of which is the concept of human rights which has morphed into something very different and perilous. Ezra Levant is a lawyer, journalist and political activist. He is frequent commentator, and former political operative with the Reform and Canadian Alliance parties. Here’s what Rex Murphy said in his review of the book in the Globe and Mail: “Levant is a clear thinker, a very patient researcher, and an advocate of real courage.” Shakedown is published by McClelland and Stewart, and is a terribly important and necessary book. I am pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Ezra Levant; Good morning, Mr. Levant.

Weblinks:

Ezra Levant website: http://www.ezralevant.com

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