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The board of the Vancouver Public Library has confirmed
the decision of Paul Whitney, chief librarian, to refuse
to rent a meeting room to Exit International for a
workshop. Whitney cites legal opinions as the basis for
the decision, but the legal opinions have been kept
secret. Whitney said that legal counsel advised that
providing specific instruction about assisted suicide to
a targeted audience of elderly and seriously ill people
contained "elements of risk."
The BC Civil Liberties Association (below) said that
public libraries usually act to protect free speech, and
that "We're stumped as to why they've made this
regressive decision on a discussion that needs to
happen."
Exit International will hold the workshop on Wednesday,
Nov. 4, at 11:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Church, 949 West
49 Ave. in Vancouver. [A Vancouver reader advises: NE
corner of Oak & 49 Ave: buses: 49 East or West, and 17
Oak, if Canada Line from Richmond, exit Marine Dr
Station, 17 Downtown.]
[Note: Some other recent stories related to this topic
are in the Links: section below.]
To read the full article click on one of these links, both of which go to the same destination. A short link is provided for the convenience of readers. Also, readers may search and browse past advisories on the web (see bottom.)
Vancouver Public Library bans suicide discussion
[BC Civil Liberties Association]
http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/09VPL_ban.html
"Chief Librarian Paul Whitney called the BCCLA
this morning to communicate the Board's decision
which was made at an in camera session based on a
legal opinion they refuse to release. Free speech
surely means at the very least that the library
should communicate the legal reasons for why they
won't let this conversation go ahead," said BCCLA
Executive Director David Eby. "Usually public
librarians are our valued partners in many fights
in favour of free speech and against the banning
of books. We're stumped as to why they've made
this regressive decision on a discussion that
needs to happen."
Vancouver library bars Exit International workshop
[EuthaNEWSia, Sep. 22]
http://www.euthanewsia.ca/archive/2009/09/enid200909228167.4.html
The Vancouver Public Library cancelled a November
booking for a self-deliverance workshop hosted by Exit
International. The decision was taken by central
librarian Paul Whitney, after receiving a legal opinion
that the program "would be in contravention of the
Criminal Code".
Shore, Randy. "Right-to-die group refused rental hall at the Vancouver Public Library". Vancouver Sun, Canwest. October 20, 2009. <www.vancouversun.com/news/Right+group+refused+rental+hall+Vancouver+Public+Library/2124871/story.html>. The Vancouver Sun, #1 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3, Canada. Division of Canwest Publishing Inc.
Tags (or keywords) briefly indicate some major topics of the report.
self-deliverance
Exit International
British Columbia
Canada
The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid200910213355.
Mailed: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 14:11:32 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>.
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