Western Standard
Encyclopedia
The Western Standard is a Calgary, Alberta-based libertarian
-conservative
publication that billed itself as Canada
's only conservative national news magazine. As of October 2007, with the cancellation of its print edition, the Western Standard is an exclusively online entity.
and Canadian Alliance
activist Ezra Levant
and others to fill the void left by the failure of the conservative Alberta Report
, which went out of business in June 2003.
, Pierre Lemieux
, Colby Cosh
, David Warren and Alberta Report
founder Ted Byfield
, father of Link Byfield
.
Currently, the Western Standard tends to be more libertarian
than conservative, featuring columnists like the "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery
, and Grant Brown.
The current mission of the Western Standard is to "promote a culture of liberty in Canada."
issues. This was manifested in greater reporting coverage of Western problems, and a roster of opinion editorial voices calling for a remediation of same. In fact, a plurality of the magazine's columnists live in Central Canada
, including David Warren, Michael Coren
and Karen Selick, or in the Eastern U.S., including Walter E. Williams
and Mark Steyn
.
The Western Standard earned widespread national attention and even international coverage in the Wall Street Journal and in several Chinese newspapers for its large opinion poll in the summer of 2005, examining Western Canadians' appetite for independence from the rest of Canada as a large result of ongoing western alienation
. In the October 9, 2006 issue, they did their second annual Western separation poll.
The magazine was openly critical, in its reporting and opinion columns, of policies it believed favour Central Canada, such as the Canadian Wheat Board
, what it argued is the disproportionate allocation of Parliament
ary seats to Central and Eastern Canada
, and official bilingualism
. The magazine also published an opinion editorial by Ric Dolphin whose frequently criticized Quebec and its politics — though Western and conservative politicians were not spared by him, either. Several of the magazine's columnists, including Warren have argued for Alberta's secession
. Other Western Standard writers, such as Andrew Coyne
, have argued strenuously against it, and former editor Kevin Libin has written skeptically on the subject.
influence. Ontario lawyer and columnist Karen Selick argued with social conservative television host Michael Coren
in a debate column on current public policy issues called Face-off; Edmonton-based National Post
columnist Colby Cosh
authored the sports column; and Matthew Johnston was the magazine's senior vice-president.
All four -- Selick, Williams, Cosh, and Johnston—are known for their libertarian political views.
The Western Standard was purchased by Matthew Johnston in 2008. Since then, the e-magazine has been more openly libertarian
, with Johnston stating that in December 2008 that "[a]t the Western Standard, we aim to be fiercely and openly loyal to libertarian ideas without being partisan."
first published by the Danish
newspaper Jyllands-Posten
. Conservative Defence Minister
Gordon O'Connor
criticized this decision, saying that it put the lives of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan
at increased risk.
While editors of Canadian news media decided against publishing the cartoons, a subsequent poll of Canadian journalists conducted by Compas found that 7 in 10 of respondents thought that at least some of the cartoons should have been published by at least some of the Canadian media.
Retail bookselling giant Chapters
and Indigo
refused to stock this particular issue of the magazine.
On February 23, 2006, Gordon Wong, Calgary's Crown Attorney decided against laying hate charges
against the Western Standard. Wong felt that there was no evidence the publication intended to incite hatred against a specific group. "The intent was to debate the issues within the articles," Wong told The Toronto Star. "That's different than inciting hatred."
In February 2006, Calgary Muslim leader Syed Soharwardy filed a human rights complaint against Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant. He was compelled to appear before the Alberta Human Rights Commission to discuss his intention in publishing the cartoons. Levant posted video of the hearing on YouTube. Levant questioned the competence of the Commission to take up the issue, and challenged it to convict him, "and sentences me to the apology,", stating that he would then take "this junk into the real courts, where eight hundred years of common law" would come to his aid. In February 2008, Soharwardy dropped the complaint noting that "most Canadians see this as an issue of freedom of speech, that that principle is sacred and holy in our society."
In May 2006, the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities filed another Human Rights complaint against the Western Standard over the publishing of the cartoons. In August 2008, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship (AHRC) Commission dismissed the complaint, the commission stated that, “given the full context of the republication of the cartoons, the very strong language defining hatred and contempt in the case law as well as consideration of the importance of freedom of speech and the ‘admonition to balance,’ the southern director concludes that there is no reasonable basis in the information for this complaint to proceed to a panel hearing.”
Following the dismissal of the complaint, Levant blasted the AHRC, stating that“I should have the right to publish even if a second-rate bureaucrat does not approve it" and that the power of the commission to investigate complaints and potentially restrict freedom of speech “is a huge problem not just for me, but for every journalist in the country." Levant stated that he had to spend over $100,000 in legal bills, none of which was reinbursed, while the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities did not pay any costs. Levant also noted that the AHRC's 900-day investigation cost to taxpayers is $500,000.
Levant sharply criticized the AHRC, stating Levant also suggested that the only reason the commission dropped the case was because of the bad publicity it had spawned. “I could afford lawyers and take it to the Supreme Court and beat up on the Human Rights Commission. That’s why I was let go. They were worried about the daily PR beating they were taking.” He also stated that it is “unconstitutional for a government bureaucrat to look through my magazine and say what I can or cannot publish.”
Ezra Levant, publisher of the magazine, defended the article saying "We sympathize with Colleen's hurt feelings but we didn't say the words -- we just reported them, and we'll continue to report on the growing divide between those who think Ralph is past his best-before date, and those sycophants who will do anything to keep him -- and the missus -- in power."
.
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
-conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
publication that billed itself as Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's only conservative national news magazine. As of October 2007, with the cancellation of its print edition, the Western Standard is an exclusively online entity.
Background
The Western Standard was launched in March, 2004 by lawyer and former Reform PartyReform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
and Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
activist Ezra Levant
Ezra Levant
Ezra Isaac Levant is a Canadian lawyer, conservative political activist and media figure. He is the founder and former publisher of the Western Standard, hosts The Source daily on Sun News Network, and has written several books on politics....
and others to fill the void left by the failure of the conservative Alberta Report
Alberta Report
Alberta Report was a right-wing weekly newsmagazine based in Edmonton. It was founded and edited by Ted Byfield, now the editor and president of the Society to Explore and Record Christian History , and later run by his son, Link Byfield, and ceased publication in 2003.The magazine began as St....
, which went out of business in June 2003.
Political stance
The magazine aimed for a brash, outspoken approach to social and political issues. Noted Standard columnists include Mark SteynMark Steyn
Mark Steyn is a Canadian-born writer, conservative-leaning political commentator, and cultural critic. He has written five books, including America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, a New York Times bestseller...
, Pierre Lemieux
Pierre Lemieux
Pierre Lemieux is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is the MP for the riding of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell in Canada's 39th general election. He represents the Conservative Party of Canada...
, Colby Cosh
Colby Cosh
Colby Cosh is a Canadian commentator, writer and editor of non-fiction, and blogger.-Life and career:Cosh was born in Edmonton, Alberta and grew up in Bon Accord, Alberta, north of Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1993, doing further study in European intellectual history...
, David Warren and Alberta Report
Alberta Report
Alberta Report was a right-wing weekly newsmagazine based in Edmonton. It was founded and edited by Ted Byfield, now the editor and president of the Society to Explore and Record Christian History , and later run by his son, Link Byfield, and ceased publication in 2003.The magazine began as St....
founder Ted Byfield
Ted Byfield
Edward Bartlett "Ted" Byfield is a conservative Canadian journalist, publisher and editor. He founded the Alberta Report and Western Report newsmagazines.Born in Toronto, Byfield moved with his parents to Washington, D.C. at the age of 17...
, father of Link Byfield
Link Byfield
-Columnist and Writer:Byfield was editor and publisher for the now defunct Alberta Report magazine for 18 years. He is the son of conservative columnist Ted Byfield...
.
Currently, the Western Standard tends to be more libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
than conservative, featuring columnists like the "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery
Marc Emery
Marc Scott Emery is a Canadian cannabis policy reform advocate, as well as a former cannabis seed seller. He is currently serving a five year sentence in a United States federal prison for selling cannabis seeds....
, and Grant Brown.
The current mission of the Western Standard is to "promote a culture of liberty in Canada."
Western alienation
Although 20% of the magazine's readership was in Ontario, the former motto of the Western Standard was "the independent voice of the new west", and its editorial voice expressed sympathy to Western CanadianWestern Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
issues. This was manifested in greater reporting coverage of Western problems, and a roster of opinion editorial voices calling for a remediation of same. In fact, a plurality of the magazine's columnists live in Central Canada
Central Canada
Central Canada is a region consisting of Canada's two largest and most populous provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Due to their high populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the...
, including David Warren, Michael Coren
Michael Coren
Michael Coren is an English-Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He hosted the television talk show The Michael Coren Show on the Crossroads Television System from 1999 to 2011 when he moved to the Sun News Network to host an evening talk show, The...
and Karen Selick, or in the Eastern U.S., including Walter E. Williams
Walter E. Williams
Walter E. Williams, is an American economist, commentator, and academic. He is the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, as well as a syndicated columnist and author known for his libertarian views.- Early life and education :Williams family during childhood...
and Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn is a Canadian-born writer, conservative-leaning political commentator, and cultural critic. He has written five books, including America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, a New York Times bestseller...
.
The Western Standard earned widespread national attention and even international coverage in the Wall Street Journal and in several Chinese newspapers for its large opinion poll in the summer of 2005, examining Western Canadians' appetite for independence from the rest of Canada as a large result of ongoing western alienation
Western Alienation
In Canadian politics, Western alienation is a concept that the Western provinces - British Columbia , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - have been alienated, and in extreme cases excluded, from mainstream Canadian political affairs in favour of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec...
. In the October 9, 2006 issue, they did their second annual Western separation poll.
The magazine was openly critical, in its reporting and opinion columns, of policies it believed favour Central Canada, such as the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
, what it argued is the disproportionate allocation of Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
ary seats to Central and Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
, and official bilingualism
Bilingualism in Canada
The official languages of Canada are English and French, which "have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada" according to Canada's constitution...
. The magazine also published an opinion editorial by Ric Dolphin whose frequently criticized Quebec and its politics — though Western and conservative politicians were not spared by him, either. Several of the magazine's columnists, including Warren have argued for Alberta's secession
Alberta separatism
Alberta separatism is a movement that advocates the secession of the province of Alberta from Canada either by forming an independent nation, or by creating a new federation with one or more of Canada's other three westernmost provinces.-Foundations:...
. Other Western Standard writers, such as Andrew Coyne
Andrew Coyne
James Andrew Coyne is the national editor for Maclean's, a weekly national newsmagazine in Canada. Previously, he was a columnist with the National Post and an editor-in-chief of the University of Manitoba's newspaper, The Manitoban.-Background:Coyne was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Hope...
, have argued strenuously against it, and former editor Kevin Libin has written skeptically on the subject.
Libertarianism
Despite being primarily conservative, the Western Standard also has some libertarianLibertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
influence. Ontario lawyer and columnist Karen Selick argued with social conservative television host Michael Coren
Michael Coren
Michael Coren is an English-Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He hosted the television talk show The Michael Coren Show on the Crossroads Television System from 1999 to 2011 when he moved to the Sun News Network to host an evening talk show, The...
in a debate column on current public policy issues called Face-off; Edmonton-based National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
columnist Colby Cosh
Colby Cosh
Colby Cosh is a Canadian commentator, writer and editor of non-fiction, and blogger.-Life and career:Cosh was born in Edmonton, Alberta and grew up in Bon Accord, Alberta, north of Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1993, doing further study in European intellectual history...
authored the sports column; and Matthew Johnston was the magazine's senior vice-president.
All four -- Selick, Williams, Cosh, and Johnston—are known for their libertarian political views.
The Western Standard was purchased by Matthew Johnston in 2008. Since then, the e-magazine has been more openly libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, with Johnston stating that in December 2008 that "[a]t the Western Standard, we aim to be fiercely and openly loyal to libertarian ideas without being partisan."
Muhammad cartoons controversy
On February 13, 2006 the Western Standard attracted controversy when it became the first widely-published English Canadian media outlet to republish the cartoons of MuhammadJyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
first published by the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
newspaper Jyllands-Posten
Jyllands-Posten
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten , commonly shortened to Jyllands-Posten or JP, is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper. It is based in Viby, a suburb of Århus, and with a weekday circulation of approximately 120,000 copies, it is among the largest-selling newspaper in Denmark...
. Conservative Defence Minister
Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
Gordon O'Connor
Gordon O'Connor
Gordon James O'Connor, is a retired Brigadier-General, businessman, lobbyist, and current Canadian Member of Parliament and the Minister of State and Chief Government Whip....
criticized this decision, saying that it put the lives of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
at increased risk.
While editors of Canadian news media decided against publishing the cartoons, a subsequent poll of Canadian journalists conducted by Compas found that 7 in 10 of respondents thought that at least some of the cartoons should have been published by at least some of the Canadian media.
Retail bookselling giant Chapters
Chapters
Chapters is a Canadian big box bookstore banner owned by Indigo Books and Music. Formerly a company in its own right competing with Indigo, the combined company has continued to operate both banners since their merger in 2001.-History:...
and Indigo
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
refused to stock this particular issue of the magazine.
On February 23, 2006, Gordon Wong, Calgary's Crown Attorney decided against laying hate charges
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
against the Western Standard. Wong felt that there was no evidence the publication intended to incite hatred against a specific group. "The intent was to debate the issues within the articles," Wong told The Toronto Star. "That's different than inciting hatred."
In February 2006, Calgary Muslim leader Syed Soharwardy filed a human rights complaint against Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant. He was compelled to appear before the Alberta Human Rights Commission to discuss his intention in publishing the cartoons. Levant posted video of the hearing on YouTube. Levant questioned the competence of the Commission to take up the issue, and challenged it to convict him, "and sentences me to the apology,", stating that he would then take "this junk into the real courts, where eight hundred years of common law" would come to his aid. In February 2008, Soharwardy dropped the complaint noting that "most Canadians see this as an issue of freedom of speech, that that principle is sacred and holy in our society."
In May 2006, the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities filed another Human Rights complaint against the Western Standard over the publishing of the cartoons. In August 2008, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship (AHRC) Commission dismissed the complaint, the commission stated that, “given the full context of the republication of the cartoons, the very strong language defining hatred and contempt in the case law as well as consideration of the importance of freedom of speech and the ‘admonition to balance,’ the southern director concludes that there is no reasonable basis in the information for this complaint to proceed to a panel hearing.”
Following the dismissal of the complaint, Levant blasted the AHRC, stating that“I should have the right to publish even if a second-rate bureaucrat does not approve it" and that the power of the commission to investigate complaints and potentially restrict freedom of speech “is a huge problem not just for me, but for every journalist in the country." Levant stated that he had to spend over $100,000 in legal bills, none of which was reinbursed, while the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities did not pay any costs. Levant also noted that the AHRC's 900-day investigation cost to taxpayers is $500,000.
Levant sharply criticized the AHRC, stating Levant also suggested that the only reason the commission dropped the case was because of the bad publicity it had spawned. “I could afford lawyers and take it to the Supreme Court and beat up on the Human Rights Commission. That’s why I was let go. They were worried about the daily PR beating they were taking.” He also stated that it is “unconstitutional for a government bureaucrat to look through my magazine and say what I can or cannot publish.”
Racial slur controversy
In the February 13, 2006 issue of Western Standard, a column by Ric Dolphin quoted an unnamed "fishing buddy" of Ralph Klein's as saying, "Once she (Colleen Klein) stops being the premier's wife, she goes back to being just another Indian." This occurred in the context of a piece that was critical of Klein's wife, arguing that she holds too much power over the premier's office.Ezra Levant, publisher of the magazine, defended the article saying "We sympathize with Colleen's hurt feelings but we didn't say the words -- we just reported them, and we'll continue to report on the growing divide between those who think Ralph is past his best-before date, and those sycophants who will do anything to keep him -- and the missus -- in power."
End of paper format
On October 5, 2007, the publisher of the Western Standard, Ezra Levant, announced that the magazine would cease the distribution of its non-electronic version because of financial difficulties. Levant sold the publication's remaining assets to Matthew Johnston. Subscribers were given a trial subscription for Maclean'sMaclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
.