You know, the NDP's Joe Comartin, no right wing pushover, said he didn't think Flanagan had committed a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada, by calling for the assassination of Julian Assange. Flanagan said his comments were "glib" and apologized. Fair enough. I've seen the video however, and it didn't strike me as a joke, there was nothing funny about it, and it seemed clear that Tom wanted Assange dead.
Now, however, people have brought up Section 464 of the Criminal Code of Canada:
Counselling offence that is not committed
464. Except where otherwise expressly provided by law, the following provisions apply in respect of persons who counsel other persons to commit offences, namely,
(a) every one who counsels another person to commit an indictable offence is, if the offence is not committed, guilty of an indictable offence and liable to the same punishment to which a person who attempts to commit that offence is liable; and
(b) every one who counsels another person to commit an offence punishable on summary conviction is, if the offence is not committed, guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 464; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 60.
Personally, I don't thing anybody should give Flanagan the time of day. He's had his say, and looked like a fool. But it looks like, really, it's an indictable offence.
