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Karate Tournaments to be Illegal in Canada

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:06 pm
by Dana Sheets
Hi Folks,

This came to me through another list and I thought I'd post it here in case it is legitImate. Would be a sad day for the Canadians...
Subject: Re: To all Canadian Martial artists on this list

It has come to my attention that when Parliament
reconvenes on September 26, 2005, the Federal
Government under the direction of MP Dr. Irwin Colter,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General, will table
revisions to Section 83 of the Criminal Code. Section
83 is a vague piece of legislation designed to prevent
prize fighting in Canada.

Initially you might not that think that this affects
you. However, most surprisingly, this legislation has
the potential to have a significant negative effect on
every martial arts school owner-operator, practicing
martial artist, or parent or supporter of a martial
artist. And here's why:

In Layman's Terms:

q Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Canada
appears by virtue of the definition of "prize fight"
to deem all martial arts and all martial arts
competitions and contests to be "prize fights" and
therefore illegal in Canada – i.e. no more
tournaments; even sparring within a club could
considered illegal.

q Owner-operators, students and spectators of
these martial art events, amateur or otherwise, are
even now engaging in illegal "prize fight" activities
and could be charged.

q For some reason, boxing is exempt. On the
positive side, this demonstrates that exemptions are
indeed possible. [This is where our petition comes
in.]

Currently, Section 83 actually reads as follows:
[Engaging in prize fight]
83. (1) Every one who
(a) engages as a principal in a prize fight,

(b) advises, encourages or promotes a prize fight, or

(c) is present at a prize fight as an aid, second,
surgeon, umpire, backer or reporter,is guilty of an offence
punishable on summary conviction.

[Definition of "prize fight" ]

(2) In this section, "prize fight" means an encounter or fight with
fists or hands between two persons who have met for that purpose by
previous arrangement made by or for them, but a boxing contest
between amateur sportsmen, where the contestants wear boxing gloves of
not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass, or any boxing
contest held with the permission or under the authority of an
athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under
the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of
sport within the province, shall be deemed not to be a prize fight.

Current Activities Underway:

q Mr. Steve Pritchard, Sport Services Manager of
the Alberta Government confirmed that the Federal
Government is rewriting Section 83 to state that all
martial arts are illegal. The Alberta government made
a proposal for changes to Section 83 but Mr. Pritchard
was not able to offer more information.

q Mr. Brian Ozorio of the Ministry of Tourism
and Recreation of the Ontario Provincial Government
confirmed that he forwarded recommendations to the
Honourable Irwin Cotler that exemptions be increased
to include karate, judo, kickboxing and muay thai when
redrafting Section 83 in August 2005.

q Calgary MP Lee Richardson will present a
Petition from the CALGARY AMATEUR KICKBOXING & MUAY
THAI ASSOCIATION (CAKMTA) on September 27, 2005 at the
House of Commons.

q CAKMTA will continue to circulate their Muay
Thai and Kickboxing Petition but they also encourage
all clubs, competitors, coaches, promoters, etc. to
pass a similar petition along to any and all clubs and
gyms as this legislation will affect all martial arts
in Canada.

q The initial Petition from CAKMTA addressed
Kickboxing and Muay Thai only, as they did not feel it
was appropriate for them to speak for all other
martial art disciplines. With CAKMTA's awareness, I
have modified their Petition so that it now includes
all martial arts. Alternatively you could create one
for your discipline only.

q A copy of the revised Petition (covering all
martial arts) is available as a download from the HOME
page of www.MixedMartialArtsExpo.com.

Moving Forward:

We have no idea how the legislation will be rewritten,
but we must act immediately to ensure that the voice
of the martial arts community across Canada is heard
loud and clear BEFORE Section 83 is rewritten
inappropriately, for once passed by Parliament it will
be almost impossible to change.

If you are in ANY WAY involved in, or in support of,
martial arts in Canada, it is extremely important that
you take the following action NOW:

q Download a copy of the petition from
www.MixedMartialArtsExpo.com. Make and distribute as
many copies as you need.

q Assertively pursue the acquisition of as many
signatures as possible – martial art students, family,
friends, neighbours, co-workers. Give them additional
blank copies to distribute as well.

o If you are an owner-operator you must get
EVERY STUDENT sign this petition.

q Mail as many completed petitions as possible
to your Federal MP before Aug. 15, 2005.

You can use this link to locate your MP:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about ... alCode.asp?
lang=E&source=sm

q Make note of these Petition Rules:

o The petition must contain a minimum of 25
valid signatures, each with the address of the
petitioner.

o Each petitioner must sign (not print) his or
her own name directly on the petition and must not
sign for anyone else.

o The petitioner's address must be written
directly on the petition and not pasted or reproduced.

o The petitioner may give his or her full home
address or simply the city and province.

o Aliens not resident in Canada cannot petition
the House of Commons of Canada.

Lastly, please take a moment to forward this e-mail to
EVERYONE that you know who supports martial arts. Do
it today!

Glen G. Doyle
http://www.geocities.com/glendoyle/bata/

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:36 pm
by CANDANeh
Hi

Some truth to that but much more complicated and lawyers needed to interpert correctly. Government actually supports and even helps fund some Tournaments on Provincial and National/International levels ( seen it been there). Even 15 years ago some events were shut down (money making prize fighting events) for good reason unless the organizers had the event sunctioned as youth were at risk of serious injury from entering a kick boxing ring that would have profited the organizers without providing safety for the youth, this once happened locally and those fly by nighters are now gone thankfully. However, more are on the sidelines and there is concern. Anyone can operate a MA club and anyone can have fighting events and often those involved are children correct? in Nova Scotia I`m very comfortable to how sporting events are sanctioned and the rising requirement for certified coaches/referees that are registered with Sports NS is a good thing in my opinion to protect the youth with trusting parents and the organizers from law suits/criminal charges. In due time, no public venue will be allowed without sanctioning from i.e. Sports NS. Few if any public buildings i.e. schools will allow instruction of any kind without proof of sanctioning by Sports NS . Doesn`t effect what you teach or how you teach as long as your within reasonable quidelines. PS even Tai Chi is under the same umbrella as Karate schools and insurance cost the same which is currently under $20.00 per person annually for medical,dental and other liabilities in dojo or sanctioned tournaments.
No worries yet as much strong lobby in support

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:48 pm
by Sochin
That law has been on the books forever and the update does not seem to broaden it much.

IF IT DOES it will be used to get folks to affilitate with the sanctiond provincial orgs rather than their style orgs or whatever, FOR TOURNAMENTS, and not be used to shut down the practice of sparring in a dojo.

The big difference is the prize for winning the fight or tournament...no prize, no foul.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:05 am
by CANDANeh
Sochin wrote:That law has been on the books forever and the update does not seem to broaden it much.

IF IT DOES it will be used to get folks to affilitate with the sanctiond provincial orgs rather than their style orgs or whatever, FOR TOURNAMENTS, and not be used to shut down the practice of sparring in a dojo.

The big difference is the prize for winning the fight or tournament...no prize, no foul.
Can still affilitate with style and Provincial/National orgs, IF it does come to "push and shove". No effect on what you do in dojo, however for example if a dojo under the government sanctioned enters a Tournament not sanctioned by the Provincial organization then liabilty coverage from that organization may not apply...reasonable in my opinion.
Recently there have been request for proof of liabilty before holding demo`s or Tournaments in local schools and even from mall management for a demo, society may awaken the change. Times are a changin...