The Institute for Liberal Studies is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting discussions of economics, philosophy, history and public policy in Canada. They hold seminars across Canada to bring students together to discuss the ideas of liberty.
Each July for the past 10 years they have held the Liberty Summer Seminar on the grounds of a bed and breakfast in Orono, Ontario owned by Marta & Lech Jaworski, who’s son Peter is a founder and board member of the ILS. The Jaworski’s are Polish immigrants who lived under Soviet Communist rule and know the horrors of statism first hand. Now they are happy to help their son host the Liberty Summer Seminar, which is a fantastic event for everyone involved.
Now due to an anonymous zoning complaint filed with the local municipality they are facing up to $50,000 in fines for hosting this event. At the latest LSS this past July, a municipal law enforcement official arrived and started asking questions of the attendees. On August 12th, Marta and Lech Jaworski were each served with a summons to appear in court on the grounds that they had “allowed the use of land in an agricultural zone for a use other than a permitted residential use; namely for a commercial conference centre.” The Jaworski’s had this to say in response:
“Our family escaped Poland for fear of reprisals in 1984 after my mom and dad handed out pro-democracy and pro-freedom literature from under my baby carriage,” said Peter Jaworski. “It’s ironic and upsetting that they may now be facing charges in Canada for allowing me to host an event in support of those very same principles.”
Learn more by reading the full press release here. This abuse has already been covered in the Toronto Sun, The National Post, and Reason’s Hit & Run blog.
I have attended the Liberty Summer Seminar the past two years and these allegations are outrageous. The conference site is on a large piece of land in a peaceful clearing surrounded by forest on all sides. Attendees camp at the site at night and enjoy lectures during the day. It is simply a gathering of 100 friends who come to enjoy each others company and share their ideas. Due to the remote location, there is no way that any neighbors were disturbed by the event.
Learn more about the incident and how you can help the Jaworski’s at http://willowpondbb.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/press-release-home-owners-burnt-by-barbeque/
