----- Original Message -----
From: caprice soames
To: Gail.Dawson@gems2.gov.bc.ca
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 4:13 PM
Subject: Anti-SLAPP Legislation

Dear Ms. Dawson and Hon. Wally Oppal, Attorney General for BC,

I am writing because I am concerned for a friend. This person is Judy Stone, the spirit behind the Animal Advocates Society. You may know that the SPCA has launched a lawsuit against Ms. Stone, the Society and others involved in the prevention of inhumane treatment of animals.

This lawsuit appears to be one more way that the BCSPCA is trying to silence those who have only the good of the animals at heart. If the BCSPCA were truly preventing cruelty to animals, Ms. Stone and the Animal Advocates Society would have no need to speak out.
The Animal Advocates Society is a grass-roots operation and cannot sustain the legal costs of fighting an organization as large and powerful as the BCSPCA

The BCSPCA is using its corporate power to try to bully Ms. Stone and the Society into silence. With this lawsuit, the BCSPCA is attempting to drain the resources and effort of those who have a legitimate wish to ease the suffering of animals.

Please reinstate the Anti-Slapp legislation that the Liberal government threw out in 2001. Small organizations and individuals, such as Judy Stone and the Animal Advocates Society cannot have a voice if the fear of being sued by a large and powerful organization hangs over them. This is not Canadian democracy.

And its not a way to help the animals.

Caprice Soames
West Vancouver