Democracy on Trial: The Morgentaler Affair

  «While no reason was given for the sudden change in access, thank you for making it available. It was a very instructive and well-made documentary.»

  «Why can I not be the 4,259th viewer? I've even tried to purchase the film via the usually efficient download option, but alas, this is to no avail. I was under the impression that NFB wanted us to see all their films, including the controversial ones. Is there some information that I am missing?»

  «So, it wasn't until sometime after 1976 that our society changed changed one of its dictatorial procedures into a democratic one. It's a good example of government picking around to find any exception to normal procedure, even exceptions flying in the face of their own democracy so as to get their ambitions through. The scene near the end, by the fence, is very direct when the reporter speaking like some blunt-headed simpleton says, but "you broke the law" and Morgentaler corrects the poor man with "no, you see I was acquitted by a Jury." And then the reporter responds but then a judge overturned that, without realizing the whole legal issue at play was that we can't have a single judge overturn a jury. »

  «So, it wasn't until sometime after 1976 that our society changed changed one of its dictatorial procedures into a democratic one. It's a good example of government picking around to find any exception to normal procedure, even exceptions flying in the face of their own democracy so as to get their ambitions through. The scene near the end, by the fence, is very direct when the reporter speaking like some blunt-headed simpleton says, but "you broke the law" and Morgentaler corrects the poor man with "no, you see I was acquitted by a Jury." And then the reporter responds but then a judge overturned that, without realizing the whole legal issue at play was that we can't have a single judge overturn a jury. »