DEFAMATION CASE

Abortion foe settles his suit against Smallwood:
NDP gov't pays John Hof $25,000 for on-air remarks
John Colebourn

Anti-abortion activist John Hof has received a $25,000 B.C. government cheque in an out-of-court settlement of a defamation suit. Hof, president of Campaign Life Coalition B.C., filed a lawsuit against NDP cabinet minister Joan Smallwood, who was quoted on CBC Radio last summer linking him to threats against doctors who provide abortions. Smallwood was the women's equality minister at the time and was responding to the July 11, 2000, stabbing of Dr. Garson Romalis, who survived a near-fatal shooting in 1994 only to be attacked again.

"It really and truly shook me to my roots," Hof said yesterday of the comments Smallwood made about him. "If I knew someone who targeted doctors, I'd turn them in. It's so far from what we stand for." Hof said he received a death threat by e-mail after Smallwood's comments were aired. Two days after her quotes were broadcast, Smallwood faxed Hof an apology.

"I knew this was very libellous, especially after an apology two days later," he said. "My issue was not with the CBC but Ms. Smallwood. She was the one who slandered and libelled me."

Smallwood yesterday described the incident as an "unfortunate" one. "The settlement was reached based on the best advice from legal counsel," she said. Taxpayers will pay for the settlement, Premier Ujjal Dosanjh confirmed. Smallwood, now the labour minister, said the New Democratic Party government would also cover Hof's legal fees of $3,000.