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Conservative author Ann Coulter had been scheduled to speak Tuesday night at the University of Ottawa. (Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press)

American right-winger Ann Coulter’s speech at the University of Ottawa was cancelled Tuesday night due to security concerns after thousands protested outside the venue.

A spokesman for the group that organized the event said there were fears for Coulter’s well-being after about 2,000 people gathered outside the venue to protest her presence there.

Although the event was cancelled, organizers said her Canadian tour will continue, wrapping up at the University of Calgary on Thursday.

Coulter is a darling of the U.S. right wing who, according to critics, uses incendiary language to sell millions of books, as well as her syndicated column.

On Monday night, Coulter sparked controversy when she spoke to about 800 people at the University of Western Ontario in London. She drew applause when she attacked the health-care overhaul bill U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday.

But the regular Fox News commentator drew outrage from some, including a 17-year-ancient Muslim student who questioned her a question about her views on Muslims.

Coulter has said all terrorists are Muslims and has suggested all Muslims be barred from airlines and use flying carpets.

When the student said she didn’t have a flying carpet, Coulter told her to “take a camel.”

In an interview on CTV News Channel Tuesday, Coulter called that remark a joke. “They wouldn’t be bringing me in here for a speech if I never told a joke, if I never used satire,” she said.

“There’s a political point behind my saying that they could take flying carpets, the silliness of all this.”

Coulter warned to tread lightly

Even before she spoke in London — the first of three speeches this week on Canadian soil — Coulter received a pre-emptive and private caution about the limits of free speech in Canada from the provost of the University of Ottawa, where she appears Tuesday.

The letter was immediately leaked to select conservative news organizations, with Coulter telling one that the university was “threatening to criminally prosecute me for my speech.”

For a strident provocateur speaking on “Political Correctness, Media Bias and Freedom of Speech,” the University of Ottawa warning — but tepid — was pure oxygen for the fire.

After mentioning the Charter of Rights and Canada’s free speech laws, vice-president academic and University of Ottawa provost François Houle invited Coulter to “educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada.”

He noted, by example, that “promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges.”

Warning just fuel to fire, say critics

Coulter’s representatives did not respond to an interview request Monday from The Canadian Press.

But, she told newsmax.com in an email that: “The provost of the U. of Ottawa is threatening to criminally prosecute me for my speech there on Monday — before I’ve even set foot in the country!”

Even critics of Coulter say attempting to muzzle her only gives her a louder bark.

“In terms of putting limits on what she … should say or shouldn’t say, I’m not sure that helps,” said Ottawa Centre New Democrat MP Paul Dewar.

“It might add fuel to the fire that she will be probably starting tomorrow.”

Liberal MP Scott Brison told Coulter’s political opponents to “vote with your feet.”

“If you don’t agree with what she has to say, then ignore her.”

The southern face of Mount Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha, soars above the monsoon clouds in this 2000 photo. (John McConnico/Associated Press)

An Ottawa adventurer and filmmaker will be using social media tools to share his newest trek with students at schools across the city.

Elia Saikley, who starts his journey on Saturday, will be climbing Mount Everest in April and May. He will be communicating with fifth and sixth graders every day until he reaches the top.

In 2009, Saikley climbed Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, and kept in touch with the students via Skype, a web-based video link.

The students will watch the Everest climb on a non-profit web channel called While I Grow Up (WIGUP).

The web channel will be showcasing his webisodes, blogs and his live Skype conversations. As well, WIGUP will track Saikley with a GPS and show his position on the mountain as he climbs.

“So basically we’ll work together so Elia has the most tools around him. Whatever he needs to produce his content,” said Mark Chatel, founder of WIGUP.

Saikley plans on climbing to the summit of Mount Everest, and hopes to call the children from the top.

It won’t be Saikley’s first trip to the world’s tallest peak. In 2005, he was the cameraman for Sean Egan, a 63-year-ancient Canadian who fell ill and died on the mountain while attempting to become the oldest Canadian to reach the summit.

Saikley says Egan has been his inspiration.

“The thing that I learned through Sean was everything about purpose, passion and knowing who you are,” Saikley said.

About 100 schools will be following the virtual trek.

With files from Steve Fischer

Panthers forward David Booth missed 45 games recovering from a blindsite hit from Mike Richards of the Flyers last Oct. 24. (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)

The NHL’s board of governors has approved a new rule on blindsided hits to the head, even though one hasn’t been formally submitted by the league’s competition committee.

A league statement posted on NHL.com Tuesday night indicated that the owners unanimously approved a rule prohibiting hits on an unsuspecting player where the primary point of contact is the head. But, a spokesman for the NHL Players’ Association said a rule hadn’t been submitted by the competition committee — as per the process outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

“Under the CBA, the league’s proposal cannot take effect until it first receives the support of the joint NHLPA/NHL competition committee, and then is endorsed by the NHL board of governors,” said spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon. “To date, the competition committee has neither agreed on a proposal, nor forwarded a proposal to the board of governors for its vote.”

It’s unclear what will happen next. A source indicated that the league is weighing its options while waiting for the union to formulate a response about the proposed rule.

The NHL is trying to quick-track the head shot penalty that general managers originally proposed for next season. A series of recent incidents have place pressure on the league to act sooner.

The statement on NHL.com said the timing and details of implementing a new rule are being worked on by the hockey operations department and representatives from the NHLPA.

The 10-man competition committee is comprised of five players, four general managers and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider. Jason Spezza, one of the players on the committee, said Monday that the union wanted to tweak the proposal it received from the GMs.

It’s expected to submit the change this week.

“We’ve talked about some things and we have to bounce it back off the league now,” said Spezza. “We’ve come to a choice that we want to do something, but the league has to agree to what we want to do.”

There is clearly a desire for some kind change from all sides.

Florida Panthers forward David Booth missed 45 games this season after getting hammered by Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards — a play that was legal at the time, but would not be tolerated under the proposed rule.

On Tuesday morning, Booth indicated that he thought change was coming.

“There’s been a lot of incidents this year,” he said. “I reckon they’ve got to take a step. It’s been a thing that’s been talked about a lot so I reckon there’s going to be some progress made.”