We are a platform dedicated to

Freedom of Expression and the Public's Right to Know

Genuine democracy, advancement of knowledge, individual self-development, and social justice depend on a society in which freedom of expression and the right to know are a reality for everyone. The Centre for Free Expression works to advance these rights though public education, advocacy, law reform, research, advisory services, policy analysis, assistance to courts, and organizational collaborations.

The Latest

News February 16, 2021

Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks wins the provincial 2020 Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy

Quebec's Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks has been named as the recipient of the 2020 Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy in the provincial category.  The provincial ministry is being recognized for its unwillingness to share lab data with scientists at Environment Canada related to four mysterious fish kills that took place during the summer of 2019. At the time, dead fish showed up in the Ottawa River, with the source believed to be the Lièvre River, east of Ottawa and Gatineau. 
Freedom of the Press, Access-to-Information
News February 9, 2021

Federal Cabinet wins the federal 2020 Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy. Dishonourable mentions go to Treasury Board and to National Defence

The Federal Cabinet is the 2020 recipient of the Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy in the federal category. The Cabinet is recognized for suppressing public access to details about very large loans—at times amounting to billions of dollars—given to corporations out of the public purse.
Freedom of the Press, Access-to-Information
News February 9, 2021

Vershawn Young Joins CFE Advisory Board

The Centre for Free Expression is pleased to announce that author, actor, and academic Vershawn Ashanti Young is joining the Centre’s Advisory Board. Young is Professor in the Departments of English Language and Literature and of Communications Arts at the University of Waterloo where he teaches communication, race, gender, literature, writing, and performance. He is also a solo performance artist and writer.
News February 8, 2021

Mark Williams Joins CFE Working Group on Intellectual Freedom

Milton Public Library Chief Librarian and CEO Mark Williams is joining the Centre for Free Expression’s Working Group on Intellectual Freedom. “We are delighted to welcome such a dedicated champion of intellectual freedom to the CFE Working Group,” said James L. Turk, the Centre’s Director.
Intellectual Freedom
Policy Submission February 4, 2021

CFE Presentation to Alberta Standing Committee Reviewing the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act

Representatives of the Centre for Free Expression Whistleblowing Initiatives made a presentation to the Alberta Legislature’s Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship as part of its review of the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act. A copy of the presentation, the accompanying PowerPoint slides, CFEWI Criteria for Evaluating the Protection of Whistleblowers, and CFEWI Evaluation of Alberta’s current Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act are available at the links below.
Whistleblower Protection