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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 April 11, 2019

BPC Bulletin: Trademark Protection v. Satire

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   On April 1, 2019, Quebec’s Superior Court of Justice began to hear the dispute between Québecor and the Journal de Mourréal. Québecor publishes Le Journal de Montréal, a newspaper. The Journal de Mourréal is a satirical website.
Video May 9, 2019

Government Funding of Journalism

Can freedom of the press survive government funding of journalism? Without public funding, can the precipitous decline in the quantity and quality of journalism available to Canadians be halted, much less reversed?
Freedom of the Press
News April 9, 2019

BPC Bulletin: Morgane Oger v. William Whatcott

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   On March 27, 2019, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled on a dispute between Morgane Oger and William Whatcott.
Blog April 2, 2019

Revisiting the Maclean’s Human Rights Code Complaint

Almost 12 years ago complaints were made under the Canada Human Rights Act [CHRA] and the BC Human Rights Code [BCHRC] against Maclean’s Magazine following its publication of an excerpt from Mark Steyn’s book, America Alone. The substance of the complaints was that in publishing this material (on-line and in and print) Maclean’shad exposed Muslims to hatred and contempt contrary to s. 13 of the CHRA and s. 7 of the BC Code.   
Richard Moon
Page April 1, 2019

Massive Secrecy Inroads and Barriers to Access Near Approval in the Senate

By Ken Rubin   April 1, 2019 - The Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee is winding its way, clause by clause through Bill C-58. But they have already approved the most divisive change to the Access to Information Act.  That's by their agreeing to divide the Access to Information Act into two parts – one for accessible operational records (part 1) and one outside the Access Act's reach only for government promoted records (part 2).
Access-to-Information