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In Quebec, several editorials, op-eds and columns have denounced as censorship the provincial government’s request that schools refrain from “promoting” the young-adult novel Le garçon aux pieds à l’envers by renowned author François Blais because, in one chapter, an “evil spirit” is said to have prodded a teenage character to sip a lethal dose of gasoline.

So far, this blog series has commented on City of Toronto v. Ontario (2021) and Ward v. Quebec (2021); offered a quantitative and qualitative synopsis of the s.2(b) case law; provided a critique of Irwin Toy and the contextual approach; and addressed the Supreme Court of Canada’s jurisprudence on the open court principle and freedom of the press and media. Even so, when complete the series will still leave much unsaid about s.2(b) and its challenges.

CFE Motion Record for Leave to Intervene - Federal Court of Appeal

Can we fight racism without chilling expression? The answer must be a resounding yes, but how can we ensure that schools and educators understand their responsibilities to protect their students from censorship and from discrimination both at once? It isn’t easy and it can’t be done in one lesson or even in one course. However, when we avoid discussing race and racism or other forms of oppression out of fear that we are going to be using or permitting the wrong language, or that our motivations will be misunderstood, we become part of the problem.