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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

Blog January 2, 2023

EDI Is Not an Excuse For Censorship

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.
Danielle S. McLaughlin
Censorship, Workplace Free Expression
BPC Bulletin December 30, 2022

BPC Bulletin: Quebec's Health Department Denounces Book for Teens, Part 1

In a three-page memo sent to all of Quebec’s regional public health directors on December 16, Assistant Health and Social Services Minister Marie-Ève Bédard warns against any promotion, mention or school activities dealing with the young adult horror/supernatural novel Le garçon les pieds à l’envers (“The Boy with Inverted Feet”), posthumously published in October by popular Quebec author François Blais, a Governor General award-winner who committed suicide last May.
Censorship
News December 19, 2022

New report finds Nova Scotia’s whistleblower protection law fails on all counts

In the third of a series of reports about the adequacy of whistleblower protection laws in Canada, the Centre for Free Expression gives Nova Scotia’s Public Interest Disclosure of Wrongdoing Act a failing grade on all major criteria. Despite the law’s intention of protecting people who speak up about potential or actual wrongdoing, the report finds there is no evidence that it has protected any whistleblowers since the Act came into force in 2011.
Whistleblower Protection
Blog December 19, 2022

Strong Mayor, Weak Democracy

Much criticism has been aimed at Toronto mayor John Tory and Ontario premier Doug Ford over the unprecedented powers given to Tory and to all future mayors of Toronto by the provincial legislature. Since Toronto has in recent years had such mayoral luminaries as ‘don’t want to be boiled in a pot by cannibals’ Mel Lastman as well as crack-using Rob Ford, one can only wonder what ‘evidence’ was gathered to support giving Toronto mayors additional powers.
Mariana Valverde
Freedom of Expression & Its Limits