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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.

Julian Sher, an award-winning TV documentary writer and director, journalist, newsroom trainer, and author, has joined the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) as a Senior Fellow. “Julian Sher is a remarkable journalist, author, and newsroom trainer,” said James L. Turk, the Centre’s director. “The scope of Julian’s work and his achievements are exceptional.”

In Ottawa, the federal Liberal government’s group of 12 experts who considered ways and means of limiting harms on the internet finished their meetings and released their findings this summer. The Expert Advisory Group on Online Safety concluded their 10 meetings on June 10, 2022, and released their findings on July 8, 2022.

CFE Intervener Factum - Supreme Court of Canada

Ivor Shapiro has been appointed inaugural Scholar-in-Residence at the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) at Toronto Metropolitan University for 2022-23. The former chair of the School of Journalism at TMU, Shapiro will help lead the Centre’s expanding work on press freedom. “We are delighted to announce that Ivor Shapiro will be the CFE’s first Scholar in Residence,” said James L. Turk, CFE Director. “During the initial period as Scholar-In-Residence, he will be completing his new book on press freedom.” 

Historically, stand-up comedy has pushed expressive boundaries and found itself at the forefront of battles over free expression. In Part 1 of this series, I made the case that stand-up comedy, even the deliberately offensive kind, can tell us something important about free expression.