In spring 2024 student encampments at Canadian and US universities provoked strong reactions for and against pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus property. While some Canadian universities called in police to disperse demonstrators, others looked to the courts for injunctions compelling students to disperse and abandon their encampments.
On Thursday, Calgary Police forcibly dismantled the pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Calgary within hours of its formation. Those who advocate the same tactic at other Canadian universities, including University of Toronto, argue that an encampment is not a legitimate form of protest because it is disruptive and occupies space that should be open to all. A columnist in the Globe & Mail even argued that the encampment is not a form of expression and thus deserves no protection.
The Centre for Free Expression has joined with 23 other organizations and 34 individual experts to call on Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to split the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) from the omnibus Bill C-27 in which it is currently embedded so it can be returned to the parliamentary committee for proper consideration – something it has not had to date.