Aylmer Election Speech Restrictions
The CCF secured a victory for freedom of expression after the Town of Aylmer, Ontario, backed down from municipal election guidance that improperly restricted candidates’ free expression.
On November 6, 2017, with the support of the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), Prof. Ryan Alford of Lakehead University’s Bora Laskin Law Faculty, filed an application challenging the Law Society of Ontario’s new requirement that all lawyers and paralegals draft a personal Statement of Principles demonstrating their “personal valuing” of equality, diversity, and inclusion and accepting an obligation to promote…
On Oct 25, 2018 the Notice of Application was amended to add Toronto lawyer Murray Klippenstein as a co-applicant. Read the release here.
If you’re concerned about over-regulation and compelled speech, please help us defend your Charter rights!
UPDATE: Following the Law Society of Ontario’s 2019 board of directors election, this case has been dropped. The CCF remains committed to staying on guard against any sort of Charter-violating speech measures introduced by professional regulators with state-sanctioned power such as the Law Society of Ontario.
See: “More than half of Ontario lawyers elected to regulator oppose statement of principles” in Canadian Lawyer magazine.
Related Cases
Online Reviews as Free Expression (Benchwood Builders v Prescott)
In Cynthia Prescott, et al. v. Benchwood Builders Inc., et al., the Supreme Court of Canada will consider whether homeowners can be sued for defamation over negative online reviews about a contractor.
Skater Arrested for Holding Sign (R v Allossery)
A Windsor man was handcuffed and ticketed after peacefully skating outside City Hall while holding a protest sign, prompting the Canadian Constitution Foundation to assist with his defence.