Blog

TORONTO: This morning the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) published its annual Christmas-themed civil liberties “Naughty & Nice” list, highlighting the worst behaviour from governments across Canada over the past year while recognizing the limited few who got it right.

The full report is available for free download here.

This year’s considerable Naughty List includes:

• Bill C-9 – Carney’s censorship law
• Nova Scotia forest travel ban
• Niagara Falls ban on signs
• Christian concert cancellations
• Quebec’s Bill 9 – ban on public prayer
• New bubble zone laws passed across Canada
• Amy Hamm’s license suspension and fine
• Montreal’s AI surveillance of the public
• University of British Columbia’s attack on academic freedom
• Bill C-8 – Carney’s cybersecurity surveillance law

The Nice List recognizes the following few bright spots:

• Alberta’s proposed “Peterson law”
• Alberta’s healthcare choice legislation
• Ryan Alford arguing against NSICOP Act
• Supreme Court declining to hear Mathur v Ontario
• BC Premier David Eby (…with a BIG caveat!)

CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn said that this year’s report reflects a troubling pattern of governments reaching for censorship, surveillance, and blanket bans instead of seeking proportionate solutions that minimize harm.

“Whenever Canadians’ freedoms are restricted, those limits are supposed to be targeted and rare, but sadly in 2025 they’ve become routine,” said Van Geyn. “This erosion isn’t inevitable – when people understand their rights and push back, freedom can still win. That’s exactly where the CCF will focus its efforts in the year ahead.”