{"id":2189,"date":"2026-04-13T18:39:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T01:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/?page_id=2189"},"modified":"2026-05-13T07:20:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:20:39","slug":"free-speech-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/free-speech-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ on Free Speech in Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2189\" class=\"elementor elementor-2189\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-af6dd98 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"af6dd98\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d3a0966\" data-id=\"d3a0966\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1af2a1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1af2a1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Know Your Rights<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfe16d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dfe16d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FAQ on Free Speech in Canada<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34f46b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"34f46b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-165fef9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"165fef9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96fbbb1\" data-id=\"96fbbb1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1e3e07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c1e3e07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db83ed9 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db83ed9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome to the Canadian Constitution Foundation\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions on Free Speech in Canada<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The CCF is Canada\u2019s most-principled defender of freedom of speech and individual liberty. We have decades of experience defending free expression in Canada. Here, we answer common questions about free speech.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is legal information only. Please consult a lawyer if you need legal advice. If you believe your freedom of expression may have been harmed and you want to request that the CCF consider assisting with your case, visit <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/casesubmission\/\"><b>TheCCF.ca\/casesubmission<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-aef6ed6\" data-id=\"aef6ed6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9698137 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9698137\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-300x300.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2076\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble.png 1024w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/Red-thinker-with-question-bubble-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15ac099 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15ac099\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17f7fd4\" data-id=\"17f7fd4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e457ac\" data-id=\"6e457ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e763c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2e763c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-283ec7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"283ec7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc3e005\" data-id=\"dc3e005\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a017d03 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a017d03\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0921e86\" data-id=\"0921e86\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ac61c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7ac61c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Frequently Asked Questions (click to expand):<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d558d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2d558d1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a20ea4a\" data-id=\"a20ea4a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d0f88c6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d0f88c6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-68d4f94\" data-id=\"68d4f94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-350d5d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"350d5d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:start}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active{border-bottom:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:12px 10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5561\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5561\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What is freedom of expression? Is it the same as free speech?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5561\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5561\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom of expression is often used interchangeably with freedom of speech but freedom of expression is broader. Freedom of expression is the idea that individuals should be allowed to convey whatever ideas they wish, however unpopular, distasteful or contrary to mainstream opinion, without the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">government <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">silencing or censoring them.\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom of expression includes all attempts to convey meaning, not just those conveyed by physically moving our lips, tongues and vocal chords, which is freedom of speech. It also covers expressions conveyed using our bodies (including middle fingers), those expressed in writing, physical acts like parking one\u2019s car in a certain way to send a message (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1ft6g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1989 CanLII 87 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and even gardening expressively (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/on\/onsc\/doc\/2026\/2026canlii532\/2026canlii532.html?resultId=0914b2b572314c4d80d1389ad80f5db1&amp;searchId=2026-02-24T10:06:14:479\/c11d73ba1f03431286496d532a1c0c6b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ruck v. City of Mississauga<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2026 ONSC 73<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5562\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5562\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Is freedom of expression constitutionally protected and what does that mean?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5562\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5562\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, freedom of expression is constitutionally protected in Canada. Freedom of expression was protected from the start by Canada\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitution Act, 1867<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Although that constitutional statute does not protect the freedom explicitly, it states in its preamble that the provinces were uniting into one country \u201cwith a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom,\u201d where free expression has been protected for centuries.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom of expression became explicitly protected in 1982 when the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became part of the constitution. Section 2(b) states: \u201cEveryone has the following fundamental freedoms: 2(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutional protection means that all laws and state actions must not violate freedom of expression, except in cases where the government can demonstrate that their law or action is the type of limit that can be justified in a free and democratic society, as section 1 of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provides. Nearly all free expression controversies and court cases stem from disagreements about the limits of expression in a free and democratic society.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5563\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5563\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What are the purposes for protecting freedom of expression?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5563\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5563\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court of Canada has said that freedom of expression exists so that everyone can express their views, \u201chowever unpopular, distasteful or contrary to the mainstream\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1ft6g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1989 CanLII 87 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do we need to protect expressions that are unpopular, distasteful or contrary to the mainstream? For three main reasons, according to the Supreme Court in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irwin Toy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: (1) seeking and attaining the truth is an inherently good activity; (2) participation in social and political decision-making is to be fostered and encouraged; and (3) the diversity in forms of individual self-fulfillment and human flourishing ought to be cultivated.\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first reason, known as the truth-seeking rationale, was famously examined by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill in his popular 1859 book \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/files\/34901\/34901-h\/34901-h.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Liberty<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. It\u2019s the idea that when governments silence people, they may be preventing not only that person, but also everyone else from determining what is true. We may feel very confident that we know the truth, but the reality is there are countless ideas that people generally believed in the past that most people now believe to be false. Since there is no infallible arbiter who can confirm once and for all that any given opinion is correct, governments must let people express all opinions if we want to get closer to the truth as individuals.\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second justification \u2013 often called the self-government or democracy rationale \u2013 is the idea rooted in ancient Athenian philosophy that, to have a self-governing democracy, citizens need to be able to challenge the ideas of those in power. Individuals can\u2019t challenge the ideas of those in power unless they can speak without punishment.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third justification \u2013 the self-actualization rationale \u2013 is a bit more abstract, but the basic idea is that expressing oneself through dance, poetry, art, etc. can be fulfilling to an individual even if it\u2019s not aimed at finding the truth or facilitating self-government. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5564\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5564\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Does the Charter only protect me from government restrictions on expression?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5564\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5564\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only applies to government actions and to laws. It does not generally apply to the actions of private individuals or institutions. <br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protection for free expression can only be used as a shield against laws or actions taken by the federal government, Indigenous governments (generally), provincial governments, municipal governments and government employees on the clock. This means <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> applies, for example, when individuals are interacting with public servants like police officers and librarians, who are directly employed by the state, and with hospital employees, who aren\u2019t employed by the state but are delivering a government program. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> doesn\u2019t apply to actions taken by social media companies acting on their own accord, even though some argue that these are the new town square.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two exceptions to the general rule: the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> applies to private institutions if they\u2019re so controlled as government that they can be considered government, or if they\u2019re delivering a government program such that they\u2019re government purpose of that program (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1fqx5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eldridge v. British Columbia (Attorney General)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1997 CanLII 327 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5565\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5565\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do students have freedom of expression at school?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5565\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5565\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, the speech of students in kindergarten to grade 12 public school classrooms is protected by the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For example, if a student wears a T-shirt with a political message, that is protected expression, and rules against doing so may limit his or her freedom. Expressing one\u2019s political opinion during class is also protected expression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, that does not mean that classrooms are an absolute \u201cfree speech zone.\u201d Under the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">student expression can be limited under s. 1 if the restriction is reasonable and justified in a free and democratic society. The question a court will typically ask is \u201cdoes restricting the student\u2019s expression reasonably further a legitimate educational objective, and is the limit proportionate?\u201d While wearing a T-shirt with a political message is protected, a student could still be subject to discipline that may be upheld by a court in certain contexts. For example, if the T-shirt causes repeated conflicts, threats, or serious disruption, or is targeted at another student or group of students.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5566\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5566\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do university and college students have the right to freedom of expression on campus?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5566\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5566\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer is generally no. However, it depends on the province and the activity in question. Universities and colleges are typically considered private institutions, even though we tend to think of them as public because they receive some public funding.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> applies to an institution\u2019s action if the state controls an institution so much that it can be said to be part of the government or where the institution is implementing a government program or policy.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Ontario, courts have found in many cases that post-secondary activities were not subject to the Charter (see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/fpl4d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lobo v. Carleton University<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2012 ONSC 254<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/k5l9q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University of Toronto (Governing Council) v. Doe et al.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2024 ONSC 3755<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/fqvpw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telfer v. The University of Western Ontario<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2012 ONSC 1287<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In British Columbia, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> did not apply in at least one such case (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/2664l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maughan v. University of British Columbia<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2009 BCCA 447<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in Manitoba, a court found that a misconduct policy was subject to<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scrutiny because it was mandated by the province (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/jhx7v\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zaki v. University of Manitoba<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021 MBQB 178<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and in Alberta, courts have found that, because of the wording of the provincial post-secondary learning statute, universities were implementing government programming when they provided post-secondary education generally, such that universities violated the freedom of expression of students who had been blocked from expressing their views on campus (see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/2cxd9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pridgen v. University of Calgary<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2010 ABQB 644 <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/j4c8s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UAlberta Pro-Life v Governors of the University of Alberta<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2020 ABCA 1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> generally cannot be used against student unions, as they tend to be private organizations, at least in Ontario (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/hqmht\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arriola v. Ryerson Students\u2019 Union<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2018 ONSC 1246<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5567\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5567\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Does the Charter protect my freedom of speech rights in the workplace?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5567\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5567\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offers no direct protection for freedom of speech in the workplace for employees working for private employers.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may offer limited protection for those employed by governments. For example, the Supreme Court has said that public servants have a right \u201cactively and publicly express opposition to the policies of governments,\u201d but only if it doesn&#8217;t impact their ability &#8220;to perform effectively the duties of a public servant or the public perception of that ability\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/ca\/scc\/doc\/1985\/1985canlii14\/1985canlii14.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fraser v. P.S.S.R.B.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1985 CanLII 14 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This means that while a bus driver\u2019s comments posted on Facebook on municipal government\u2019s policy may be protected, similar comments made by a spokesperson for the municipality may not be.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">does<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apply to the actions of professional regulators that limit freedom of expression because they are exercising authority delegated to them by governments. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5568\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5568\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What types of content are protected by freedom of expression?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5568\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5568\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has said that section 2(b) of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protects <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">content of expression, or all attempts to convey meaning, except for physical violence (i.e. even though punching someone tends to convey a message, it is not protected by freedom of expression). This includes artistic, political, commercial and even obscene expression.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To say that all content of speech is protected by 2(b) does not mean that government actions that limit that speech will be unconstitutional, since they may still be \u2013 and often are \u2013 upheld under section 1 of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. To say that all content of expression except violence is protected simply means that, if challenged in court by an individual, governments will be required to bring evidence to justify it.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importantly, the Supreme Court has said that some types of expression are more valuable than others and are therefore harder to limit than other types of content: for example, political speech is considered to be more valuable than commercial speech (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1frgz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RJR-MacDonald Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1995 CanLII 64 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saying that some types of content are more valuable than others is called the \u201ccontextual approach\u201d and it is disliked by freedom of expression advocates since it seems to undermine the rationales underlying the protection for freedom of speech. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5569\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5569\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What limits on freedom of speech have Canadian courts found are justified?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5569\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5569\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld all sorts of limits on freedom of expression. This includes both limits aimed at the form or direct physical consequences of speech (called \u201ctime, place and manner restrictions\u201d) and limits on the content of speech (that is those targeting the message or idea a person is trying to convey).<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Content-based limits are, however, more difficult for governments to justify than time, place and manner restrictions. In <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irwin Toy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Supreme Court cited scholar Archibald Cox for the proposition that this distinction \u201creflects the difference between the state&#8217;s usually impermissible effort to suppress &#8220;harmful&#8221; information, ideas, or emotions and the state&#8217;s often justifiable desire to secure other interests against interference from the noise and the physical intrusions that accompany speech.\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has upheld limits on a statute that limited commercial speech in the form of advertisements aimed at children (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1ft6g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, [1989] 1 SCR 927<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), limits on billboards aimed at protecting the aesthetic beauty of particular neighbourhoods (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1grkb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vann Niagara Ltd. v. Oakville (Town)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2003 SCC 65<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a criminal ban on wilful promotion of hatred (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1fsr1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R. v. Keegstra<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1990 CanLII 24 (SCC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a criminal ban on obscenity (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/5239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada (Minister of Justice)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2000 SCC 69<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and criminal prohibitions on child pornography (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/523f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R v Sharpe<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2001 SCC 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has not upheld (struck down) limits on secondary picketing by unions (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1m88v\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R.W.D.S.U., Local 558 v. Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, [2002] 1 S.C.R. 156<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a total ban on postering to advertise a band on utility poles (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1fs08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramsden v. Peterborough (City)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1084<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a total ban on commercial speech that is not in French, (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1ft9p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ford v Quebec<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, [1988] 2 SCR 712<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and a total ban on political advertising on public transit vehicles (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/24cnk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority v. Canadian Federation of Students \u2014 British Columbia Component<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2009 SCC 31 (CanLII)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-55610\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-55610\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What is \u201chate speech\u201d and is it protected in Canada?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-55610\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-55610\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hate speech is a difficult concept to understand because whether a certain message comes across as \u201chateful\u201d rather than merely an idea the listener doesn\u2019t like tends to be in the eye of the beholder. Are certain passages of religious texts hateful? Is it hateful to suggest that men and women are different? Is it hateful to claim that certain cultural practices are immoral? Different people have different opinions. This subjectivity makes it hard to discern between hate speech and merely offensive speech.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While hatred is morally repugnant, many free speech advocates believe that the criminal law is the wrong tool for fighting hatred. Free speech advocates argue that the threat of imprisonment undermines freedom of expression by preventing people from speaking out on controversial topics. This is often referred to as a \u201cchilling effect.\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Supreme Court found in a 4-3 decision that restrictions on hate speech including imprisonment are constitutional (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/1fsr1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R. v. Keegstra, 1990 CanLII 24 (SCC)<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Chief Justice Brian Dickson and three other judges found that although hate speech was protected by section 2(b), the criminal ban on \u201cwilful promotion of hatred provision\u201d was a reasonable limit because historical evidence such as the Holocaust proved to Dickson that hate speech could cause enough pain, tension, and violence to justify nullifying some people\u2019s free speech rights. Justice Beverley McLachlin and two others would not have upheld the provision, in part because of the chilling effect.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe combination of overbreadth and criminalization may well lead people desirous of avoiding even the slightest brush with the criminal law to protect themselves in the best way they can &#8212; by confining their expression to non-controversial matters,\u201d McLachlin wrote. \u201cNovelists may steer clear of controversial characterizations of ethnic characteristics&#8230; Scientists may well think twice before researching and publishing results of research &#8230; Given the serious consequences of criminal prosecution, it is not entirely speculative to suppose that even political debate on crucial issues such as immigration, educational language rights, foreign ownership and trade may be tempered.\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The definition of hate speech used by the Supreme Court is those \u201cextreme\u201d manifestations of the emotion described by the words \u201cdetestation\u201d and \u201cvilification,\u201d as judged by \u201ca reasonable person, aware of the context and circumstances\u2026\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/fw8x4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saskatchewan (Human Rights Commission) v. Whatcott<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2013 SCC 11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This does not include the expression that \u201cwhile repugnant and offensive, does not incite the level of abhorrence, delegitimization and rejection that risks causing discrimination or other harmful effects.\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This definition is difficult to apply in practice, but is aided by looking for what the Supreme Court calls the \u201challmarks of hatred.\u201d The hallmarks of hatred listed in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatcott <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">include speech that \u201cvilifies the targeted group by blaming its members for the current problems in society,\u201d speech \u201calleging that members of a group are a \u201cpowerful menace,\u201d speech that \u201caccuses a group of carrying out secret conspiracies to gain global control or that they are plotting to destroy western civilization,\u201d speech that \u201csuggests members are illegal or unlawful,\u201d such as by labelling them \u201cliars, cheats, criminals and thugs\u201d or \u201cpure evil,\u201d speech that \u201cequates the targeted group with groups traditionally reviled in society, such as child abusers, pedophiles or deviant criminals who prey on children,\u201d speech that describes members of a group as \u201canimals or as subhuman,\u201d\u00a0 speech that \u201ccalls into question whether group members qualify as human beings,\u201d and speech that refers to them as \u201chorrible creatures who ought not to be allowed to live,\u201d \u201cincognizant primates,\u201d \u201cgenetically inferior,\u201d \u201clesser beasts\u201d or \u201csub-human filth.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-55611\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-55611\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can expression be limited merely because it is offensive?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-55611\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-55611\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. The Supreme Court has made clear that limits on freedom of expression can only be justified for reasons akin to offense in two situations: the first is when it meets the definition of hate speech, and the second is where speech nonetheless forces certain persons \u201cto argue for their basic humanity or social standing, as a precondition to participating in the deliberative aspects of our democracy,\u201d known as \u201cdiscriminatory effects\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/jk1tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ward v. Quebec<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021 SCC 43<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speech can be limited to prevent discriminatory effects based on the idea espoused by scholar Jeremy Waldron, quoted in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ward<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, that \u201ca person [must be able] to walk down the street without fear of insult or humiliation, to find the shops and exchanges open to him, and to proceed with an implicit assurance of being able to interact with others without being treated as a pariah.\u201d This includes limits to protect people\u2019s participation \u201cin the political process and the ordinary activities of society just like everyone else.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Human rights codes and human rights acts that require services to be provided to the public free from discrimination including by publishing discriminatory speech are examples of justified limits on expression aimed at preventing discriminatory effects. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-55612\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-55612\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What is freedom of the press and how does it relate to freedom of speech?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-55612\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-55612\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom of the press refers to the freedom to publish ideas. This was done historically using a printing press to create books or pamphlets (hence the name), but now the idea also protects the publications we make online.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a common misconception that journalists, often referred to as \u201cthe press,\u201d have more constitutional protection than others as a result of the reference to \u201cfreedom of the press\u201d in section 2(b) of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the Supreme Court has said there is no \u201cclass privilege\u201d that protects journalists when speaking to confidential sources. Justice Binnie wrote for the majority in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/29l77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R v National Post<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2010 SCC 16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the reasons for this lack of privilege are obvious:<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFirst is the immense variety and degrees of professionalism (or the lack of it) of persons who now \u201cgather\u201d and \u201cpublish\u201d news said to be based on secret sources,\u201d Justice Binnie wrote. \u201cIn contrast to the legal profession there is no formal accreditation process to \u201clicence\u201d the practice of journalism, and no professional organization (such as a law society) to regulate its members and attempt to maintain professional standards. Nor, given the scope of activity contemplated as journalism in Grant v. Torstar, could such an organization be readily envisaged.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-55613\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-55613\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Does freedom of expression protect me from being held accountable for defamation?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-55613\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-55613\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has found that people can be held liable for damaging the reputations of others, known as defamation, even though this is an obvious limitation on the right to freedom of expression.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defamation consists of either libel (written or recorded statements) or slander (spoken statements) that would tend to lower the plaintiff&#8217;s reputation in the eyes (or estimation) of a reasonable person, and that are communicated to at least one other person.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Canada, the defences are less robust than in America, where the Supreme Court has long required actual malice (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/376\/254\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York Times Co. v. Sullivan<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 376 US 254 (1964)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prove defamation against public figures. In Canada, libel and slander does not require actual malice. There are nonetheless some defences to defamation in Canada aimed at protecting free speech, including fair comment and responsible communication on matters of public interest (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/canlii.ca\/t\/27430\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grant v. Torstar Corp.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2009 SCC 61<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Consult a defamation lawyer for more.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf320b5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf320b5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb9ef4c\" data-id=\"fb9ef4c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9edc0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c9edc0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/MISCELLANEOUS-GRAPHIC-OPTIONS-8-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-2128\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/MISCELLANEOUS-GRAPHIC-OPTIONS-8-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/MISCELLANEOUS-GRAPHIC-OPTIONS-8-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/04\/MISCELLANEOUS-GRAPHIC-OPTIONS-8-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96149c9\" data-id=\"96149c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a074e elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"21a074e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-100a6e3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"100a6e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9bd1b36\" data-id=\"9bd1b36\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-943f8a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"943f8a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4be1a5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4be1a5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our work defending freedom in Canada and creating free educational materials would not be possible without the generosity of CCF supporters, so please consider making a tax-deductible charitable donation below to keep the fight going.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-545d38b elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"545d38b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qgiv-embed-container\" data-qgiv-embed=\"true\" data-embed-id=\"88936\" data-embed=\"https:\/\/secure.qgiv.com\/for\/canadianconstitutionfoundation\/embed\/88936\/\" data-width=\"630\"><\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w, d, s, id){var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); 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elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Email (Required)\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" type=\"submit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Sign Up<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1eccaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d1eccaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Know Your Rights FAQ on Free Speech in Canada Welcome to the Canadian Constitution Foundation\u2019s Frequently Asked Questions on Free Speech in Canada. The CCF is Canada\u2019s most-principled defender of freedom of speech and individual liberty. We have decades of experience defending free expression in Canada. Here, we answer common questions about free speech.\u00a0 This &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/free-speech-faq\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">FAQ on Free Speech in Canada<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4302,"featured_media":2213,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2189"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4302"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2189"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2241,"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2189\/revisions\/2241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theccf.ca\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}