Free Speech in Canada

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 Book Review:


“You can’t have a democracy if citizens can’t propose new ideas and vigorously debate them… In 2024, the Trudeau government proposed Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, which is perhaps the biggest threat to free expression in Canada in decades.”

(Free Speech in Canada p.5, 18)

Not only in Canada but throughout the western world, new hate speech laws are being enacted that are saddling citizens and journalists with huge fines and even jail time just for things they are saying and/or posting online. Sound scary? It should! Nothings shuts down free speech more effectively than the fear that you might be persecuted by the government if someone doesn’t like your ideas. It is one of the more unsettling developments of our time.

“It's no coincidence that one of the first actions taken by authoritarian regimes is to limit the freedom of the press, which is the freedom to publish without government permission.”

(Free Speech in Canada p.36)

To understand this issue more fully, I am highlighting a small but extremely important book new to the SSS Library, “Free Speech in Canada: a beginner’s guide from ancient roots to modern controversies”, put out by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Canadian’s constitutionally protected rights and freedoms. At a mere 75 pages, the book cuts to the chase without superfluous anecdotes, jokes etc. It is a dry read for sure, but the pain is worth the gain. The information you need to understand the issues at stake are clearly explained with real examples from law and history. Do yourself a favor and get equipped. Knowledge is power as they say.

Recommendation: definitely worth reading if you value living in a free and open democracy.

Mr. Wedel

 

Author – Josh DeHass and Christine Van Geyn

Publishing – Canadian Constitution Foundation, 2024

Genre – Nonfiction

Pages - 75


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