Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms |

Compelled Speech and Gender-Neutral Pronouns - click here for contest details

2018 Campus Freedom Index

Measuring the state of
 free speech on campus

PETITION: stop discrimination and bias against foster and adoptive parents

Purchase a GRABHER bumper sticker today!

NEW VIDEO: Students React to Most Outrageous Cases of Campus Censorship

The JCCF does not ask for, or accept, any government funding.

DONATE TODAY!

Justice and Freedom: The Blog

SUBSCRIBE TO JUSTICE UPDATES

Alberta Education claims Minister’s unexplained “opinion” is the law

The Justice Centre has released recent correspondence (, , ) between Alberta Education and independent faith-based schools. In September of 2018, Deputy Minister Curtis Clark threatened religious schools with defunding and loss of accreditation if they do not remove religious content from their “Safe and Caring” school policies. During the week of October 1-5, several schools whose Safe and Caring policies had been deemed non-compliant by the Alberta Education “Safe and Caring Team” requested clarification (, , ) as to how the religious views expressed in their policies could ...
Read More

Alberta Government demands that independent schools renounce their religious policies

The Justice Centre has released correspondence sent to independent schools by Curtis Clark, Alberta’s Deputy Minister of Education, threatening schools with defunding if they do not remove the following content from their “Safe and Caring” school policies: “We believe men and women were created in the image of God, after His likeness, and therefore have transcendent, intrinsic worth.” (allegedly violates School Act because this is “unwelcoming, uncaring and/or disrespectful”) As part of the school’s Personal and Social Value Commitments: “To develop godly attitudes toward marriage ...
Read More

Victory for BC aesthetician who faced human rights complaint for refusal to perform waxing service on transwoman

The Justice Centre is pleased to announce the vindication of its clients, British Columbian aesthetician Shelah Poyer and her boyfriend Jeremy Paradis. The Human Rights complaint which had been filed against Ms. Poyer and Mr. Paradis for Poyer's declining to perform waxing services on a transwoman has been formally withdrawn. In March of 2018, the Complainant responded to an advertisement posted on Facebook by Poyer advertising her waxing service. The Complainant asked Poyer if she performs “Brazilians”, which is a waxing ...
Read More

Ontario campus free speech policy a step in the right direction

The Ontario government announced on August 30, 2018 that taxpayer-funded colleges and universities must henceforth create and enforce policies to protect free speech on campus. While imperfect, the plan is a welcome response to the deafening silence of all provincial governments, of all stripes, about the censorship crisis on campus. Ontario has moved closer to the Justice Centre’s proposal for legislation to protect freedom of expression on campus, submitted to Premier Doug Ford and to Merrilee Fullerton (Minister for Training and ...
Read More

Justice Centre defends BC aesthetician facing human rights complaint for not performing waxing service on transwoman

The Justice Centre will represent a British Columbian aesthetician, Shelah Poyer, who faces human rights proceedings for providing only “Brazilian” waxing services and not “Manzilians” or “Bro-zillians.” In March of 2018, the human rights Complainant, who uses a traditionally masculine name, responded to Poyer’s Facebook advertisement for waxing services for women. The Complainant asked Ms. Poyer if she performs “Brazilians”, which is a waxing of the female groin area. Ms. Poyer responded, “Not for men sorry”. The procedure for a Brazilian waxing ...
Read More

The focus of the Justice Centre’s activities are as follows:

Individual Freedom: The Fundamental Freedoms afforded to each and every Canadian by section two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the Charter). These freedoms are paramount and embody the very values comprising our democratic society. They are:
Freedom of Religion and Conscience: The freedom of each and every individual or community, in public or private, to peacefully express their distinct religious beliefs through worship, observance, practice and teaching without censorship or limitation. This includes the freedom to change your religion or to not follow any religion. This also includes the freedom of each and every Canadian to hold or consider a fact, value, viewpoint or other thought independent from other individuals.

Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression: The freedom to seek out an understanding of and peacefully express your thoughts, opinions and beliefs without censorship or limitation. This includes freedom of the press and other media of communication. Freedom of expression is the keystone of our democratic society.

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly: The freedom to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.

Freedom of Association: The freedom to choose to live in a community, be part of an organization or associate with any individual based on your values, culture and other personal preferences.

Equality before the law: Section 15 of the Charter enumerates the human right held by each and every Canadian to be treated equally before and under the law, and to be afforded equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, ancestry, ethnicity, age, gender or other such personal characteristics. This right holds each and every Canadian subject to the same laws, and ensures that no individual or group shall receive special legal privileges.