CALGARY, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces its support for proposed Alberta legislation to strengthen freedom of expression on post-secondary campuses. The reforms follow Dr. Frances Widdowson’s recent court victory over the University of Lethbridge’s decision to cancel her campus lecture.

Introduced on November 3, 2026, Bill 38, the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, would amend Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act to protect the freedom of expression of students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors, including invited speakers such as Dr. Widdowson.

Institutions would be required to adopt policies ensuring they remain neutral on political, social, or ideological matters unrelated to their academic mission. These requirements would concern official institutional positions, while leaving individuals free to express their own views. The policies would also address how institutions support different viewpoints and free and open inquiry.

The University of Lethbridge cancelled Dr. Widdowson’s February 2023 lecture, “How Woke-ism Threatens Academic Freedom,” after opponents demanded its cancellation and university officials cited potential harm to the campus community. With Justice Centre funding, Dr. Widdowson and student Jonah Pickle, who had planned to attend, challenged the cancellation. In September 2026, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench set aside the decision because the university had failed to expressly consider Dr. Widdowson’s and Mr. Pickle’s freedom to speak and listen under section 2(b) of the Charter.

Bill 38 proposes two key protections:

• Freedom of expression: Institutional policies must address the duty to protect expression by students, academic staff, non-academic staff, and campus visitors.
• Institutional neutrality: Policies must address institutional positions on political, social, or ideological matters unrelated to the institution’s academic mission, while supporting diverse viewpoints and open inquiry.

The minister could review policies and require changes where they fail to meet legislative and regulatory requirements. Further requirements would be set through regulations.

Justice Centre President John Carpay said, “Students and invited speakers should not have to spend years in court defending their freedom to exchange ideas.”

“Protecting free expression is a clear responsibility of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions,” he added.

We encourage Albertans to contact their MLA and express support for Bill 38’s campus free expression and institutional neutrality provisions. Ask your MLA to help ensure that students, faculty, and invited speakers can exchange ideas freely and that audiences can hear them.

Albertans can find their representative and contact information through the Legislative Assembly of Alberta’s member directory.

The Justice Centre is Canada’s leading civil liberties organization defending Charter rights and freedoms in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion. Founded in 2010, the Justice Centre funds lawyers across Canada, relies entirely on voluntary donations to carry out its mission, and issues official tax receipts to donors.