University of Manitoba Students’ Union urged to reject censorship motion
The Justice Centre has sent letters to each member of the Board of Directors of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), urging them to reject a Motion to have the UMSU take sides in the divisive debate about abortion in Canada. This Motion, tabled on October 25th by current UMSU president Jakob Sanderson, calls on UMSU to endorse “[a] woman’s right to freedom of reproductive choice; and a woman’s right to be free from coercion or attempted coercion with respect to making reproductive choices.” The Motion further calls upon UMSU to oppose “[a]ny act of...
Read More“Lorne Grabher’s license plate is not offensive or dangerous,” states expert report
The Justice Centre today announced the filing of an expert report by sex science writer and researcher Dr. Debra W. Soh, in the Lorne Grabher v Nova Scotia Registrar of Motor Vehicles court action. Lorne Grabher filed a court application against the Registrar in May of 2017 after it revoked his personalized “GRABHER” licence plate because it was deemed “socially unacceptable”. Dr. Soh writes for the Globe and Mail and Playboy Magazine, among other print, TV and online media, about the science of sex, politics, and culture, and holds a PhD in sexual neuroscience research from...
Read MoreAlberta Education claims Minister’s unexplained “opinion” is the law
The Justice Centre has released recent correspondence (1, 2, 3) 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 (1, 2, 3) as to how the religious views expressed in their policies...
Read MoreAlberta 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...
Read MoreVictory 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 of the female groin area. Poyer responded, “Not for men...
Read MoreOntario 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 Universities) on July 20, 2018. Universities must now...
Read MoreLatest Updates
- December 10, 2018
Victory for Charter freedoms as federal government abandons compelled speech in Canada Summer Jobs attestation - December 3, 2018 Bill 24 legal challenge heard by Court of Appeal in Calgary today
- November 27, 2018
U Alberta students challenge $17,500 fee in Court of Appeal, Wednesday, November 28 - November 22, 2018 Justice Centre granted intervener status to defend conscience rights for medical practitioners
- November 14, 2018 RELEASE: Alberta Government again threatens to defund schools which do not remove religious content from school policies
- November 11, 2018 Statement from John Carpay
- November 5, 2018
University of Manitoba Students’ Union urged to reject censorship motion - October 25, 2018 “Lorne Grabher’s license plate is not offensive or dangerous,” states expert report
- October 15, 2018 Alberta Education claims Minister’s unexplained “opinion” is the law
- September 27, 2018 Alberta Government demands that independent schools renounce their religious policies