Covid-19 News and Legal Activity

The Justice Centre is fully operational


The Justice Centre is deeply concerned about government actions that are being taken to deal with COVID-19. We are working very hard behind the scenes on this issue to ensure governments meet their obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Our laws allow for some government measures to infringe our rights and freedoms to meet external threats and internal threats. But the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the rule of law still apply. The Charter requires that restrictions on our Charter freedoms of liberty, mobility, religion, association and peaceful assembly be imposed in the least restrictive manner possible, for the shortest amount of time possible.

If a restriction on freedom is challenged in court, the onus is on the government to justify that restriction as reasonable, and to explain why that particular measure was chosen over other, less restrictive means that might achieve the same goal.

The Charter requires governments to think carefully about the public health benefits of restricting freedoms, and weigh those benefits against the harm of violating Charter rights and freedoms.

COVID-19 Related News Releases

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COVID-19 Related Legal Activity

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COVID-19 Related Columns

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News Releases –  COVID-19

Apr 14th, 2020 – Saskatchewan Health Authority challenged for violating Charter freedoms

April 6, 2020 – Alberta government gives itself sweeping new powers to create new laws without Legislative approval.

April 4, 2020 – Justice Centre Statement on COVID-19

Related News & Articles

April 14, 2020 – Ted Cruz: Social-distancing restrictions are fine — petty authoritarianism is not – New York Post

APRIL 14, 2020 – Mass gathering: Cancellation of Saskatchewan drive-in church service questioned – The Canadian Press

April 13, 2020 – The Coronavirus Is Exposing Little Tyrants All Over The Country – The Federalist

April 7, 2020 – WHO calls for “dignified” seizure of sick family members Rebel News

April 7, 2020 – Tucker Carlson: There has to be a more balanced course on coronavirus than the one we’re on now – Fox News

Columns & Reports – COVID-19

April 14, 2020 – Alberta’s Bill 10 is an affront to the rule of law By John Carpay, The National Post

April 10, 2020 – The cost of the coronavirus cure could be deadlier than the disease – By John Carpay, The Post Millenial

April 7, 2020 – Analysis of Part 3 of Alberta’s Public Health Act: (Communicable Diseases and Public Health Emergencies)  – By John Carpay

April 5, 2020 – Canadian coronavirus prediction models must be transparent  – By John Carpay, The Post Millenial

Mar 31st, 2020 – Careful, crises are an ideal time for the state to grab powers: we’re already seeing it in Canada – By Justice Centre board member Bruce Pardy, The Financial Post

March 20, 2020 – Justice dismantled as restrictions placed on court systems – By staff lawyer Lisa Bildy, The Post Millenial

Columns & Reports – COVID-19

April 14, 2020 – Alberta’s Bill 10 is an affront to the rule of law By John Carpay, The National Post

April 10, 2020 – The cost of the coronavirus cure could be deadlier than the disease – By John Carpay, The Post Millenial

April 7, 2020 – Analysis of Part 3 of Alberta’s Public Health Act: (Communicable Diseases and Public Health Emergencies)  – By John Carpay

April 5, 2020 – Canadian coronavirus prediction models must be transparent  – By John Carpay, The Post Millenial

Mar 31st, 2020 – Careful, crises are an ideal time for the state to grab powers: we’re already seeing it in Canada – By Justice Centre board member Bruce Pardy, The Financial Post

March 20, 2020 – Justice dismantled as restrictions placed on court systems – By staff lawyer Lisa Bildy, The Post Millenial

Related News & Articles

April 14, 2020 – Ted Cruz: Social-distancing restrictions are fine — petty authoritarianism is not – New York Post

APRIL 14, 2020 – Mass gathering: Cancellation of Saskatchewan drive-in church service questioned – The Canadian Press

April 13, 2020 – The Coronavirus Is Exposing Little Tyrants All Over The Country – The Federalist

April 7, 2020 – WHO calls for “dignified” seizure of sick family members Rebel News

April 7, 2020 – Tucker Carlson: There has to be a more balanced course on coronavirus than the one we’re on now – Fox News

COVID-19 Related Podcasts

Why are mask laws being brought in now, after we’ve flattened the curve, and after the pandemic has turned out to be far less deadly than originally projected? We talk about this and other COVID-19 matters. Also, the Albertan John provides a short report on his holiday to British Columbia during which, he’s happy to say, his vehicle did not get vandalized by those who believe people should stay home during the pandemic.

We talk about The Justice Centre’s Charter Analysis on British Columbia’s COVID-19 response and also about the province’s health officer Bonnie Henry who has become something of a media star.

This episode leads off with a discussion about the Charter freedom implications of mandatory mask policies. Later, John explains how the Law Society of Alberta disregards the Charter freedoms of Leighton Grey, a lawyer who’s been cancel-cultured because he criticized Black Lives Matter.

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Get help if your rights have been infringed during COVID-19

This page is meant to be of general interest and information, and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe that your rights and freedoms under the Charter have been infringed by any level of government, or by a governmental authority, please complete an intake form and a member of our legal team will respond as soon as possible.