CALGARY, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces the release of its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of significant legal victories, national advocacy, and growing public engagement in defence of Canadians’ Charter rights and freedoms.
The report outlines a strong record of impact across litigation, education, and public policy. In 2025, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre handled 86 active cases nationwide, defending freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, conscience, religion, and mobility.
Across Canada, courts and tribunals delivered important rulings affirming that governments must respect Charter rights even during times of crisis. In one landmark decision, Ontario’s highest court struck down a total ban on outdoor gatherings, confirming that “the Constitution does not fade from view in times of crisis.” Courts also reaffirmed that “being upset or offended is not discrimination,” strengthening protections for freedom of expression.
The Justice Centre also supported successful outcomes outside the courtroom. Legal action led to the reversal of a five-year banishment order against a Manitoba father, the reinstatement of a suspended school council member in Ontario, and the withdrawal of criminal charges against a peaceful protestor.
Beyond litigation, the Justice Centre expanded its educational and advocacy efforts. In 2025, it released multiple reports warning Canadians about growing threats to privacy, free expression, and democratic accountability, including government overreach in internet regulation and surveillance. The organization also advanced a high school curriculum on the Canadian Charter, helping educate the next generation about fundamental freedoms.
Public engagement continued to grow. In 2025, the Justice Centre published 117 news releases, delivered 80 columns, conducted over two hundred media interviews, and reached hundreds of thousands of Canadians through its digital platforms. Its online audience expanded to approximately 128,000 followers on X and 55,000 on Facebook, reflecting increasing public interest in constitutional freedoms.
The Justice Centre remains fully independent, funded entirely by voluntary donations and accepting no government funding. This independence allows it to defend the rights and freedoms of Canadians regardless of which political party is in power.
President John Carpay emphasized the importance of continued public support, noting that freedom requires “courage, persistence, and, in many cases, great personal sacrifice.”
Looking ahead, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre will continue to advance major constitutional cases in 2026, including challenges involving government overreach, freedom of expression, and limits on executive power.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is Canada’s leading civil liberties organization fighting for 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.
For media inquiries, please contact media@jccf.ca.
