Pride Toronto funding may be withdrawn
The City of Toronto has suggested it may withdraw funding from Pride Toronto if the group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid is allowed to march in the Pride parade. The City has taken the position that…
Freedom of expression / Liberté d’expression
Nova Scotia Court orders Google and newspaper to identify anonymous internet commentator
The Chronical Herald reports that a Halifax court has ordered Google and a local newspaper to release identifying information regarding anonymous online commentators. Halifax firefighters went to court to get the information, alleging that six…
Report says right to access government information at risk of ‘total obliteration’
The Interim Information Commissioner released a special report to parliament that yet again decried the state of access to information in Canada. You can see her ‘ratings’ of various government departments after the jump. Citing…
Free expression denied at Ottawa U?
Love her, hate her or simply don’t care, controversial right-wing speaker and author Ann Coulter has certainly taken the University of Ottawa and its students to task for allegedly violating her rights to freedom of…
Citizen banned from public facilities for criticism
According to the London Free Press, the municipality of Petrolia has banned a citizen from its public facilities after he posted YouTube videos critizing structural issues with the town’s community centre. The wall of the community centre has…
Opponents of the Olympics being questioned by plainclothes RCMP officers
A Vancouver author of a book criticizing the Olympics has been approached by plainclothes RCMP officers, inquiring about his book and views on the subject, over the past year. In addition, Christopher A. Shaw’s ex-wife…
Ottawa City Council to consider “indecent language” by-law
A proposed amendment to a city by-law now before Council would, if approved, make it an offence punishable by a $300 fine to “engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language, or engage…
Prime Minister to visit BC legislative assembly; Australians flagging down trouble
The day before the 2010 Winter Olympics kick-off in Vancouver, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to address the legislature in Victoria. The CBC reported that the Prime Minister’s representative has stated that he will…
Legal action threatened over use of county logo
The small county of Rocky View Alberta is feeling the chill as threats of legal action against a local critic have forced the closure of an activist website. The Calgary Herald reported on February 3…
Newfoundland MP accuses pie-thrower of terrorism
CBC reports that, following an incident in which a PETA member hit federal fisheries minister Gail Shea in the face with a pie in retaliation for her stance on seal hunting, Newfoundland MP Gerry Byrne has…