BPC Bulletin March 4, 2024

BPC Bulletin: News Roundup (February 2024)

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.

Today I present five unrelated stories about censorship and free expression in Canada.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC

Phoebe Maltz Bovy and Avi Finegold, co-hosts of the Bonjour Chai podcast, talk to Emil Sher, the writer in residence at the Jewish Public Library in Montreal, about censorship and the freedom to read:

Beyond banned books: Dissecting the controversies at the Jewish Public Library (thecjn.ca)

Thanks go to Gillian O’Reilly who forwarded this podcast.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA

Brandi Morin, a journalist of Indigenous ancestry, has won this year’s Freedom to Read Award. The Writers’ Union of Canada presents the award.

She was arrested, detained and charged on January 10 while covering a police raid on a homeless encampment in Edmonton.

CBC Books reports:

Journalist and writer Brandi Morin wins 2024 Freedom to Read Award | CBC Books

CALGARY, ALBERTA

Calgary police are investigating after books about sexual minorities were returned “with significant damage” to the Calgary Public Library on February 15.

In the Calgary Herald, Scott Strasser reports:

Pride-themed library books returned with 'significant damage': police | Calgary Herald

Thanks go to Dr. Alvin Schrader who forwarded this news report.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO

The Ottawa Public Library released a report about challenges to six books and one DVD.

Challenged titles include Tintin in America (in French and English) and The Menu.

William Eltherington of CTV News reports:

Here are the contested books at the Ottawa Public Library in 2023 | CTV News

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY CANADA

Dr. Sandro Galea writes about the importance of fostering free expression, respect and inclusion to improve society:

Supporting Free Speech in a Divided Moment | Psychology Today Canada

The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.

Is an encampment protected expression?

On Thursday, Calgary Police forcibly dismantled the pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Calgary within hours of its formation. Those who advocate the same tactic at other Canadian universities, including University of Toronto, argue that an encampment is not a legitimate form of protest because it is disruptive and occupies space that should be open to all. A columnist in the Globe & Mail even argued that the encampment is not a form of expression and thus deserves no protection.

Is an encampment protected expression?

Working Families Coalition (Canada) Inc. v. Ontario (Attorney General), SCC, Court File No. 40475

CFE Motion Record for Leave to Intervene – Supreme Court of Canada The issue in this appeal is whether Ontario Bill 307’s amendments to the Election Finances Act violate the informational element of a citizen’s right to vote under s. 3 of the Charter. Bill 307 re-enacted third-party spending limits that were declared invalid under s. 2(b) of the Charter, and invoked s. 33 to protect those spending limits from Charter review. The question in this appeal is whether limits on third party spending that are unconstitutional under s. 2(b) are also an unjustifiable violation of s. 3 which cannot be overriden by s. 33.