Blog
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Apr 6
2020
A Cautionary Tale: Dangers to Collegial Governance in the Time of COVID-19
On March 19th, the Executive of the General Faculties Council at the University of Alberta took the unusual step of acting on delegated authority, at a special meeting, to refuse to grant students letter grades for their Winter 2020 courses. The plan, instead, was for students to receive only a CR (credit) or NC (no credit) notation on their transcripts.
By Carolyn Sale / Posted Monday April 6, 2020
Mar 31
2020
Even in the Age of Covid-19, Justice Requires Open Courts
The justice system is facing unprecedented challenges. Like almost every other sector of society, the new realities of province-wide “social distancing” have raised fundamental questions about whether — and perhaps even how — courts and tribunals can continue to function in the age of the pandemic.
By Justin Safayeni / Posted Tuesday March 31, 2020
Freedom of the Press, Government & Corporate Transparency, Speech Restrictive Laws
Mar 25
2020
Freedom of Expression, Misinformation, and Anti-Vaxxers: The Right Thing to Do Is Not Obvious
As a parent of a small child, I’ve been to immunization clinics quite a bit over the past two years. During every visit, I’m curious to ask the public health nurses about the giant elephant in the room, at least as someone who researches freedom of expression issues: How do you satisfy your public health mandate at a time when vaccine skepticism or hesitancy seems to be on the rise?
By Dax D’Orazio / Posted Wednesday March 25, 2020
Mar 19
2020
What’s Up with Waterfront Toronto? Why The Silence From City Hall And Other Governments?
The news on the coronavirus are dominating our newscasts so much that many other stories are being neglected. That’s natural. But some stories, like Waterfront Toronto’s relationship with Google sister company, Sidewalk Labs, planning the Toronto waterfront “smart city” project, were being neglected for many months before the virus struck.
By Mariana Valverde / Posted Thursday March 19, 2020
Feb 19
2020
Have we Lost the Plot with Polanski?
Roman Polanksi’s back in the news again, this time because of the 12 César Academy nominations he received for his latest film, An Officer and a Spy. Outrage ensued, as it always does, whenever the fugitive director receives any recognition for his work. In response to the criticism, the entire César Academy Board resigned last week.
While some may view this as a #metoo victory, I wonder if we have allowed punitive impulses to misplace our priorities.
By Ummni Khan / Posted Wednesday February 19, 2020
Feb 3
2020
Political boycotts are protected expression in Canada
Dr. David Kattenburg is a wine lover and activist. Recently, he merged these two passions together by litigating the issue of whether political boycotts are a form of Charter-protected expression. Specifically, in a judicial review before the Federal Court, Dr. Kattenburg challenged the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s decision to maintain the labeling of wines produced by Israeli settlers in the West Bank as “Products of Israel”. In the evidence before the Court, Dr.
By Abbas Kassam / Posted Monday February 3, 2020
Jan 13
2020
Is Picketing a Teachable Moment?
You may have noticed your kids sleeping in on school days a bit more this academic year. Or maybe you haven’t noticed because they are up and out the door, marching on a picket line in front of their local school.
By Danielle S. McLaughlin / Posted Monday January 13, 2020
Dec 16
2019
Intellectual Freedom Debate: Why Megan Murphy and Why Now?
In 2019, we seem to have crossed a professional threshold where discourse is still possible and ongoing but, like many other instances in our everyday lives, it is becoming politicized and polarized around rigid presumptions of someone’s opinion being right and the opposing viewpoint being wrong. There is no place for a middle ground discussion.
By Richard Beaudry / Posted Monday December 16, 2019
Oct 30
2019
A public-partnership for secrecy? Waterfront Toronto’s ‘smart city’ ongoing discussions with Sidewalk Labs
The Google-affiliated American company Sidewalk Labs’ 1500-page proposal for a smart city on Toronto’s eastern waterfront has received plenty of criticism since its release in late June.
By Mariana Valverde / Posted Wednesday October 30, 2019
Oct 28
2019
Kids, Criminals, and the Artist in the Classroom
Imagine that your child has a teacher who likes to invite guest musicians, artists, and authors to her classroom. She is particularly interested in having the students learn about diversity and inclusion.
In order to keep your child and others in the school safe, the school board, like many in Canada, requires all guests who will interact with students to undergo a police check. Because the students are under the age of eighteen, this is called a “vulnerable sector police records check.”
By Danielle S. McLaughlin / Posted Monday October 28, 2019