On September 20, 2023 two men were taking a largely empty transit C train to the Million March for kids in Calgary, Alberta. While they were talking another passenger overheard their conversation and phoned the police. When the two men went to leave the train, uniformed Officers were waiting for them and they were ticketed. One of the men was also placed into handcuffs for the By-Law infraction. They were both issued summons to appear in November.
Cases like these demonstrate the importance of a full-throated defence of free speech. Not just preventing these harm or offense laws, but the opposite. The absolute need for free speech.
Politicians have abandoned this. They quickly agree to the premise then try to attenuate or limit the scope. This has failed in all our countries except the US.
So I think we need a renewed focus on total free speech. We must recast the speech controllers as weirdos and oddballs, perhaps speech Nazis.
Cases like these demonstrate the importance of a full-throated defence of free speech. Not just preventing these harm or offense laws, but the opposite. The absolute need for free speech.
Politicians have abandoned this. They quickly agree to the premise then try to attenuate or limit the scope. This has failed in all our countries except the US.
So I think we need a renewed focus on total free speech. We must recast the speech controllers as weirdos and oddballs, perhaps speech Nazis.