Canada
Thursday 22.4.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Civil society pushes back against restrictive laws in Canada
Several people were arrested for protesting against pipeline projects or to demand government action to address the climate emergency. Read more
Thursday 25.2.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Violations of COVID-19 protocols lead to fines and detentions for protesters in Canada
During January and February 2021, organisers and attendees of events to protest COVID-19 restrictions were detained or fined in multiple cities. In Hamilton, two people were charged for organising two “Hugs not Masks” events that reportedly drew about 100 people combined, despite local restrictions that limit gatherings to a maximum of 10 people outdoors. Read more
Wednesday 13.1.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: protests against COVID-19 restrictions as country struggles with new wave of infections
On 7th November 2020, about 2,000 people demonstrated in Aylmer, Ontario, to express their opposition to facial coverings and social distancing rules implemented by the provincial and federal governments in response to COVID-19. Read more
Thursday 5.11.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Local and global concerns move people to rally and call on government to take action
On 18th October 2020, hundreds of people rallied in Halifax to express support for Mi'kmaw fishers who are pushing back against commercial fishers’ claims on local lobster fisheries. Read more
Wednesday 23.9.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Protests across political spectrum in Canada: demonstrations for liberty, defunding police
On 29th August 2020, hundreds of people demonstrated on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to protest pandemic safety measures which they say infringe on their personal rights. Read more
Monday 20.7.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Protests against police brutality and harassment of Black and First Nations people across Canada
In solidarity with those protesting in the U.S., tens of thousands of people participated in protests to oppose police brutality and to denounce state-sanctioned violence and harassment of Black and First Nations people by law enforcement. Read more
Tuesday 28.4.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Response to coronavirus saves lives, but complicates daily life
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several provincial governments in Canada introduced state of emergency legislation in March 2020, with measures that range from banning public gatherings to restrictions on movement. Canadian civil society organisations have highlighted that some measures adopted by provincial and local governments in response to COVID-19 may threaten fundamental civil freedoms. Read more
Thursday 26.3.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Natural gas pipeline project on Wet’suwet’en territory sparks national protests
Throughout February 2020, Indigenous-rights and environmental activists participated in country-wide demonstrations and set up blockades on major rail lines to challenge a natural gas pipeline project in British Colombia. Read more | Read in French
Monday 3.2.2020 Canada - Latest Developments -
Public sector employees vow to protest restrictive legislation in Canada
Ontario’s four major teachers’ unions announced that they would challenge a recently passed bill that caps public sector employee raises at one per cent per year. Bill 124, passed by the government in November 2019, affects more than a million workers at universities and colleges, hospitals and other groups. Read more
Thursday 28.11.2019 Canada - Latest Developments -
Courts uphold protections for free expression and assembly
In September and October 2019, three court rulings upheld freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in Canada. On 27th September 2019, a ruling by Canada’s Supreme Court allowed reporter Marie-Maude Denis to maintain confidentiality of her journalistic sources. In a separate case, on 4th October 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that police cannot arrest lawful protesters for their own protection, in order to prevent violence by others. Also in October 2019, a court official determined that it was improper for an investigator to face legal liability for requesting public information.
This update also details a series of protests on climate, autism and labour, as well as some incidents related to freedom of expression.
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