Canada
Friday 29.4.2022 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Freedom Convoy organisers have their day in court
In April 2022, the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) announced they had initiated a Charter of Rights challenge against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), arguing that a multi-year audit of the charity was tainted by bias and islamophobia. Read more
Monday 14.3.2022 Canada - Latest Developments -
Emergencies Act used to clear truck drivers’ convoy protests in Canada
Protests against COVID-19 restrictions continued in February 2022, with truck drivers in Ottawa bringing the city to a standstill for several weeks in a protest initially fuelled by opposition to vaccine mandates. Truckers and their supporters blocked key border crossings and other routes, including the Ambassador bridge which connects Windsor to the U.S. city of Detroit. Read more | Read in French
Monday 31.1.2022 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Protests against health restrictions show no signs of slowing
On 1st January 2022, a pastor who has been repeatedly arrested for holding church gatherings in Calgary was arrested again after he attended a protest outside the provincial health minister's home. Read more
Wednesday 15.12.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Indigenous defenders and journalists arrested in raid of protest camp
On 17th and 18th November 2021, new contingents of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers arrived in Wet’suwet’en territory in northern British Columbia, where Gidimt’en clan protesters were blocking an access road used by Coastal GasLink pipeline workers. On 19th November 2021, the RCMP raided the protest camp and began to arrest members of the Indigenous community. Read more
Sunday 31.10.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: provinces ban demonstrations near health facilities
On 23rd September 2021, the Quebec government adopted special legislation that makes it illegal to protest within 50 meters of schools, day care centres, hospitals, medical clinics, vaccination sites and testing centres. Read more
Monday 27.9.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Environmental defenders face arrests and excessive force in Fairy Creek blockades
Protests and civil disobedience actions against the cutting of old-growth forests in Fairy Creek have continued in Vancouver. As previously reported on the CIVICUS Monitor, demonstrators have been camping and mobilising to prevent deforestation on southwestern Vancouver Island for several months. Read more | Read in French
Friday 30.7.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada Day marked by vigils and protests following discovery of Indigenous children’s unmarked grave
This year’s Canada Day on 1st July 2021 was marked by vigils and protests following the recent discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves of Indigenous children at former residential schools. At least 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families to attend the schools over a century as part of the campaign to assimilate the children into Canadian society. Read more
Monday 28.6.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Police restricts press access to environmental protests
On 30th April 2021, Canada’s federal government passed back-to-work legislation that essentially ended a strike by Montreal dockworkers, who had been protesting changes to their work schedules which they describe as unfair. Read more
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
