Centre for Free Expression

The latest episode of The Centre for Free Expression Podcast, on the impacts of the rising use of Section 33, is out now.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms made Canada a constitutional democracy in which unelected courts, not elected legislatures, have the final say about rights and freedoms. Yet Section 33 (the Notwithstanding Clause) was built in to let governments override the courts on certain matters. That clause has been contentious ever since – never more than now when it is increasingly being invoked to deny key democratic freedoms and human rights. Tune in to panel of leading legal experts to explore what’s a stake, what options are possible, and what they would mean for the future of Canada’s democracy.

Panelists: Eric Adams (Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta),
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll (Director, Fundamental Freedom Program, Canadian Civil Liberties Association), Richard Moon (Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor)

Moderator: James L. Turk (Director, Centre for Free Expression)

This conversation occurred on Dec. 10, 2025 and was co-sponsored by Centre for Constitutional Studies and PEN Canada.

Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/l5uaOmc
Spotify: https://buff.ly/OQWODPt
Amazon: https://buff.ly/kPzxKIQ
iHeart: https://buff.ly/4XMQ2RG

📣 Check out our latest blog post, “When Consent Culture Becomes a Hockey Heckle,” by CFE Senior Fellow Ummni Khan.

Writing from the perspective of a feminist hockey fan, Khan reflects on the “No means no” chants directed at Vegas goaltender Carter Hart during the Stanley Cup Final. While many fans saw the taunt as a form of accountability, Khan says that turning a hard-won feminist slogan into a hockey heckle does little to address the broader culture that enables sexual violence.

🔗 Read here: https://buff.ly/i50J6UR