Landmark ruling marks a new chapter for free speech rights in Canada
The Canadian Federation of Students – British Columbia has won its case against transportation company Translink’s advertising restrictions.
This ruling could have implications beyond Translink. The Supreme Court has ruled the Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to “arms-length” government agencies.
Supreme Court ruling online: http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/news_release/2009/09-07-10.3/09-07-10.3.html
The implications for this could potentially extend to universities. Publicly funded universities like to consider themselves to be “private bodies” and except from provisions of the Charter.
It’s only a matter of time before someone challenges an university’s restrictions and argues the Charter applies to universities.
I look forward to the day when people enjoy the same protections of their freedoms from university officials as they receive from government officials.