Supreme Court of Canada

Supreme Court of Canada /maxbellschool/taxonomy/term/3924/all en Humour, Hate and Harm: Rethinking dignity, equality and freedom of expression after the SCC’s decision in Ward v Quebec /maxbellschool/events/past/2022/humour-hate-harm-equality-free-speech-ward <h2 style="text-align:center">Humour, Hate and Harm</h2> <h3 style="text-align:center">Rethinking dignity, equality and freedom of expression after the Supreme Court’s decision in Ward v Quebec</h3> In November 2023, Queen’s University’s PKI Global Justice Journal published a special edition on the the Max Bell School of Public Policy conference, <a href="/maxbellschool/events/past-events/2022-past-events/humour-hate-harm-equality-free-speech-ward" target="_blank">Hate, Humour and Harm</a> to explore the legal and policy dimensions of what constitutes hate speech and speech that offends human dignity. Freedom of expression and the right to receive opinions and information are fundamental parts of the international human rights framework and are reflected in the constitutions of nation states. The Journal invites readers to consider the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the decision in Ward v Quebec (Commission de droit de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse) <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscc-csc.lexum.com%2Fscc-csc%2Fscc-csc%2Fen%2Fitem%2F19046%2Findex.do&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cvictoria.weston%40mcgill.ca%7Cb3397efa9bdd4e96871a08dbfc092b7a%7Ccd31967152e74a68afa9fcf8f89f09ea%7C0%7C0%7C638380888529961011%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=tqodWzYkGnFzkabFB79D%2BJwvIvtFGgiyikZHvWbNWWs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">2021 SCC 43</a>) (“Ward”) and its implications for how we use law to craft a public commons that is capable of negotiating the shape of public discourse at the intersection of liberty, equality and human dignity. <div class="two-column-1"> <h2 style="text-align:center"><a class="button--outline" href="/maxbellschool/article/event-recap/humour-hate-harm">WATCH THE PANEL RECORDINGS</a></h2> </div> <div class="two-column-2"> <h2 style="text-align:center"><a class="button--outline" href="https://globaljustice.queenslaw.ca/news/special-issue-humour-hate-and-harm-rethinking-dignity-equality-and-freedom-of-expression-after-the-supreme-court-of-canadas-decision-in-ward-v-quebec-commission-de-droit-de-la-personne-et-des-droits-de-la-jeunesse">READ THE SPECIAL EDITION</a></h2> </div> <hr /> The governance of freedom of expression remains one of the most difficult topics today. While freedoms are foundational to democracy, forms of expression that mislead and deceive, that damage reputations, incite hatred, or foment violence and discrimination, all pose direct dangers to people and the democracies that they live in. That is why Canadian and international models of human rights emphasize the interdependence of human rights with no single right or freedom occupying the apex of a hierarchy of rights. This half-day conference (in person and online) will explore the legal and policy dimensions of these tensions following the Supreme Court of Canada’s latest decision on the interactions among freedom of expression, human dignity, and equality law. The Court’s 2021 decision in <a href="https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/19046/index.do" target="_blank">Ward v Quebec</a>, which involved allegations of discrimination against Montreal comedian Mike Ward, reset the boundaries among these values, circumscribing the rights of minorities and of peoples with disabilities, among others. Resolving the tensions among rights also has implications for the forthcoming federal legislation on regulating of online content and safety based on the development of the Court’s understanding of “social harm.” ‘Humour, Hate and Harm’ offers a unique opportunity in an intimate setting for students, scholars and the community to discuss these pressing issues of social justice with leaders of Canada’s human rights institutions, as well as prominent constitutional and human rights litigators, academics and anti-racism organizations. Seating is limited to facilitate discussion and virtual attendance is also possible. During the Luncheon remarks, we will have the honour of hearing from Chief Commissioner Marie-Claude Landry whose successful tenure is ending in 2022 and will reflect on the role of human rights commissions and national human rights institutions around the world in creating a culture of human rights and respect for all. The event is hosted by ƻ��Ժ's Max Bell School of Public Policy and ƻ��Ժ’s <a href="/humanrights/" target="_blank">Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism</a> of the Faculty of Law. We are delighted that the <a href="https://reviewcanada.ca/" target="_blank">Literary Review of Canada</a>, Canada‘s journal of ideas, is with us as the event media sponsor. <div> <img height="300" width="600" class="file-original no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/logos_for_website_0.png" alt="" /> <hr /> </div> <div> <h2 style="text-align:center"><a name="Speakers"></a>SPEAKERS</h2> <table class="grid zero"> <tr> <td style="text-align:center"> <img height="160" width="160" style="width: 160px; height: 160px;" class="file-original file-default " src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/pearl_eliadis_0.png?itok=QxYR9Ghq" alt="" /> <a href="#PearlEliadis">Pearl Eliadis</a> Event Chair, Associate Professor (Professional), Max Bell School of Public Policy </td> <td> <img height="160" width="160" class="file-original file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/stephanie_fournier.png?itok=cgbTgVEa" alt="" /> <a href="#StéphanieFournier">Stéphanie Fournier</a> Legal Counsel, Quebec Commission for human rights and youth rights </td> <td> <img height="160" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/pablo_gilabert.png?itok=r3waSPt7" alt="" /> <a href="#PabloGilabert">Pablo Gilabert</a> Professor, Philosophy, Concordia University </td> <td style="text-align:center"> <img height="160" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/julius_grey.png?itok=rVTHoGVN" alt="" /> <a href="#JuliusGrey">Julius Grey</a> Constitutional lawyer, Senior Partner, Grey, Casgrain </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center"> <img file-default="" height="161" /><img height="160" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/mohammed_hashim.png?itok=ePoEIPbz" alt="" /> <a href="#MohammedHashim">Mohammed Hashim</a> Executive Director of Canadian Race Relations Foundation </td> <td style="text-align:center"> <img height="160" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/marie-claude_landry.png?itok=tfIi829S" alt="" /> <a href="#Marie-ClaudeLandry">Marie-Claude Landry</a> Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human rights Commission </td> <td style="text-align:center"> <img height="164" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/img_0294_1.png?itok=tV7HG0aT" alt="" /> <a href="#FoNiemi">Fo Niemi</a> Executive Director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations </td> <td style="text-align:center"> <img height="160" width="160" class="file-default no-float" src="/maxbellschool/files/maxbellschool/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/pa_tessier.png?itok=9CpUZeWP" alt="" /><img file-default="" height="160" /> <a href="#PhilippeAndréTessier">Philippe-André Tessier</a> President of the Quebec Human Rights &amp; Youth Rights Commission </td> </tr> </table> Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:49:48 +0000 victoria.weston@mcgill.ca 2883 at /maxbellschool Supreme Court ruling could change how human rights law is applied in Quebec | The Chronicle Journal /maxbellschool/channels/news/supreme-court-ruling-could-change-how-human-rights-law-applied-quebec-chronicle-journal-335450 December 1, 2021 | A recent Supreme Court ruling has narrowed the scope of jurisdiction on discrimination cases. Max Bell School professor <a href="/maxbellschool/our-people/mpp-teaching-faculty/pearl-eliadis">Pearl Eliadis</a> argues that this new precedent is dangerous, running counter to the direction in which human rights law has evolved. <a href="https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/national/supreme-court-ruling-could-change-how-human-rights-law-is-applied-in-quebec/article_994fb9f7-f4ea-5335-a5d9-85242bb95b05.html">Read the article</a>. Thu, 09 Dec 2021 14:50:51 +0000 matthew.mclaughlin2@mail.mcgill.ca 2735 at /maxbellschool