A woman in Chilliwack was recently arrested by the RCMP for allegedly posting discriminatory and harmful language on social media, specifically targeting the South Asian community. This arrest has ignited a national debate in Canada about freedom of speech, with many defending the woman.
CJDC spoke with Criminal Defence Lawyer Kyla Lee, who explained why the case is generating a big response. She points to recent online events such as Donald Trump being removed from Twitter, and Elon Musk buying Twitter and rebranding it, as factors that have fueled this discussion in recent years.
“The American understanding of freedom of speech certainly has an influence over how people in Canada think that their free speech rights operate,” says Lee. Canada has protection for ‘freedom of expression’, but the protection is not absolute, with hate speech being one of the limits.
Kyla Lee, Criminal Defence Lawyer, in an interview with CJDC.
“There is not as much of an ability to limit your exercise of your rights under the constitution in the United States as the government has in Canada,”
She contrasted the Canadian and American approaches to free speech, noting that Canadian law is more modern and adaptable to societal changes. The woman may face serious charges under the Criminal Code, including hate speech, uttering threats, and stalking. The investigation is still ongoing, and more details are expected as the case progresses.
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