Law Commons^™

Freedom Of Expression: Is It All Just Talk?, A. Wayne Mackay

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In this article Wayne MacKay argues that effective interpretation of section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms requires the weighing of real world impacts beyond the traditional liberal parameter of judicial decisions. The usual judicial unwillingness to acknowledge "freedoms" as opposed to "rights" limits governmental legal action while not recognizing political and economic barriers to freedom of expression. The trend toward limiting protected expression both at the definitional stage and through section 1 reasonable limits reflects this cautious approach.This article examines who the early beneficiaries of freedom of expression have been: those affected by criminal sanctions and those …