Supreme Court overturns bans on controversial ads:  Victory for CFI’s Campaign for Free Expression

July 10, 2009

Great news! We just won a major free speech victory, and excitedingly it occurs just after CFI Transnational embraces the CFI Canada Campaign for Free Expression by declaring it an international project.  The Supreme Court of Canada just dismissed an appeal from a lower court attempting to reinstate a ban on political advertisements on Vancouver buses.  In a weird twist, the champions of free speech in this case were the Canadian Federation of Students.

This clears the way for overturning Metro Transit's ban on the atheist bus ads in Halifax.  While the Freethought Association of Canada fields the numerous media requests already coming through in anticipation of the Halifax atheist bus launch, the Centre for Inquiry will be releasing statements highlighting the free expression side of this issue and the general victory it entails.

Here is the decision from the Supreme Court of Canada:
http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2009/2009scc31/2009scc31.htm

Here's the report in today's Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/663948

Notice that thanks to a media release strategically sent just before the supreme court decision was made public, the connection with the atheist bus ads has already been made in the article and in the headline:
"Top court strikes down bus ad ban: Ruling on B.C. Transit's refusal to run political ads during 2005 election may clarify battle over atheist ads"

Other gems that give me the feeling we might be making some kind of press:
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 8-0 to strike down the policy.

"Like a city street, a city bus is a public place where individuals can openly interact with each other and their surroundings," said the judgment, written for the court by Justice Marie Deschamps.

"I do not see any aspect of the location that suggests that expression within it would undermine the values underlying free expression. On the contrary, the space allows for expression by a broad range of speakers to a large public audience.

"I therefore conclude that the side of a bus is a location where expressive activity is protected by ... the Charter."

This is big!

Justin Trottier
Executive Director, Centre for Inquiry Ontario
Acting Executive Director, Centre for Inquiry Canada