Why are there designated speech areas when the whole country is supposed to be a free speech area? Will my rights to free speech be restricted because of the Summits?
Designated Speech Areas are open forums created to give people a place to congregate safely and have access to media to share their message. This is being done to protect the rights of Canadians to voice their opinions using lawful methods and activities, while ensuring that there are no disruptions to the Summits. The decision to have a Designated Speech Area is guided by the recommendations in the Lord Justice Hughes Report that “a generous opportunity will be afforded for peaceful protests to see and be seen in their protest activities by guests to the event”. Protesters will have to obey the law as always, but otherwise may express their views wherever they wish. The use of this area is optional as lawful assembly is permitted in public areas as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Related Questions
- Is each required focus area (strategic direction) required to have a designated population sub-group? Could the same population sub-group be used for all three required focus areas?
- Why can there be designated smoking areas instead of making the whole campus tobacco free?
- What are my free speech rights in a public school?
