Canadian courts recently decided that any speech, including sermons, condemning the gay “lifestyle” was “hate speech” and actionable.
Given the lack of common sense in world today, we might need a Federal Law to prevent this sort of law here.
I am not very familiar with the Canadian constitution.
Do they have an equivalent for our first amendment?
I checked the Canadian constitution.
Their Section 1 is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which confirms that the rights listed in the Charter are guaranteed.
The section is also known as the reasonable limits clause or limitations clause.
It states thusly:
“The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”
This to me, is more restrictive than our first amendment because it allows the GOVERNMENT to LEGALLY limit an individual’s Charter rights.
What do the words “reasonable limits” mean?
It can mean anything really depending on who sits on the bench.