Hub Podcasts Does an American Christian rocker have Charter rights in Canada and were they violated?
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Aug 22, 2025 Christine Van Gein, Litigation Director for the Canadian Constitution Foundation, dives into the legal intricacies surrounding a Christian musician's concert in Canada. She discusses the challenges of permit revocation linked to allegations of hate speech, underscoring the tension between safety concerns and free expression. The conversation also explores the concept of the 'heckler's veto' and the complexities of performing on legislative grounds, raising critical questions about regulatory overreach and the state of free speech in Canada today.
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Permits As A Mask For Content Control
- Municipal permit denials often mask content-based reasons under other pretexts like safety or logistics.
- Christine Van Geyn argues such pretexts are improper and echo historical misuse of administrative power.
Charter Rights Apply To Noncitizens
- Foreign nationals on Canadian soil still hold Charter protections for expression, religion and assembly.
- Van Geyn stresses that treating foreigners as outside constitutional rights would create inconsistent outcomes.
The Danger Of The Heckler's Veto
- The 'heckler's veto' occurs when disruptive counter-protesters silence speech by obstruction, shifting the burden to authorities.
- Van Geyn says government yielding to that veto is a bigger problem than the hecklers themselves.