OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers for Campaign Life Coalition have written to Canada Post to remind them of their constitutional obligations and to warn them against infringing Campaign Life Coalition’s right to free expression.
Campaign Life Coalition launched a flyer campaign in New Brunswick promoting the importance of parental notification and consent when gender transitions are considered by minors at school. Pressure is being brought by politicians and media on Canada Post to stop mailing the flyers.
Lawyers for Campaign Life Coalition have written to Canada Post reminding them that as a government entity they are bound by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Refusing to mail the flyers would infringe on Campaign Life Coalition’s right to freedom of expression.
On August 17, 2020, the New Brunswick government created Policy 713, which prohibited teachers from informing parents that their child had adopted a new name or pronouns at school, unless the child consented to such disclosure. On June 8, 2023, the government changed the policy to require that parents of students under 16 years of age be notified by the school before the formal use of a different name or pronoun. “Formal” refers to the use of names and pronouns in the classroom and in school records.
The change to Policy 713 brought a firestorm of criticism and media coverage because it was the first of its kind in Canada to support parental rights on this issue. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs stated that he believes he has the support of parents in the province on this issue.
A provincial election is to be held on or before October 21, 2024. Campaign Life Coalition launched a flyer campaign in New Brunswick promoting the importance of parental notification and consent when gender transitions are considered by minors at school. The group has announced its intention to continue the campaign once the election is called.
The sending of the letter to Canada Post is a proactive move to defend the right to freedom of expression before an infringement occurs.
Lawyer Hatim Kheir says, “The mail is still an important method of communication and we are hopeful that Canada Post will continue to respect Campaign Life Coalition’s right to free expression in the face of external pressure and continue to mail the flyers.”
“This is a dangerous precedent which threatens the very foundations of our democracy. If Canada Post, a federal government agency, is allowed to deny us service because some workers disagree with our political or moral viewpoint, where might that lead? Should letter carriers who are offended by the policies of the New Brunswick Liberal Party be allowed to refuse to deliver its flyers?” said Jack Fonesca, director of political operations for Campaign Life Coalition.
