Freedom Feature

Join us live tonight at 8:00pm! Tuesday, April 12, join Barry W. Bussey and his special guest constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson. Mr. Wilson is a strong advocate for freedom in Canada. He is currently working on two high profile cases first, is the case of the Hon. Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador who is challenging the constitutionality of the travel vaccine mandates. Those who do not accept government vaccine mandates are not allowed to travel on commercial airlines, trains or ferries. Mr. Peckford says that restriction violates his Charter Rights. Mr. Wilson is also representing Tamara Lich. Tamara Lich was instrumental in organising the Trucker Freedom Convoy in Ottawa and was held in jail for weeks without bail. There is much to talk about on these cases. You will not want to miss this conversation!

Can the idea of reasonable limits help resolve some of the "all or nothing" polarization we see in our society today? Professor Dwight Newman, QC, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights in Constitutional and International Law (University of Saskatchewan) offers his insights in a fascinating conversation on rights and freedoms in Canada. He reminds us that we need to find ways to live with our neighbours even when we disagree. This is why Section 1 of the Charter is so important: it both guarantees and limits rights in order to allow space for everyone to live together. Dr. Newman explains the four questions of the Oakes Test and how these steps have been applied in different legal cases. He and Barry then turn to current issues of religious freedom as illustrated by Quebec's Bill 21 and the pandemic. Read Dr. Newman's report, "Reasonable Limits: How Far Does Religious Freedom Go in Canada?" published by Cardus. Video Timeline: 3:28 - Reasonable limits and Section 1 of the Charter 4:45 - The Oakes Test and the importance of limits 15:07 - Administrative Law and the Doré/Loyola Test 20:24 - Syndicat Northcrest v. Amselem 25:12 - Benner v. Canada (citizenship case) 27:47 - Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys 31:40 - Alberta v. Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony 33:56 - Emergencies Act 36:36 - Canada Summer Jobs Program 51:12 - Quebec's Secularism Bill 21 56:25 - Religious Freedom in the pandemic - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Join Barry W. Bussey tonight on First Freedoms Livestream at 8pm EST as he interviews James Topp about his march across Canada. Marching from the Terry Fox Statue in Vancouver to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, Mr. Topp wants to bring attention to the struggle that many Canadians face for their conscientious position on the vaccination status. Thousands of Canadians lost their employment or were coerced into a medical procedure they would not otherwise take. Topp is doing his part to say it is not right. Join us in support of one man's mission to remind Canadians to get along with each other in a spirit of peace.

Dr. Conrad Vine, a passionate religious freedom advocate living in the United States, discusses the historical roots of religious freedom, from Martin Luther to Roger Williams, along with current social concerns such as Bill 67 in Ontario. He approaches difficult topics such as reconciliation and critical race theory with sensitivity and insight. In our increasingly secular world, religious freedom is sometimes seen as discriminatory or intolerant. However, as Dr. Bussey and his guest explain, the many rights and freedoms that we value in the West have their origins in the protection of individual conscience that developed from a religious context. For example, some people associate tolerance with the sexual revolution, but it arose earlier from a Protestant conviction that allowed for disagreement without denying the rights of fellow citizens. Today's "tolerance" is actually intolerant, since it insists that everyone must accept a certain perspective or be cancelled. This is very different from the respect that figures like Roger Williams advocated! Visit Dr. Vine's website at https://pastorconradvine.com/ For more on how freedom of conscience and religion may be seen as a "prototypical" right which paved the way for other freedoms in the West (including an analysis of Roger Williams), read Dr. Bussey's academic paper, "Blazing the Path: Freedom of Conscience as the Prototypical Right" (Supreme Court Law Review 2020). - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Augustine College is a private undergraduate institution that looks at Western intellectual history from its beginnings to the 21st century with attention and patience, oriented to understanding our world without abandoning the pursuit of truth. Join Dr. Barry W. Bussey and his special guest Dr. John Patrick, President of Augustine College as they discuss the importance of the Western Experience. They will also discuss a special event planned in August designed for lawyers to gain a deeper understanding of the Rule of Law. The conference is tentatively entitled: The Rule of Law: Roots in Ancient Athens, Rome and Jerusalem

What happens if we really "follow the science"? Does the research support or contradict the pandemic measures that our governments have put in place? Dr. Joseph Hickey of the Ontario Civil Liberties Association explains that the government knew – or should have known – that it was unscientific to implement lockdowns, universal masking, and vaccine mandates, yet went ahead and did it anyway! In fact, a recently released email reveals that the Quebec government imposed its curfew restrictions despite medical and ethical advice to the contrary. As Dr. Hickey explains, this is true of all the draconian measures taken by the federal and provincial governments during the pandemic. As we emerge from the pandemic, we need to hold our politicians to account by demanding transparency. The biggest contribution to truth comes from individuals who take responsibility for their lives and personal decisions! Dr. Hickey's conversation with Dr. Bussey is a reminder of the importance of freedom of expression to allow for scientific research and discovery. As Dr. Hickey says, "in order for individuals to have influence, they need to be able to freely express their views ... including views that are extremely critical of power figures, authority figures, [or] ideologies. So we have to allow a huge diversity of views." Video timeline: 1:10 - the Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA) 5:21 - Quebec curfew email 8:53 - Unscientific government policies 9:42 - Lockdowns 14:13 - Face masks 18:31 - Vaccine mandates 29:12 - Dr. Hickey's qualifications 32:51 - COVID-19 vaccine toxicity 42:43 - Deaths in Canada from 2014 to present (graph) 52:23 - Government censorship 56:43 - Call to action: transparency and accountability - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Join Barry W. Bussey for an exciting conversation with Stephen LeDrew, founder and host of The Three Minute Interview. He is a lawyer, broadcaster, responsible father, and a believer in fairness, good manners, liberalism (in the best sense of the word), good government and civic responsibility. He describes himself as "an enemy of bureaucratic busybodies, know-it-all 'idealogues', pontificating politicians who tell everyone else how to run their lives, woke idiots, and politically correct, milquetoast, sanitized media outlets." How do we keep our democracy when politicians take more power for themselves? What should public policy be in light of the current politics? We face big issues and there is no consensus on how to deal with them. How do we address woke ideologues who impose their view of the world on our children, like what is being proposed in Ontario Bill 67? Stephen LeDrew engages these questions with energy, insight and wisdom. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Watch Dr. Bussey on Lessons for Living with Bill Santos! Part 2 of the program airs next Sunday; be sure to tune in on CTV! - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Have our lawmakers stopped reading the law? This is a question posed by retired RCMP member Clay Farnsworth in our latest Freedom Feature conversation, recorded on February 28. Mr. Farnsworth explains what the organization, Police on Guard for Thee, is doing to defend freedom in Canada. Mr. Farnsworth draws from his personal experiences as he discusses the responsibility of law enforcement to uphold the Constitution. He reminds us that standing up for what is right takes critical thinking and courage! - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Dr. Ryan Alford, Professor at the Bora Laskin School of Law, Lakehead University, joins Dr. Bussey for a remarkable Freedom Feature discussion, recorded on February 23. Author of Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Historical Foundations of Canada's Rule of Law (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2020), Prof. Alford explains that there are certain principles of law which precede the state and cannot be violated, even (or especially) in times of crisis. Touching on topics from gnosis to hate speech to Davos to James I of England to the Nuremberg Trials to the influence of the CBC, Prof. Alford reminds us that we have to understand our history in order to maintain our constitutional rights. This context provides a fertile field of ideas for their discussion on the recent Canadian crisis that saw Prime Minister Trudeau invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with the Trucker Convoy protest. As Prof. Alford and Dr. Bussey observe, when a utopian ideology provides the framework for the ruling class (without an appreciation for the past), this can lead to an abuse of power. Not wanting to miss the opportunity a crisis gives to gain more power, utopian leaders such as Mr. Trudeau capitalize on the moment. Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act is a wakeup call to utopian danger.

Should people of faith be involved in politics? What can Christians do to stand up for the vulnerable and the voiceless? Former pastor and Member of Parliament Mr. Harold Albrecht shares his concerns about government overreach, including his personal observations of the peaceful protests in Ottawa. He explains that engaging in politics doesn't necessarily mean taking a partisan view, but rather being willing to address political issues on behalf of those who are negatively affected by government measures. Importantly, God doesn't call us to be victorious in every battle, he calls us to be faithful as we play our part. Ultimately, however, politics are not the hope of the world: it is Christ who offers true freedom. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

How do we come together in the face of differences? In this Freedom Feature, recorded earlier in February, Barry discusses the rule of law with Dr. Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa. The two consider what happens if a government decides to pick and choose which laws apply depending on its own ideology. They also share concerns about academia, revisionist history, and the influence of certain "progressive" ideas that tend to undermine rather than strengthen our society. Dr. Crowley shares some powerful imagery from his latest book Gardeners vs Designers: Understanding the Great Fault Line in Canadian Politics (Sutherland House, 2020), in which he argues that society is less like a machine that can be tinkered with and more like a garden that needs to be tended. Dr. Crowley is also the author of Fearful Symmetry: the Fall and Rise of Canada's Founding Values (2009).

In today's Freedom Feature, lawyer Lisa Bildy describes her career and what brought her to "the freedom space." Through her conversation on academia, the law profession, and the pandemic, Lisa shares fascinating and sometimes troubling examples from some of the court cases she's been involved with. Which of her clients have been treated more harshly than others? Lisa also explains why the progressive values of equity, inclusion, and diversity are actually regressive. Instead of valuing individuals, equity (rather than equality) focuses on group dynamics based on notions of oppression and intersectionality that ultimately seeks to push people down. As Lisa warns, many things are hanging in the balance right now. At the same time, we can hold onto hope. The world shifts because of a few people on either end of the spectrum. When enough people recognize that there are problems and start speaking up, we can find a better way forward. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Economic Warfare is being waged in Canada for all the world to see. Jeffrey Tucker, founder of The Brownstone Institute, wrote a chilling description of Trudeau's imposition of the Emergencies Act and the freezing of bank accounts of anyone who does not agree with his ideology. "What we are seeing right now in Ottawa reveals the hegemonic depth of the system that gave us lockdowns, then mandates: it is now capable of freezing your accounts and essentially starving you and your family. It’s economic warfare. This was a wild conspiracy theory last year. Now it is very obvious that this is where many governments want to go. We’ve seen examples just in the past week." Join Barry W. Bussey and Jeffrey Tucker as they discuss the radical nature of this new warfare that is capable of killing dissent without a shot being fired. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

You are important! That's why we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, according to the Hon. Mr Brian Peckford: because every individual is unique, with a special place in this country. It's from that spirit of warmth and respect for every person that Mr. Peckford speaks with such incredible passion, conviction and integrity! As a former premier of Newfoundland, Mr. Peckford is the last surviving author and signatory of the Charter. Last month, he announced he is suing the government for violating the Charter that he helped craft. Yesterday, he spoke with Barry about current events. Mr. Peckford reminds us that the Charter begins with the statement, "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law." Everything else flows from that foundation. We need to restore our respect for the constitutional text as written, along with those basic principles that include the worth and dignity of every Canadian. Watch, like, and share this interview as widely as you can. Everyone should hear this inspirational and timely conversation! - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

What power does the government have under the never before used Emergencies Act? Is this extremely authoritarian response justified? What does this mean for free speech and pluralism in Canada? The protests are a sign that the democratic process in Canada has broken down and the government risks losing its legitimacy through the abuse of power. Watch Dr. Bussey in a livestream conversation with 3 other lawyers. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Find out why Dr. Hoffe is about to lose his medical license. Trudeau claims that people like Dr. Hoffe are racist, misogynist, and anti-science. Are those labels true? See for yourself!Dr. Hoffe grew up resisting apartheid in South Africa. He has decades of experience as a family physician, committed to evidence-based medicine and putting his patients first. He hasbeen transparent about his observations and concerns with the vaccines. The government narrative is all about fear and control. Don't give in to fear! - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

In this Freedom Feature conversation, law professor Bruce Pardy, Executive Director of Rights Probe (https://www.rightsprobe.org/) comments on the underlying ideas that were made apparent in the loss of freedoms during the pandemic. Bruce and Barry discuss a range of issues from self-censorship and conformity to the legacy of the Charter. Will we emerge from the present crisis having learned anything about the dangers of a managerial state in which experts regulate our lives for the collective good? Or will we stand for individual freedom? As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn declared: "Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph, but not through me."

In response to media reports, Freedom Feature guests Davina Peters and Nadine Ness offer their personal accounts of the situation in Ottawa. Their impressions differ drastically from the narrative given in the mainstream media or by certain politicians. Nadine cautions against “underestimating the Canadian people and their thirst for freedom” and expresses her hope for change. To see more from Unified Grassroots, visit www.unifiedgrassroots.com or join their Facebook group. Lawyer and Ottawa resident Don Hutchinson (donhutchinson.ca) returns to Freedom Feature to discuss his perspective, including the federal government’s responsibility to address the crisis. This includes articulating a clear pathway towards lifting mandates, as recommended by Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Tam. He makes a personal appeal for the Prime Minister to begin negotiations to end the blockade so that Ottawa and the country can get back to normal. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Why would someone refuse the vaccine at great personal cost? In this heartfelt interview, nurse Judy Bacalso shares her medical and religious perspectives on the vaccine mandates, along with the personal impact on her life and family. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

To get a better understanding of current events, Barry met and spoke with a number of individuals gathered in Ottawa over the weekend. Hear their personal stories and perspectives. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

Describing his weekend in Ottawa, Dr. Bussey explains how and why it’s important to look through the lens of those who have a different view than ourselves. Historically, Canada has accommodated conscientious beliefs as a matter of individual freedom protected in the Charter. What may appear to be a simple choice could, for some, be a deeper question of identity. As Martin Luther declared, “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” Recognizing that we will not all agree, Barry urges respect as we allow each other to make our voices heard. - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

What happens when fundamental freedoms are not explicitly protected? And can we find any hope or humour in the current situation? Listen as Barry W. Bussey interviews legal philosopher and scholar Dr. Iain Benson. Dr. Benson has written extensively on religion, secularism, and the “language of values” as opposed to virtues. He has appeared before all levels of court in Canada and assisted in drafting the South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms. He is currently a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia and Professor Extraordinary, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Dr. Bussey and Dr. Benson co-edited Religion, Liberty and the Jurisdictional Limits of Law (LexisNexis, 2018). - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.

What does our attitude towards conscientious objectors reveal about our society? And what role do politicians have in promoting (or eroding) civil society? For a lively reflection on freedom, faith and family in Canada, watch my discussion with politician Derek Sloan.

Why is Canada's new Conversion Therapy Bill so problematic? Listen as Barry discusses concerns around Bill C-4 with Dr. Don Hutchinson and Dr. Iain Provan. Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), went through the Parliament of Canada in record time. There was unanimous consent in the House and the Senate. Part of the rationale was that the bill had already passed through just before the 2021 election but died on the order paper when the election was called. However, guests Dr. Don Hutchinson and Dr. Iain Provan explain Bill C-4 was very different. It expanded criminality significantly from the previous version. The government's own characterization of the limited nature of the bill is questionable. Further, the lack of opposition due to this fact, and due to the complete disregard of parliamentary procedure are cause for concern of the rule of law in Canada. Support First Freedoms Foundation at www.firstfreedoms.ca Find out more about Don Hutchinson at: http://www.donhutchinson.ca/ Find out more about Iain Provan: https://iainprovan.ca/ Read Bill C-4 at https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-4/royal-assent - - - Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.