Update: the committee was unable to hear witnesses due to procedural issues. It is expected that TDF will be heard at a later date to be determined.
The Democracy Fund has been invited to testify before Parliamentary Committee on Bill C-9.
TORONTO— The Democracy Fund (TDF) has been invited to appear as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to provide testimony on Bill C-9, legislation that TDF has warned could have serious implications for free expression in Canada.
The Committee hearing is part of Parliament’s review process, where experts, civil society organizations and others are called to provide legal, policy, and constitutional analysis to help inform the Committee’s study and eventual recommendations to the House. During the appearance, TDF representatives will outline the organization’s concerns about the bill’s broad and undefined language, which TDF believes could be used to justify increased censorship and restrict Canadians’ rights to peacefully assemble, protest, and speak freely, particularly on digital platforms.
Mark Joseph, TDF’s Litigation Director, stated: “Our lawyers have extensive experience defending Canadians accused of breaching speech codes or uttering speech deemed ‘offensive’ by authorities. We look forward to sharing our legal expertise and concerns about Bill C-9 with the Committee.”
TDF’s testimony will form part of the public record and may influence future amendments to the bill before it proceeds to third reading in the House of Commons.
The Democracy Fund is scheduled to appear before the Committee on November 6, 2025.
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.