Not Reserving Judgment

On Episode 91, we tell you about the arrest of three women for holding up a sign in city council, we discuss a new Quebec prison policy that will assign trans prisoners based on their anatomical sex, and we explain why a man was acquitted because he took magic mushrooms.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Winnipeggers warned to keep their grass short or face fines Three women...

On Episode 90, we tell you about a legal challenge to London, Ontario's "graphic images" bylaw that bans images of fetuses in public, and we discuss a legal challenge by a former University of Saskatchewan student (our friend Tim), who punished for his opinions on D.E.I.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   ARPA Canada Challenges London’s “Graphic Image” Bylaw as Unconstitutiona...

On Episode 89, we tell you about the Liberals' plan to exempt big projects from any federal law without Parliamentary approval, Ontario's plans to reduce wokeness in education, and the shameful response to complaints about a Charlie Hebdo cartoon on an exam in Manitoba.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Government rejects Bloc’s call to split internal trade, major projects le...

On Episode 88, we tell you about a new bill that would ban big cash transactions, let police get some info without a warrant, and allow an immigration freeze. Plus, we discuss our new report on Canada's Most Censorious Bylaws, and a new law aimed at cultivating Quebec values.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   CCF Presents First-Ever Municipal Muzzle Award for Canada’s Most Ce...

On Episode 87, we tell you about Toronto's new bubble zone bylaw (a.k.a. protest ban), we discuss whether police can use Clearview AI facial recognition technology without violating privacy rights, and we update you on our latest win for free speech in Whitehorse, Yukon.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   CCF to drop lawsuit after Whitehorse amends speech-restricting Civility...

On Episode 86, we discuss the Federal Court decision green-lighting the killing hundreds of ostriches on a farm in B.C., we tell you about two new decisions that found vaccine mandates breached Charter rights, and we give you our Bad Legal Takes of the Week.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Labour board rules denial of religious exemption from vax mandates breached Charter (...

On Episode 85, we tell about the outrageous decision by Kingston Police to use drones to spy on drivers in their cars, we explain why Canada's privacy laws are overdue for an update, and we walk through the dubious claim that First Nation treaties could block Alberta separation.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Kingston Police Traffic Safety Unit incorporates drone technolog...

On Episode 84, we tell you about a proposed Ontario law that would allow police to seize suspected 'proceeds' of drugs from landlords, we discuss whether kids have a constitutional right to a particular climate change target, and we update you on western separation efforts.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Ontario Attorney-General defends Ford’s comments on judicial independ...

On Episode 83, we explain how Premier Smith just made Alberta separation easier, and discuss what to expect from PM Carney on healthcare, pipelines and free speech. Plus, our Bad Legal Takes including the dubious claim that land acknowledgements aren't political.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Christine Van Geyn: Beware Liberal, NDP attacks on free expression (National Pos...

On Episode 82, we consider whether the Liberals' misleading MAGA buttons violated election laws; we discuss what to expect from Mark Carney on civil liberties if he wins on April 28; and we explain our argument at the Supreme Court on the right to inter-provincial travel.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Liberal operatives planted 'stop the steal' buttons at conservative con...

On Episode 81, we discuss why we're taking UBC to court for its political activity, we walk you through an Ontario Court of Appeal decision that found Ontario's COVID-19 protest ban violated peaceful assembly, and we explain why McGill is breaking with its student union.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   WARMINGTON: Why punish guy trying to free Sir John A. Macdonald from a b...

On Episode 80, we tell you about a new citizenship law on a Saskatchewan First Nation that would allow people to be banned based on 'maturity,' and we walk you through a decision that found the government owed no duty of care to a boy who died after the COVID-19 vaccine.   Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:   Hartman v. Attorney General of Canada et al., 2025 ONSC 1831 (CanLII) Te...

On Episode 79, we discuss why the NSICOP Act limits what Pierre Poilievre can say after he gets a security briefing, we tell you about the curious constitutional challenge to closing some of Ontario’s safe injection sites, and we consider the constitutionality of an export tax on oil. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Carney refuses to rule out export taxes on Alberta oil or Sask...

On Episode 78, we discuss the B.C. premier's apparent power grab (Bill 7); we explain why it was wrong to discipline B.C. nurse Amy Hamm for her off-duty speech about sex; and we tell you about hate crime charges in Toronto. Plus, our thoughts on Mahmoud Khalil's deportation. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: CCF to Premier Eby: Reconsider Bill 7’s Brazen Power Grab Amy Hamm: I s...

On Episode 77, we tell you why an Ontario man has to pay drag performers $380,000 for his 'groomer' comments, we discuss the constitutional limits of PM Carney's position, and we explain why the new election spending decision was not 'Canada's Citizen's United.' Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Man must pay $380K for ‘hate speech’ on his northern Ont. Facebook page Howard Anglin...

On Episode 76, we explain what happened in an appeal of Mississauga's decision to mow down a man's naturalized garden; we update you on our Calgary anti-protest bylaw challenge; and we tell you about a teacher bragging about keeping kids from reading about Elon Musk. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Ruck v. Mississauga (City), 2025 ONCA 147 (CanLII) Ruck v. City of Mississauga,...

In lieu of our regular programming this week, we're sharing Litigation Director Christine van Geyn's recap of yesterday's court hearing on the City of Calgary's ban on specified protests outside of recreational centres and libraries. We'll be back next week with a regular episode!

On Episode 74, we tell you about a new report on the program doling out taxpayer dollars to activist groups suing the government; we discuss a new election signs bylaw in St. Catharines, Ont.; and we tell you about a Supreme Court case about when police can enter your property. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: St. Catharines bans display of election signs on non-residential prop...

On Episode 73, we consider Pierre Poilievre's novel interpretation of constitutional rights in relation to fentanyl; we discuss Calgary's attempt to have a questionable LGBT expert give evidence in our bylaw challenge; and we tell you about the monks buying up land in P.E.I. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Monks, money and the fierce debate over PEI’s scarce land Government ask...

Instead of our regular episode, Christine gives you a full recap of day two of arguments in our Emergencies Act appeal in the Federal Court of Appeal. Read more: Christine Van Geyn: Court ruling condemning use of Emergencies Act must be upheld Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn. The show is brought to yo...

Instead of our regular episode, Christine gives you a full recap of day one of arguments in our Emergencies Act appeal in the Federal Court of Appeal. Read more: Christine Van Geyn: Court ruling condemning use of Emergencies Act must be upheld Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn. The show is brought to yo...

On Episode 72, we tell you about our loss in a challenge to B.C.'s COVID-19 vaccine card program; we discuss the Supreme Court's decision to hear a legal challenge to Quebec's ban on religious symbols; and we tell you why hate crime charges in St. Albert are unlikely. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Hamilton leaders denounce ‘dangerous rhetoric’ at Saturday protest near Jackson...

On Episode 71, we explore the constitutionality of Alberta seceding from Canada, we update you on several of the cases that we're working on, we tell you why Meta's new policy doesn't promote hate speech, and explain how your tax dollars funded pro-carbon tax legal groups. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Feds Paid Carbon Tax Friends Reference re Secession of Quebec, 1998 CanLII...

On Episode 70, we tell you about some tiny steps B.C. and Alberta are taking toward free trade; we discuss a new report that ranks Canada’s health care as second-last among peers, and we tell you about a vaccine mandate lawsuit dismissed for its "outlandish" claims. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Another expensive court loss for anti-vaccine mandate lawyer Dorceus v. Ontario e...

On Episode 69, we tell you about the Liberals' desire to make it even easier to use the Emergencies Act and freeze bank accounts; we discuss whether Justin Trudeau's prorogation is constitutional; and we tell you about some of the bad bills that are now likely to die. Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode: Heegsma v. Hamilton (City), 2024 ONSC 7154 (CanLII) City of Hamilton aims to en...