CLC Blog

In many ways, Premier Danielle Smith is a beacon of hope to our nation in an era of increasing government censorship and narrative control. She has spoken up boldly in the cause of freedom of speech – even politically-incorrect speech – more than almost any other elected leader in Canada.

“I think I’m the most freedom-loving premier we have in this country,” Ms. Smith has said.

But does the Premier really mean what she says? Is she genuinely serious about protecting our freedom of speech? If so, now is the time for her to prove it!

If Premier Smith wants to be a true champion of free speech, then she must remove the NDP-era bubble zones that continue to treat pro-life Albertans like second-class citizens. These censorship zones are the antithesis to a free and democratic society, silencing pro-life speech around every hospital, clinic, and pharmacy where surgical or chemical abortions take place.

We are living at a time when more and more politicians think they have the right to control and restrict what ordinary citizens say. Opposing voices and opinions are considered verboten, despite our Constitutional protections.

We see this in the muzzling of conscientious professionals who dare speak out against questionable government health policies, including sex-change treatments for children. The compelled social media “re-education” of Dr. Jordan Peterson is just one example.

We see how the federal Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau want to control who says what on the internet with their repressive “Online Harms Bill” (Bill C-63). That draconian proposal, which is still under debate in Parliament, threatens ordinary Canadians with hefty fines or even life in prison for anti-LGBT wrongspeak.

We also see politicians trying to impose more repressive bubble zone laws in different regions across Canada. Consider the City of Ottawa’s latest proposal, which has been flatly condemned by organizations on both sides of the political spectrum.

In the face of this growing onslaught against freedom of speech, Premier Smith has positioned herself and her party as staunchly pro-freedom, standing against the rising tide of woke tyranny.

“George Orwell’s fictional 1984 should remain fiction,” Ms. Smith has stated.

Premier Smith has even advocated for the expansion of free speech rights in Alberta by the introduction of Bill 24, an update to the Alberta Bill of Rights. 

In particular, Bill 24 would “add the right to freedom of expression, which includes expressive activities beyond written and spoken language.”

According to Premier Smith, “These updates are not only changes that Albertans are asking for, they are changes that ensure that every day, no matter the situation, every one of us can be confident of our rights and freedoms, that they will be protected and supported.”

Theoretically, this should mean enhanced protections for peaceful expression in the public square, including pro-life demonstrations, pro-life counselling, and pro-life prayer all across the province.

However, the UCP government of Premier Smith seems to have forgotten one thing: the 2018 NDP bubble zone law. Ms. Smith has failed to repeal this law which continues to shut down the free speech of pro-lifers.

That law muzzles pro-life speech, counselling, prayer, and even casual conversation on the public sidewalks and in public spaces within 50 metres (150 feet) of every abortion killing centre in the province, including pharmacies and clinics where abortion pills are dispensed. It even outlaws life-saving words: “advising or persuading, or attempting to advise or persuade, another person to refrain from accessing abortion services.” 

Alberta Health Services has confirmed that it has “no plans to make changes” to the bubble zone law. 

But if Premier Smith really means what she says – if she genuinely wants to take a bold stand for free speech in Alberta – then she must call for an end to every kind of anti-free-speech bubble zone in the province.

Otherwise, the Premier is playing the hypocrite – and playing her supporters for fools.

It is impossible to claim to be a champion for free speech and yet see nothing wrong with draconian no-free-speech zones on public sidewalks and in public spaces.

The NDP had claimed that bubble zones were necessary to protect abortion-minded women from harassment and threats of violence. However, harassment is already forbidden under the Criminal Code (section 264), and there is absolutely no threat of violence from pro-life activists. 

In fact, the pro-life message is totally anti-violence! The real violence takes place with every abortion, which violently takes the life of an unborn child.

We need to urge Premier Smith to act on her pro-freedom convictions and take steps to repeal the 2018 NDP-era bubble zone law.

Ms. Smith needs to follow up her words with action. The best human rights documents in the world are nothing if they are ignored or sidestepped. And as long as the bubble zone law remains on the books, the Premier’s worthy efforts to improve and strengthen the Alberta Bill of Rights are meaningless.

Sign our petition today and let Premier Smith know you are counting on her to be a true beacon of freedom for Alberta and Canada: https://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/petition/id/92