On March 21, 2025, scholars, legal experts, and university leaders gathered at the University of Ottawa for a day-long workshop focused on one of the most pressing issues in higher education today: academic freedom.
From “culture wars” to campus laws: The Canadian landscape
The morning opened with a deep dive into Canada’s legal and cultural context. Professor Jean-François Gaudreault-Desbiens (Université de Montréal) introduced his recent book on expressive freedoms in Canadian universities, connecting recent controversies – from the “culture wars” of 2019 to the wave of anti-woke legislation in the U.S. – to some of the evolving university dynamics that have been so prominent in the past year.
Professor Honor Brabazon (University of Waterloo) raised critical concerns about Ontario’s Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, warning that it may unintentionally expose faculty to harassment and limit academic freedom under the guise of supporting anti-racism and mental health initiatives. Meanwhile, Professor Finn Makela (Université de Sherbrooke) explored Quebec’s Loi sur la liberté académique, suggesting that while the law hasn’t caused the damage some feared, it likely won’t resolve deeper systemic issues either.
An overview by Vannie Lau (University of British Columbia) placed these provincial policies in national context, reminding participants of the patchwork nature of protections for academic freedom across Canada.
A global view: double dependencies and cross-border lessons
The second panel expanded the scope to examine academic freedom on a global scale. Professors Nandini Ramanujam and Frédéric Mégret (McGill University) warned about the “double dependency” of universities – on both public funding and private philanthropy – which can subtly undermine academic independence. They also discussed how AI and digital surveillance are emerging threats to free academic inquiry.
Professor Hans Michael Heinig (Georg-August University Göttingen) offered a comparative legal analysis, drawing distinctions between Canada, Germany, and the U.S., particularly around how academic freedom is protected, enforced, and understood in each country. He emphasized that academic freedom involves not just the right to express ideas, but also to shape research, teaching, and governance – a crucial nuance often lost in public debate.
International speakers added sobering context. Doctoral student Salvador Herencia (University of Ottawa) reviewed international human rights protections for academic freedom, while Elthon Rivera Cruz (Iniciativa Puentes por los Estudiantes de Nicaragua (IPEN), Nicaragua) and David Gómez Gamboa (Aula Abierta, Venezuela) gave firsthand accounts of the erosion of academic freedom under authoritarian regimes. Their stories underscored how legal frameworks, when weakened, leave scholars and students dangerously exposed.
Key takeaways: Five core themes
Dax D’Orazio, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Guelph, synthesized the morning’s discussions with five key takeaways:
- Academic freedom and democracy are deeply intertwined.
- Threats to academic freedom are real and must be taken seriously.
- Political polarization is making dialogue more difficult, both inside and outside universities.
- Public portrayals of campus conflicts are often exaggerated.
- There remains uncertainty about how Charter rights apply within university settings.
He also introduced the concept of “academic tact” – a way to think beyond legal boundaries to ethical considerations in academic speech and conduct.
Equity and academic freedom: Conflict or complement?
The final panel turned to a particularly timely question: how can academic freedom and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Excellence (EDEI) initiatives coexist and support each other?
Professor Awad Ibrahim (Vice-Provost, EDEI), Professor Graham Mayeda (Senate Committee on Academic Freedom), and Professor Philippe Frowd (Association of Professors, University of Ottawa) reflected on how inclusive policies shape academic discourse. They argued that, rather than being in opposition, EDEI and academic freedom can mutually reinforce a richer, more pluralistic intellectual environment.
Themes of “hospitality,” recognition of harm, and the importance of welcoming multiple voices into debate were central. The panel encouraged universities to build not just spaces of free expression, but spaces where robust, respectful disagreement – what one speaker called a “culture of agonism” – can flourish.
Why this matters now
The urgency of these conversations was underscored by recent events. In the U.S., federal funding has very recently been pulled from major institutions like Columbia University, activists have faced detention, and executive orders are reshaping the boundaries of academic speech. In Canada, academic freedom has entered the political arena, with promises from Conservative leadership to confront so-called “woke ideology” on campus.
Against this backdrop, the University of Ottawa’s workshop felt not just timely – but essential. It reminded participants that academic freedom is not an abstract principle. It is a lived reality, shaped by law, politics, institutional policies, and the courage of individuals who continue to ask difficult questions.
“Far from theoretical discussions, the workshop, coupled with current events, made clear the importance of sharing ideas to build resilient academic communities,” said Professor Sarah Berger Richardson, Co-Director of the Public Law Centre, which hosted a series of similar events on “fundamental freedoms” throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. “The Public Law Centre will continue to work on these issues and looks forward to future collaborations on the topic of academic freedom and freedom of expression.”
As this workshop made abundantly clear, defending academic freedom is not a one-time act, but a continuous process of collective vigilance, dialogue, and learning.
This event was organized in collaboration with the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence and the Law Commission of Canada.