On Thursday, October 1, the University of Ottawa's Public Law Centre, in collaboration with the Law Commission of Canada, will welcome Professor Nomi Claire Lazar for a public lecture exploring the relationship between academic freedom, democratic governance, and the rule of law.
As part of the Law Commission of Canada's Rule of Law Speaker Series, the lecture will examine how global democratic backsliding – including rising polarization, populism, and political interference in public institutions – is reshaping debates about academic freedom. While Canada continues to enjoy robust protections for academic freedom, recent developments have prompted renewed discussion about how those protections can be maintained in an increasingly complex political landscape.
Professor Lazar is one of Canada's leading scholars of constitutional theory, emergency powers, and democratic governance. Her lecture will consider why universities occupy a unique place in democratic society and why protecting spaces for rigorous debate and intellectual inquiry is essential to the health of the rule of law.
The event is free and open to the public, although registration is required. A reception will follow the lecture.
Event details
Academic Freedom in an Era of Democratic Backsliding
Thursday, October 1, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Desmarais Hall, Room 12012