Mr. Speaker, universities in Canada are often thought of as the bastions of free speech and expression. Certainly they are the last places where censorship should occur. I wish this were true, but sadly, it is not.
When it comes to some of the most sensitive issues, such as pro-life issues, many universities are exactly the opposite.
For example, when students at Ottawa's Carleton University put up a pro-life display, some students found the photos offensive and complained. I expect that most Canadians would find such photos offensive but that was the point the group was making: that abortion and particularly late stage abortion is offensive.
What is of concern is how the university reacted. It demanded that the group remove its display and then charged the students when they refused.
Similar censorship has occurred at universities in Toronto, Calgary, Fredericton and, most recently, Victoria where students are banned from carrying out pro-life activities and were forced to apologize to groups that were offended by their display.
I call on all universities to truly become places where students and society can count on free speech and free expression being allowed and, in fact, encouraged.