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The third grading criterion pertains to enforcing a clear anti-disruption policy. For too long, Canadian universities have condoned mobs of noisy protestors who chant, scream, bang drums, blast music, pull fire alarms, or physically obstruct university-sanctioned events. Ford U’s Chicago Principles make clear that “(a)lthough faculty, students and staff are free to criticize, contest and condemn the views expressed on campus, they may not obstruct, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.”

Regarding the fourth grading criterion, many Canadian universities fund offices which seek to promote “diversity,” “inclusion” and “equity,” typically without clarifying what these vague concepts mean, or whether they can be used to stifle the expression of controversial and offensive ideas. While the university, as an employer, must comply with human rights legislation, the Campus Freedom Index includes instances where “social justice warriors” use these ill-defined concepts to censor anyone who questions progressive orthodoxy, anywhere on campus.

To date, the Ford government’s new policies are mum on how universities should weigh the value of free expression against competing values like preventing “discrimination.” The Ontario Human Rights Commission prohibits “discrimination” based on gender identity and gender expression; one may be guilty of “discrimination” by refusing to utter alternative pronouns. Lack of clarity about what “discrimination” means, and whether this term can be abused to stifle speech, means Ford U does not pass this final criterion

With three out of four grading criteria satisfied, the Campus Freedom Index would give a B to Ford U. With less than one third of Canadian universities earning a B or better in 2018, we foresee that, if Ford’s new rules are implemented properly, Ontario universities will be leading the country.

National Post

Michael Kennedy and John Carpay are co-authors of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom’s 2018 Campus Freedom Index, available at CampusFreedomIndex.ca.