In Episode 120, we explain our concerns with Manitoba's expropriation of a long-term care home, discuss a lawsuit alleging the RCMP violated the free expression of a journalist documenting a pipeline controversy, and we introduce our new Counsel, Alex Surgenor.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Manitoba government plans to expropriate Lemay Forest, turn it into provincial park (CTV Winnipeg)
• Media harder to identify, RCMP official tells court in press freedom lawsuit (CBC News)
• CCF Expanding as Canada’s Leading Civil Liberties Charity – Announcing New Counsel (TheCCF.ca)
• NDP government uses health system expropriation powers for first time, seizes care home (CTV Winnipeg)
• Press freedom trial in B.C. Supreme Court could have broad implications for journalists in Canada (APTN)
• RCMP official says journalists were let into pipeline protest camp unless their story 'beggared belief' (CBC News)
• Josh Dehaas: Carney asks Parliament to give him the power of a king (National Post)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

In Episode 119, we discuss Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney threatening to withhold funding if Alberta doesn't get more say in judicial appointments. Plus, we explain why we disagree with the Federal Court of Appeal that plastic is "toxic."

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Danielle Smith calls on Mark Carney to give Alberta more say in selection of judges (Globe and Mail)
• Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Ottawa’s Listing Plastics “Toxic” (TheCCF.ca)
• Judge stays case against environmental activists who climbed Montreal bridge over rights violations (CTV News)
• Gov’t Bending On Plastic Ban (Blacklock's)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

In Episode 118, we give you a full recap of Ontario's appeal of a decision that found a law designed to remove bike lanes from Toronto violated the rights to life and security of the person. Plus, we discuss whether government should ban social media for kids under age 14.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Toronto cyclists defend bike lane challenge before Ontario's top court (CBC News)
• Federal officials draft plans to ban social media for children under 14 (Globe and Mail)
• B.C. woman files lawsuit, claims seizing pets under veterinary care violates Charter rights (CBC News)
• Cycle Toronto et al. v. Attorney General of Ontario et al., 2025 ONSC 1650 (CanLii)
• Joanna Baron: The Liberal’s approach to regulating the internet is a disaster. What comes next could be even worse (The Hub)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

In Episode 117, we tell you about our new case involving a Windsor man arrested for skating while protesting with a sign about the local budget. Plus, we walk you through the Federal Court of Appeal decision that found invoking the Emergencies Act violated Charter rights.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Christine Van Geyn: Feds spent millions defending Trudeau's Freedom Convoy crackdown — and lost (National Post)
• Federal Court of Appeal Emergencies Act Decision: Your Questions Answered (TheCCF.ca)
• Mississauga resident urges City to rethink oil and gas ads after spotting 'greenwashing' billboard (ThePointer.com)
• CCF assists Windsor man arrested for peacefully holding sign outside city hall (TheCCF.ca)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

In Episode 116, we consider whether York University's Student Centre violated the freedom of expression of an MP and students who wanted to hear him speak, plus we speculate about who will be the new Supreme Court of Canada justice after the Hon. Sheilah Martin retires.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Conservative MP says York University Student Centre blocked his campus discussion event (National Post)
• Supreme Court Justice Sheilah Martin to retire in May (Globe and Mail)
• $50 Fine For Foreign Agents (Blacklock's)
• Canada not considering a ban on X over deepfake controversy, AI minister says (Toronto Star)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

We tell you about Wolf Ruck's successful challenge to Mississauga's anti-weeds bylaw, the dropping of a ticket issued by Kingston police who used a surveillance drone, and a proposal to criminalize "condoning, denial, justification, or minimization" of residential schools.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• VICTORY: Ontario court strikes down bylaw that let city mow down naturalized garden (TheCCF.ca)
• CCF Intervenes to Stop Charter Being Stretched to Protect Bike Lanes
• Crown withdraws ticket issued after Kingston police use drone to spy on woman in vehicle (TheCCF.ca)
• Federal government won’t say whether it will criminalize residential school denials (The Globe and Mail)
• Toronto lawyer faces criminal contempt proceedings after admitting to misleading court about AI use (Law Times)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

On Episode 114, we explain why we think that banning calls to "globalize the intifada" would be counter-productive, we discuss the Liberals' new crime bill that would create special rules for "femicide," and we tell you who was naughty and who was nice for civil liberties in 2025.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• CCF Unwraps 2025 Naughty & Nice List (TheCCF.ca)
• 'It's just too easy to harm women' — What the numbers tell us about 'femicide' in Canada (National Post)
• BIll C-16, Protecting Victims Act (Parl.ca)
• What is in Bill C-16, Ottawa’s legislation that seeks to toughen gender-based violence laws? (Globe and Mail)
• What does ‘globalise the intifada’ mean, and why does NSW want to ban the chant? (The Guardian)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

On Episode 113, we have an exclusive story of big pharma attacking a University of Toronto professor for his views on DEI, we tell you about judges suing to get a $28,000 raise, and we explain how a New Brunswick court decision could help protect private property nationwide.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Implications for BC of the NBCA Decision on Aboriginal Title and Private Property (Law for Breakfast)
• J.D. Irving, Limited et al. v. Wolastoqey Nation, 2025 NBCA 129 (CanLII) 
• Leigh Revers: The dark side of the feminization of higher education (National Post)
• Requiring lawyers to swear oath to the King is unconstitutional, Alberta’s top court rules (Globe and Mail)
•  Wirring v Law Society of Alberta, 2025 ABCA 413 (CanLII) 
• John Ivison: Judges suing Ottawa for fatter salaries are shameless (National Post)
• Sweeping Quebec crime bill would ban gang colours, restrict protests and create sex offenders' registry (Montreal Gazette)
•  Parker v. King, 2025 ONSC 6813 (CanLII) 

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

CORRECTION: In this episode, we stated that U of T rescinded the hiring of a professor because a donor disagreed with the political views of a particular visiting professor that U of T had considered hiring. In fact, the position was an administrative one, and an independent investigation concluded that the donor did not influence the university’s decision to discontinue the recruitment, and that no formal offer of employment had been made.

On Episode 112, we tell you about a proposal hidden in the budget bill that would allow ministers to exempt people from nearly any law, we explain the B.C. decision that found UNDRIP can be used to interpret laws, and we discuss the forced apology of Derek Reimer.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Justice minister hopes new group tackles provincial court suspension by February (CBC News)
• Pastor Reimer released on bail after refusing to apologize to librarian (Western Standard)
• One arrested at OneBC event at UVic that drew protesters (Times-Colonist)
• CCF warns that C-15 would allow Carney gov’t to exempt any person or company from almost any law (TheCCF.ca)
• B.C.'s Indigenous rights law is legally enforceable, rules court (Business in Vancouver)
• Courts to Apply UNDRIP to All British Columbia Laws (Law for Breakfast)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.

On Episode 111, we discuss Quebec's plan to ban prayer in public spaces like universities, we debate whether Ottawa should remove the "good faith" religious speech exemption from hate speech laws, and we tell you about the Montreal police's new AI surveillance software.

Stories and cases discussed in this week's episode:

• Chris Selley: Quebec's war on religion goes to a whole new level (National Post)
• Religion shouldn’t be exempted from hate speech law: Liberal minister (CTV News)
• Quebec expands secularism law and limits public prayer (BBC News)
• La police de Montréal peut maintenant vous surveiller en temps réel avec l’IA (TVA)
• Is it illegal to spoil Christmas? Police in Ontario get complaints about anti-Santa signs (CBC News)

Not Reserving Judgment is a podcast about Canadian constitutional law hosted by Josh Dehaas, Joanna Baron, and Christine Van Geyn.

The show is brought to you by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-partisan legal charity dedicated to defending rights and freedoms. To support our work, visit theccf.ca/donate.