There are two opposing theories of liberty. The libertarian one in a presumptively free and democratic society says you can do anything that’s not forbidden by law. The opposite position is that you can’t do anything unless it’s specifically authorized by government. That’s the position in countries like Vladimir Putin’s Russia that new Canadians who fled communism know full well.
To his eternal credit, Ontario’s Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean stated the libertarian position for freedom of expression and the right to protest. On Monday February 7, 2022 he imposed an injunction on the truckers engaged in the Freedom Convoy. Ruling from the bench to forbid honking their horns, he said that “provided the terms of this Order are complied with, the defendants and other persons remain at liberty to engage in a peaceful, lawful and safe protest.”
