Andrew Scheer’s free speech pledge wouldn’t apply in Toronto case: spokesman
OTTAWA — A pledge by Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to yank federal funding from universities that fail to uphold free speech wouldn’t apply to a decision by the University of Toronto to ban a nationalist rally from campus, his spokesman said Wednesday.
“No,” was Jake Enwright’s answer when asked whether the university’s move would risk its federal funding under a Scheer government.
While Enwright could not articulate exactly why the decision to bar the Canadian Nationalist Party event didn’t meet the threshold, he said Scheer will be working with universities to prevent loopholes for events that risk violating Canadian law.
“Mr. Scheer is committed to working with the universities to ensure that any policy he brings forward does not become a platform for hate speech,” Enwright said.