Freedom of expression is entitled to everyone, and allows people to say what they please, as long as it is within reason. It also includes granting people access to information they wish to view, unless the information is immoral, offensive, a threat to national security, or lacks respect in the rights/reputation of others e.g. hate literature. People are allowed to say what they believe, feel or think, and practice whatever religion they belong to. We can only be prevented from doing these things if they would endanger public safety or are against the morals or rights of others. .
The case of Ecville, Alberta teacher James Keegstra is an example, where pushed his freedom of expression to the limit. Under section 319(2) of the Criminal Code, he was charged in 1984 with unlawfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group. The charges were based on Keegstra's anti-Semitic statements directed at his students. Keegstra had many descriptions of Jews, ranging from revolutionists, treacherous, impostors, and communists, to secret, sneaky, manipulative, and deceptive. Other words he used to describe Jews were barbaric, subversive, sadistic, materialistic, money-loving, and, power hungry (Cauchon). According to Keegstra, Jews "created the Holocaust to gain sympathy". Keegstra instructed his students to adapt his views and interpret them as true, unless they were able to prove him wrong. Students who were able to adapt his views generally received better grades than those who went against him. Keegstra could have made these statements legally under the Criminal Code if certain conditions were met, however, none of them did. These statements were made in a public manner, where he took advantage of his position as a teacher (Cauchon). They were made to degrade Jewish people, but not to create a discussion for the benefit of students. However, Keegstra argued that section 319(2) of the Criminal Code violated his right to freedom of expression granted under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, almost to succession (Cauchon).
