Editorials - Sept. 26, 2025
Mixed signals
Over the weekend, Canada, England, Australia and France joined the more than 140 other countries of the world who have recognized Palestinian statehood in an official capacity. This came 48 hours after Vince Gasparro, Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime and an MP in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet, announced that the country had barred Irish-language rap group Kneecap from entering the country for its shows in Vancouver and Toronto next month.
Canada stepping out on Palestinian statehood is complicated for a nation that has long supported Israel, so Carney’s declaration, to those supportive of Palestinian statehood, is an encouraging first step, but just that. Next would come a call for a ceasefire and numerous declarations certain to alienate supporters of Israel. How far the federal government is willing to go on this remains to be seen.
Furthermore, this step, while the right one in the eyes of many, will further fracture the country’s already-flimsy relationship with the U.S. with Congress members and Senators penning an open letter to Canada asking it to reverse course. (The letter was also sent to the leaders of England, Australia and France.) Earlier, when Carney expressed his intention to recognize a Palestinian state, President Donald Trump bloviated that a trade deal would be difficult as a result.
This brings us back to Kneecap. The trio has loudly and defiantly lobbied for a free Palestine and a unified Ireland - two concepts that are very controversial to those supportive of traditional British values. One of the group’s members is currently fighting terrorism charges in England, which he denies, for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at one of the trio’s shows. Gasparro, in a post to social media, said the trio has, “engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government.” The group is now planning legal action, categorizing the comments made by Gasparro as “wholly untrue and deeply malicious”.
The calls are growing louder and those who support a free Palestine are urging world leaders to understand that criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza is not synonymous with anti-Semitism. Canada declaring its support for Palestine in the face of vocal critics and its unprecedented decision to bar rappers whose very identity is wrapped up in a free Palestine seem curiously at odds and, perhaps, are indicative of the complicated state in which Canada finds itself. Carney may want it both ways but, in today’s political climate, that’s impossible. – SL
The freedom of speech
America is in a perilous moment. Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after he said many in “MAGA land” were exploiting the murder of Charlie Kirk and that the “MAGA gang” was working hard to depict the shooter as anything but one of them. On his return, Kimmel said it was “never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man” and added that he did not mean to blame any group for what he called “a deeply disturbed individual.” He called threats to silence him “anti-American” and insisted comedians must be free to speak. He reminded audiences that satire and critique are part of a healthy democracy, and avoiding controversy betrays the public’s right to question authority.
A democracy must allow its citizens to criticize leaders, mock power and offend without retaliation. The Trump administration’s involvement is alarming. Using regulatory threats to punish speech establishes a chilling precedent. If broadcasters believe that every controversial remark could invite consequences, they will self censor. Comedy loses its edge and political commentary becomes timid.
In Canada, we observe with both concern and hope. Concern, because our legal and institutional frameworks, while often protective, also have the potential to chill free expression. Hope, because Canadian courts have consistently affirmed that being offended is not sufficient for legal sanction. In one landmark ruling, the Supreme Court overturned a tribunal’s fine on a comedian who mocked a disabled singer, finding those remarks, while cruel and in poor taste, did not constitute unlawful harassment, underscoring that free expression carries intrinsic social value that must be given heavy weight when evaluating legal complaints.
Under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, speech is protected, though limited by laws against hate speech, defamation and violations of individual dignity. These limits must remain narrow, applied with care and never weaponized to silence political humour or satire. If the United States allows pressure from its highest levels to silence comedians, Canada must remain vigilant so that our own institutions and political culture do not drift in the same direction. The risk is subtle but profound: when the powerful gain the ability to punish criticism indirectly, society loses not only laughter but accountability.
Democracy falters when speech must avoid offending the powerful, when satire is silenced rather than engaged, and when authority hides behind censorship. The Kimmel episode is not merely an American drama. It is a warning to all democracies that defending speech, especially when it is sharp, provocative or uncomfortable, is essential to the health of public discourse and the resilience of free society. – SBS