In Canada, we believe in protecting the strength of our democracy.

We know that in order for our democracy to be truly strong, the government must respect our right to equality.

That's why equality rights are guaranteed by Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by human rights laws in every jurisdiction of the country. The principle that all citizens deserve equal treatment is also obvious from common sense and any basic understanding of good government.

The right to equality itself applies to free speech, including the equal rights of all Canadians to express dissent and advocate alternatives to government policies and decisions, and the responsibility of government to treat all citizens equally, irrespective of whether those citizens have been critical of the government.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the government has not lived up to its responsibility to treat all Canadians equally, and respect our right to equality. Instead, the government has treated some Canadians with unjustified favouritism, and others with contempt. For example, the government helps selected groups and companies, while attacking, muzzling and undermining organizations, individuals and institutions that say or do things it doesn't like.

The Voices-Voix Coalition is committed to reversing this trend.

We envision a Canada in which the government doesn't treat citizens with favouritism or contempt, but respects the right of every person to equality, irrespective of what we say.