'They're for all Canadians equally': Why a COVID-19 inquiry should discuss civil liberties

The courts have weighed in on some — but not all — COVID policy decisions. Fostering a culture of civil liberties requires having this discussion

It is basically irrefutable that the COVID-19 crisis restricted Canadians’ civil liberties.

The question that has been debated in newspapers and in courtrooms is essentially whether those restrictions were justifiable in context, done for the good of Canadians.

The restrictions, such as vaccine passports, travel restrictions, curfews in Quebec and vaccine mandates for certain workplaces, were subject to considerable debate inside and outside of politics. They have also been considered by the courts.