THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN CANADA

Abstract

When the Georgia Straight began publication in mid-1967, Vancouver, like many other North American cities, acquired its own underground newspaper. But within a mere six weeks of receiving its publisher’s licence, the same was suspended by the City of Vancouver. Through the lens of the Georgia Straight affair, L.A. Powe, Jr. offers suggestions as to what the proper ambit of freedom of expression should be in a democracy. He concludes that, once necessities of life are satisfied, freedom of expression is the paramount value in a democratic society. As possibly the most important guarantee of the citizen, then, legal scholars should be providing more guidance as to its scope.