Justin Trudeau and his minority Liberal government in Ottawa are at it again.

It seems the federal government has nothing better to do during this crisis than sit around coming up with new ways to take away Canadians' rights!

Last month, they tried to introduce a law giving them unilateral power to make changes to government spending, to raise taxes, and to implement all sorts of measures without Parliamentary approval until 2022.

Now, having been forced to back down on that plan, they're back with another proposed law that would restrict free speech and punish those spreading "misinformation".

No one likes misinformation, but drumming up fear about misinformation is a misdirection meant to distract from the far more important question of who would decide "fact" from "fiction".

Free speech is a vital part of a free society - it is the right that underpins all our other rights.

Free speech is how we share ideas, develop knowledge, and advance society.

Free speech is also the best defence we have against potential government overreach.

This is especially true during a crisis - imagine if Chinese Doctors had been free to speak publicly about the virus early on, instead of being worried about repercussions from their government.

At first glance, it might sound ok when someone proposes some kind of "sensible" restrictions to "protect" people, rather than full-on censorship.

In fact, you'll often hear those promoting the restrictions say "this isn't about free speech", and try to claim that somehow they are only targeting "truly offensive speech", or "hate speech", or "misinformation".

And who could disagree that offensive speech, or hate speech, or misinformation are bad things?

But the moment you try to divide speech into speech that is free and speech that isn't you've already lost because the next thing you have to do is figure out who decides what goes in which box.

This is the problem with the Liberal's proposed law against misinformation - who exactly do they propose will decide what is fact and what is fake?

Presumably, it will be the government itself or at least someone appointed by the government?

But the government is made up of politicians who are (regardless of party affiliation) notorious for, shall we say, stretching the truth a little, or just getting things completely wrong.

Take one simple example:

Would someone promoting wearing a face mask in March have been breaking the law because the government's health advisors said it was ineffective?

How about someone discouraging the wearing of a face mask in April, now that the government's health advisors have changed their mind?

Free speech must be defended because the discovery of truth and fact is often a long, winding, and complicated process.

Having a politician announce that the truth is whatever the experts currently believe it is, and no dissension or disagreement will be allowed going forward, risks freezing the "truth" at whatever it was at that moment.

Yes, a small percentage of people will say offensive things or spread so-called "misinformation".

But that is the price we pay for free speech.

Remember also, that supporting free speech doesn't mean refraining from publicly countering those ideas we disagree with.

In fact, just as sunlight is the best disinfectant (to corruption, not viruses!), good ideas are the best antidote to bad ideas.

As the saying goes, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Justin Trudeau and the minority Liberal government must immediately drop their plans to legislate against free speech.

We've partnered with groups across the country to launch an urgent petition to stop this dangerous proposal.

Please sign the petition and then spread the word to your friends, family, co-workers, and every Canadian.