Toronto 2009 Annual Meeting Siting

In September 2008, the APSA was presented a petition to reconsider holding our 2009 Annual Meeting in Toronto Canada. Petitioners raised questions about the protection of “civil rights and liberties of members to free speech and academic freedom” in Canada.

On this web site we are providing information that the Association has gathered relating to what might be called "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding academic freedom and freedom of expression in Canada, for APSA members to review. APSA has responded to the petitioners with a description of what we have learned and the conclusion that reconsideration of the meeting site is unwarranted.

Consistent with APSA policy to engage intellectually with issues that emerge related to siting, the Annual Meeting program chairs will organize panels on topics related to the petition.

The following information is available on this site:

1) The petition submitted to the APSA and related exchanges.

2) A letter from President Katzenstein to Professor James Stoner in response to the petition.

3) A memorandum in “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) format regarding academic freedom and free speech in Canada. The FAQ's address:

What are the basic legal provisions that pertain to academic freedom and freedom of expression in Canada?
What does the Canadian Criminal Code say about hate speech and how, if at all, might the criminal code pertain to academic papers?
What are the provincial Human Rights Commissions, and how might their authority pertain to academic papers?
What about national Human Rights legislation? Could that apply to academic papers presented in Canada?
Since the national legislation pertains predomination to “telecommunication messages” could posting papers electronically open them up to challenge?
Has anyone ever been challenged or prosecuted under Canadian or Ontario Law for work presented at an academic conference?
What about the human rights complaint brought against Maclean’s magazine and Mark Steyn? What happened there?
What about legal costs for people who are accused under the Human Rights Code? Do they bear the costs of defending themselves even if complaints against them are ultimately dismissed?
What about recent allegations that a presentation at a recent Canadian Political ScienceAssociation panel might result in a censure action there?
What does the Canadian academic community say about academic freedom in Canada?
Where can I go for more information about my right of free expression as a participant in the Toronto meeting?