Carleton University has completed the process of developing a free speech policy. On this website you will find information about the process, the policy and the annual report.
Click here to view the Free Speech policy.
Click here to view the 2023/24 Free Speech Annual Report
Click here to view the 2022/23 Free Speech Annual Report
Click here to view the 2021/22 Free Speech Annual Report.
Updates
Background
On Aug. 30, 2018, the Premier’s Office advised all publicly assisted colleges and universities in Ontario to develop and post a free speech policy that meets specified minimum standards by Jan. 1, 2019. Click here to view the Premier’s Office press release.
Process
Senate discussed the matter at its Sept. 28, 2018, meeting and mandated a task force of Carleton University Senators, composed of both faculty and students, to create a draft policy. Senate reviewed this draft policy at its Oct. 19, 2018, meeting and presented it to the community for feedback. The Carleton community was invited to provide feedback from Oct. 23, 2018 to Nov. 6, 2018. Community input helped finalize the content of the policy, which was approved by Senate at its Nov. 30, 2018, meeting. Click here to view the task force’s final report.
Related Policies
Please note, the policy does not exhaust all university policies with respect to freedom of speech and is not intended to amend or qualify university policies on academic freedom or to equity and human rights. The policy is designed to be complementary to a number of existing Carleton policies, notably:
- Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy
- Human Rights Polices and Procedure
- Sexual Violence Policy
- Student and Visitor Ban Policy
- Accreditation of Student Organizations Policy
- Booking Space on Campus Policy
- Booking University Centre Galleria Space Policy
- Posting Policy
- Workplace Harassment Prevention Policy
- Workplace Violence Prevention Policy