The Democracy Fund

08/07/2026

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It's incredible to be reflecting on 2025 already. This year marks our fifth year in operation! We're grateful to have the continued support of our donors to further this work towards strengthening democracy.

08/04/2026

News Release: TDF appeals denial of reopening applications for Amish clients convicted under Quarantine Act

TDF lawyers travel to southern Ontario as an Amish couple appeals Quarantine Act convictions after being denied the chance to reopen their cases.

"What troubles us most about this case is the lack of parity. We successfully argued nearly identical reopening applications for other Amish families, yet this couple was turned away. Neither the husband nor wife were ever meaningfully notified of the charges against them: they are now told they cannot even reopen their case. The Amish live simply, according to their Biblical principles, and provide for their families through subsistence farming; they lack the means to pay these crippling fines, which threaten their communities' survival. Canadian courts should weigh their traditional way of life in the context of religious freedoms provided by the Charter. We are hopeful these convictions will not stand."

Learn more: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/democracy_fund_appeals_denial_reopening_applications_amish_quarantine_act

07/13/2026

NEWS RELEASE: The Democracy Fund has launched Canadian Students for Free Speech (CSFS), a national initiative to establish student-led, officially recognized free speech clubs on post-secondary campuses across Canada.

Canadian Students for Free Speech (CSFS) will recruit, train, and support student organizers at universities and colleges across the country. Through CSFS, The Democracy Fund (TDF) will provide participating clubs with legal resources, speaker programming, professional communications materials, and on-the-ground support when university administrations move to restrict or suppress student expression.

Learn more: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/the_democracy_fund_launches_canadian_students_for_free_speech

07/08/2026

We’re excited to introduce our inaugural cohort of Religious Freedom Fellows! 🎉

These 14 outstanding students and young professionals from across Canada have been selected for a yearlong program focused on intellectual growth, community building, and advancing the freedom to live, work, and worship without fear.

Throughout the fellowship year, participants will connect with one another, engage with inspiring guest speakers, receive mentorship, and develop action projects to help advance religious freedom in Canada.

We’re excited to support this promising group as they learn, lead, and make an impact.

Meet the fellows:

Fellows 2026-2027 The Democracy Fund is pleased to present our inaugural cohort of Religious Freedom Fellows! These 14 remarkable students and young professionals from across Canada have been selected to engage in our yearlong program of intellectual formation, community building, and cultural entre...

07/07/2026

News release: TDF Announces inaugural cohort of Religious Freedom Fellows

The Democracy Fund is pleased to present our inaugural cohort of Religious Freedom Fellows!

These 14 remarkable students and young professionals from across Canada have been selected to engage in our yearlong program of intellectual formation, community building, and cultural entrepreneurship to advance the freedom to live, work, and worship without fear.

"I am tremendously edified by this inaugural cohort of Religious Freedom Fellows," said program director Amanda Achtman. "These young people show that there is indeed a rising generation of leaders ready to advance religious freedom through personal responsibility, civic mindedness, an interest in ideas, and a readiness to fulfill concrete projects in their own contexts."

Learn more: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_inaugural_cohort_religious_freedom_fellows

07/07/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Tamara Lich appeal heads to Ontario Court of Appeal

TDF Executive Director, Mark Joseph, said: “Ms. Lich has endured years of prosecution over conduct that we believe is constitutionally protected speech and peaceful protest. Furthermore, the government allocated substantial resources to secure a conviction and possible jail time for what are, at best, low-level criminal offences. This policy decision is difficult to justify when serious violent crime in Canada proliferates often without prosecution by the authorities.”

Learn more: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tamara_lich_appeal_heads_to_ontario_court_of_appeal

07/03/2026

NEWS RELEASE: TDF secures withdrawal of criminal charges against peaceful Charter auditor

The Democracy Fund (TDF) successfully secured the withdrawal of two obstruction charges against a Toronto Charter and police auditor who was charged after peacefully filming police from public property.

One criminal harassment charge remains, and TDF continues to defend the client's Charter-protected right to observe and record government officials in public.

Read our full news release here: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/withdrawal_obstructing_peace_officer_charges_charter_auditor

06/25/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Government's latest attempt to censor online discourse is grave threat to free speech

The government's latest censorship Bill C-34 is framed as legislation necessary to protect children. However, it incorporates some of the worst elements of Bill C-63 - the government's previous "Online Harms Act" that failed to pass - and adds new censorship powers.

Learn more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/government_attempt_censor_online_threat_free_speech

06/24/2026

WE'RE HIRING!

The Democracy Fund is hiring a National Campus Coordinator to build Canadian Students for Free Speech – a national network of student-led clubs defending free expression at universities across Canada.

If you have a background in campus organizing, advocacy, or political work and a genuine commitment to civil liberties, we want to hear from you.

Apply now: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/national_campus_coordinator

06/15/2026

NEWS RELEASE: TDF represents BC MLA Dallas Brodie after Vancouver School Board cancels town hall event

TDF Executive Director Mark Joseph said, "Our position is that the VSB cannot cancel a town hall hosted by an elected politician using the pretext of 'security concerns,' particularly where the police expressed none. In any case, Ms. Brodie's office arranged for private security, so VSB's stated reasons are not credible upon examination. If officials can arbitrarily cancel a politician's speaking engagement, or do so via a heckler's veto, the democratic process will grind to a halt. Some people in power seem to think that society will progress only if an intellectual elite curates opinions and expression; this view is hubristic and foolish. Voting-age Canadians are not children who need monitoring and correction."

Read our full news release here: www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_represents_dallas_brodie_vancouver_school_board_cancels_event