Emmett Macfarlane

@EmmettMacfarlane
2.4K Followers
107 Following
448 Posts

Professor. Author. Dad.
Canadian politics, constitutional law, rights, governance, free expression.

Author of:
Governing from the Bench: https://www.ubcpress.ca/governing-from-the-bench
Constitutional Pariah: https://www.ubcpress.ca/constitutional-pariah
Legislating under the Charter: https://utorontopress.com/9781487554538/legislating-under-the-charter/

Emmett MacfarlaneMar 31
Emmett MacfarlaneMar 30
The special issue of Constitutional Forum has been published on online harms in Canada. My paper examines hate speech & lessons the UK Online Safety Act might have for Canada. Check it out! Thanks to Dax D'Orazio and Michael Asres for putting it together. https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2026/03/forum-34-4-regulating-online-harms-in-canada/
Forum 34.4: Regulating Online Harms in Canada - Centre for Constitutional Studies

In this special issue, guest edited by Dax D'Orazio (Guelph) and Michael Asres (York), scholars of law and politics at different career stages examine some of the key legal, political, and practical challenges raised by Canada's Online Harms Bill (Bill C-63), which died on the order paper when Parliament was…

Centre for Constitutional Studies
Emmett MacfarlaneMar 30
The special issue of Constitutional Forum has been published on online harms in Canada. My paper examines hate speech & lessons the UK Online Safety Act might have for Canada. Check it out! Thanks to Dax D'Orazio and Michael Asres for putting it together. https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2026/03/forum-34-4-regulating-online-harms-in-canada/
Forum 34.4: Regulating Online Harms in Canada - Centre for Constitutional Studies

In this special issue, guest edited by Dax D'Orazio (Guelph) and Michael Asres (York), scholars of law and politics at different career stages examine some of the key legal, political, and practical challenges raised by Canada's Online Harms Bill (Bill C-63), which died on the order paper when Parliament was…

Centre for Constitutional Studies
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 20
Cameron MacLeodFeb 20

Waterloo Political Science Professor Emmett Macfarlane: "In a televised address last night Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for next Fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would reduce Canada to a rump of pathetic, disaggregated fiefdoms. Smith seeks to initiate a Maple MAGA revolution. It’s a vision that would see her take control of the courts, punish the most vulnerable members of our society, undermine the rule of law, and destroy Canadian federalism."

"...as with all far-right populists, Smith’s agenda is as much about sowing division and hate, and about her own inept failures and lack of vision, as it is about serious constitutional reform."

@EmmettMacfarlane sets 🔥 to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's divisive plans: https://open.substack.com/pub/emmettmacfarlane/p/danielle-smith-is-no-separatist-shes?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

#CDNPoli #ABPoli

Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse

In a televised address last night Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for next Fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would reduce Canada to a rump of pathetic, disaggregated fiefdoms.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 20
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 20
NEW POST: Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse
https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/danielle-smith-is-no-separatist-shes
Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse

In a televised address last night Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for next Fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would reduce Canada to a rump of pathetic, disaggregated fiefdoms.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 20
NEW POST: Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse
https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/danielle-smith-is-no-separatist-shes
Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse

In a televised address last night Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for next Fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would reduce Canada to a rump of pathetic, disaggregated fiefdoms.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 19
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 19
Since this ridiculous lawsuit against UBC is now getting international media attention (today's NYT), I am reposting this, from last year, for you to read: https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/misguided-lawsuit-against-ubc-evokes
Misguided lawsuit against UBC evokes culture war nonsense

A small group of professors is suing the University of British Columbia to stop the university from engaging in “political activity.” According to the CTV story on the legal challenge (I have not seen the statement of claim), the professors object to the university’s use of land acknowledgements, its promotion of equity and inclusion initiatives, and university statements that were perceived as taking positions on the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 19
Since this ridiculous lawsuit against UBC is now getting international media attention (today's NYT), I am reposting this, from last year, for you to read: https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/misguided-lawsuit-against-ubc-evokes
Misguided lawsuit against UBC evokes culture war nonsense

A small group of professors is suing the University of British Columbia to stop the university from engaging in “political activity.” According to the CTV story on the legal challenge (I have not seen the statement of claim), the professors object to the university’s use of land acknowledgements, its promotion of equity and inclusion initiatives, and university statements that were perceived as taking positions on the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 17
Happy to share the Call for Papers for the Ninth Annual Spring Workshop of the Courts & Politics Research Group, to be hosted at the University Guelph on May 8, 2026.
https://www.courtsandpolitics.org/Events.php
Courts and Politics Research Group

Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 4
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 4
New post: Mark Carney must flatly reject Danielle Smith's latest round of anti-constitutional posturing https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/mark-carney-must-flatly-reject-danielle
Mark Carney must flatly reject Danielle Smith's latest round of anti-constitutional posturing

Danielle Smith has threatened to withhold provincial funding for new judicial appointments unless the province gets more of a say in selecting judges.

Defending Canadian Democracy
Emmett MacfarlaneFeb 4
New post: Mark Carney must flatly reject Danielle Smith's latest round of anti-constitutional posturing https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/mark-carney-must-flatly-reject-danielle
Mark Carney must flatly reject Danielle Smith's latest round of anti-constitutional posturing

Danielle Smith has threatened to withhold provincial funding for new judicial appointments unless the province gets more of a say in selecting judges.

Defending Canadian Democracy