Rights to dissent–including rights to participate in public affairs through criticism, opposition or protest–are essential components of democracy and indispensable to the maintenance and protection of all human rights.

 Democracy is strengthened through the informed and lawful exercise of the right to participate in public affairs and decision-making through the sharing of information, through debate, and, when necessary, by engaging in dissent. In Canada, and globally, the right to dissent is increasingly restricted, vilified, misrepresented, and criminalized by state parties that seek to impose repressive measures while avoiding democratic remedies and accountability.

This website, Constructive Dissent, is dedicated to imparting information, inspiring debate, and encouraging individual and collective action to restore and protect democratic, rights-based, rule of law governance and legal systems.