Freedom-Wins-9
Freedom Wins – August 2026
- The fight for government transparency is heading to court! Democracy Watch is preparing a constitutional challenge against Ontario’s Bill 97—a sweeping law which retroactively shields records held by the Premier, cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants from freedom-of-information requests. The case could restore public access to key government communications and establish an influential constitutional precedent that governments cannot legislate themselves beyond public scrutiny.
- Apocalyptic crisis averted: After vigilant citizens discovered that New Orleans police had quietly posted a revised policy allowing weaponized drones with the superintendent’s permission, they sounded the alarm and pressured city officials. Within days, the policy disappeared and was replaced with an absolute ban on weapons and hazardous materials aboard police drones.
- The United States has slammed the door on a government-controlled digital dollar, making it the first country to prohibit its own central bank from launching a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). President Trump’s January 2025 executive order shut down federal efforts to develop or promote a CBDC, and the House has now passed legislation aiming to codify that ban into statutory law—which will make it far harder for a future administration to revive a system capable of tracking, restricting, or controlling Americans’ everyday transactions.
- Two charges of obstructing a peace officer against Toronto Charter auditor Chad Briand have been withdrawn by the Crown. The charges arose after Briand filmed police activity from public property outside a Toronto police station in February 2025.
- Food finally makes it into medical school: In a major victory for preventive health, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nutrition initiative led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 73 medical institutions across 36 states have committed to requiring at least 40 hours of nutrition education—or an equivalent competency program—starting in fall 2026.
- New York has become the first US state to pause new hyperscale data centres. Governor Kathy Hochul’s July 14 executive order freezes incomplete state permit applications for facilities consuming 50 megawatts or more, giving regulators time to protect residents from soaring electricity bills, strained water supplies and costly grid expansions.
- An Ontario court has struck down the province’s ban on political messages on northern highway billboards, ruling that the Ministry of Transportation violated Charter free-expression rights by blocking a billboard critical of the government’s COVID-19 response. The decision confirms that governments cannot censor political speech simply because they dislike the message.
- Britain dumps Digital ID after public revolt. Nearly 3 million citizens signed a petition opposing the mandatory “BritCard,” forcing the government to scrap the £1.8-billion scheme and redirect the money toward lowering electricity bills. It’s a massive people-powered victory for privacy.
- Troops fired over COVID shots return with back pay. More than 230 US service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have now rejoined the military with restored rank and eligibility for back pay and benefits. Nearly 900 others have had their discharge records upgraded.
- Germany ends routine COVID shots for healthy adults. Germany’s vaccine committee has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy adults—including healthy pregnant women—while raising the age for routine annual boosters from 60 to 75. The move comes after Sweden, Norway and Britain implemented similar policies. Officials cited widespread hybrid immunity and the low risk of severe illness among healthy adults—a welcome retreat from one-size-fits-all medicine.
- Parts of Canada’s mandatory long-form census are going to be challenged in court. The Federal Court case argues that the government should not be able to force citizens—under threat of a fine—to reveal intimate details about their health, identity, housing, daily routines and private lives.
- Parents push back—and Newfoundland backs down: After public outrage, Newfoundland’s government is reversing course on a policy blocking parents from accessing the medical records of children over 12. Premier Tony Wakeham says legislation will be introduced to ensure “secrecy by default” does not come between parents and their children’s health.
- Egg-price accountability finally cracks open: Three major US egg producers accused by 17 states of colluding to inflate prices have reportedly agreed to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs.
- Canadians revolt against 47-year Rideau Hall gravy train: A new Leger poll found 71% of Canadians want Ottawa to scrap the taxpayer-funded expense accounts former governors general have enjoyed since 1979—now worth up to $206,000 a year, for life (plus 6 months after life). Nearly half a century later, taxpayers are finally demanding the royal treatment end.
- BC pulls funding from SOGI 123 group. The British Columbia government has announced it will discontinue provincial operating funding for the ARC Foundation, the organization responsible for developing and promoting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) 123 materials in BC schools.
- Law Society corrects Kamloops burial claim: After lawyer James Heller sued for defamation over statements portraying him as racist and supportive of genocide denialism—when he had proposed making the training material more factually precise—the Law Society of BC settled the case and revised its mandatory course. The material now describes the Kamloops findings as approximately 200 radar “targets of interest” displaying characteristics consistent with possible burials—not confirmed human remains.
- Canada’s gender-equality department couldn’t handle public scrutiny: Women and Gender Equality Canada shut down its X accounts after officials said critical comments were causing employees “significant mental strains.”$5 million victory for mandate objectors: Battelle Energy Alliance will pay $5 million after a US federal investigation found reasonable cause it denied religious or disability accommodations to more than 100 workers under its COVID-19 vaccine mandate—sometimes resulting in termination.
- Food freedom spreads across America: New laws in Virginia and Indiana are cutting red tape for home cooks, expanding online sales and allowing more homemade foods to be sold directly to customers.
- Consumers voted with their wallets, and even a multinational automaker that was offered billions of dollars in government support had to listen. Honda has indefinitely suspended its $15-billion plan to build an electric-vehicle supply chain in Ontario after EV demand failed to meet expectations. It is a powerful reminder that politicians can subsidize an industry and mandate targets, but consumers still decide which products succeed.
- Herbal remedies freed from liquor red tape: New Hampshire has passed SB 524, exempting alcohol-based herbal tinctures and liquid supplements from state liquor laws. Herbalists and small supplement makers can now sell traditional remedies without being treated like alcohol vendors.
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