Our research chair is working on a status report on freedom of expression by comparing France and Quebec. In particular, we're targeting three freedoms: freedom of religion, academic freedom and freedom of creation. I'm going to talk to you about freedom of creation.

There are 22 countries around the world that have enshrined freedom of artistic expression in their constitutions. Many other countries, such as France, have had legislation in place since 2016 to protect that particular term. Canada, for its part, hasn't yet deemed this specific protection useful.

If France and other countries have chosen to have greater protection for freedom of creation, it's because art is an expression that often challenges the standards of beauty, but also of good, and in this regard is disturbing. However, for that very reason, it can promote the democratic process, the search for the truth and contribute to personal growth, which are the great Canadian principles of protecting freedom of expression.

While the Supreme Court has recognized that artistic expression is at the heart of the relative values of freedom of expression, if Canadian parliaments sometimes vote motions in support of mistreated artists, we have to admit that this recognition and support are more timid here than in other countries, particularly in European bodies.

However, this protection has rarely been so necessary. In fact, for some time now, in Canada, as in Europe and the United States, a number of political groups have been using art controversies to advance their cause. Art is therefore at the centre of both a conservative cultural war and progressive struggles. The former attacks cultural productions that consider sexual and ethnic diversity. The latter uses famous works to draw attention to the climate emergency, for example, or denounce racism and sexism in art.

As confirmed by the field studies I conduct in Quebec's cultural community, the work of cultural institutions has become considerably complicated in the past few years, and self-censorship is becoming entrenched. Perhaps additional constitutional or legislative protection would help to address that. However, above all, Canada must develop a culture of freedom of artistic expression. To that end, more modest measures than a legislative initiative could be taken right now, which I would like to discuss.