A coalition of Canadian law societies has responded to research showing Canadians are worried about threats to the rule of law by launching a national campaign. Its centrepiece is a superb new website, “Ours to Protect”, designed to defend and raise awareness about the importance of the rule of law.  

The national campaign aims to unite Canadians behind the shared values that support our democracy, including fairness, justice and equality. 

“History shows that democracy is fragile; it’s not guaranteed. Many of us have grandparents who fought wars for it and parents who crossed oceans in search of it. It’s our turn to take action to protect it.”  

                                                                        Leah Kosokowsky, CEO, Law Society of Manitoba 

“While Canadians know our system isn’t perfect, 9 in 10 say the rule of law is essential for a fair and just society and that Canadians should learn more about it. The Ours to Protect campaign is a timely and ambitious effort to educate and unite Canadians around this fundamental principle of our democracy."

                                                                        Anik Bossé, President, Law Society of New Brunswick

"Ours to protect"

The “Ours to Protect” website has a clean, modern look. Using plain language and imaginative features, it makes learning about the rule of law and how it affects our daily lives easy. 

There’s a Trivia page where you click on cards to learn how the rule of law helps you in situations like buying a coffee, using an elevator, or getting a good sleep. There are answers to common questions and more challenging ones like how AI might impact the rule of law. There are also links to resources for those who want to learn more about efforts to strengthen and protect the rule of law. 

The law societies hope to prompt conversations about protecting the rule of law in Canada. The website’s News page includes links to articles beginning that conversation, including some by “Brittlestar”, the stage name of Stewart Reynolds, an Ontario-based writer, comedian, broadcaster, and consultant. He has written a series of Substack articles for the campaign, describing aspects of the rule of law like fairness and trust with every-day examples and humour. 

“The rule of law is basically society’s version of “everyone gets a turn.”
It’s the structure that makes sure nobody is above the rules, below the rules, or trapped in some weird rule-adjacent limbo.

Without the rule of law, society becomes a beer-league hockey game with no ref and one guy who insists he “plays better angry.” Suddenly people are slashing each other for parking spots, and the HOA president starts wearing aviators and declaring himself Supreme Leader of Cul-de-Sacs.

But with the rule of law?
Everyone has the right to participate. Everyone gets protected. Everyone gets a fair shot ...even people who pronounce “bagel” like it rhymes with “haggle.””

                                                                                                Brittlestar, “Fairness is a Team Sport”

Other campaign activities have included broadcast and digital advertising. So far, the digital ads have had over 30 million impressions, spread fairly evenly across Canada. 

The “Ours to Protect” website seems like a great resource for teachers and students, and for anyone wanting to understand what the rule of law means and why it’s important. It also offers ways to get involved to help keep Canada’s rule of law strong. 

Fairness Isn’t a Courtroom Thing. It’s an Everyday Canadian Thing.

The rule of law isn’t something that happens in grand buildings with marble floors and echoey hallways. It’s something that happens in lineups, on ballots, in neighbourhoods, and on those weird little “Take a Number” machines that only exist in offices where everyone still uses fax machines.

It’s what lets us coexist without reading the fine print of chaos.

And it’s something we all have a role in protecting.
Not just lawyers, judges, or that one kid from high school who now posts very dramatic LinkedIn updates about leadership.

Fairness is ours. Every Canadian’s.

                        Brittlestar, The Rule of Law: It’s Not Just for Lawyers and People Who Say “Whereas”

Check it out: OurstoProtect.ca.