By Vanessa Lisa Kiraly ( August 19, 2021, 2:32 PM EDT) -- R. v. Sears [2019] O.J. No. 1005 and its subsequent R. v. Sears [2021] O.J. No. 3926 decision demonstrate the stricter aspects of Canadian criminal laws related to the freedom of speech — and they do so for all the right reasons. On Jan. 24, 2019, James Sears and co-accused Lawrence St. Germaine were convicted on two counts of willfully promoting hatred against two distinguishable groups — women and the Jewish community. The accused individuals were found guilty contrary to s. 319(2) of the Criminal Code, which states that “every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of an indictable offence for a term not exceeding two years; or an offence punishable on summary conviction.”...