From the Streets to the Courtroom: The Legacies of Quebec's anti-SLAPP Movement

Years of social mobilization and sustained political lobbying led to the recent adoption of anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation in Quebec. While this achievement was largely seen as a victory by the organizations that led the campaign towards the enactment of anti-SLAPP measures, many questions remain about the level of protection offered by the new law to citizens of the province. This article aims to address these questions and will be divided into three parts. The first section will briefly contextualize Quebec's new legislation within the larger Canadian framework. The second section will explore the social and political processes that led to the enactment of the legislation. Finally, we will examine the provisions of Bill 9 in order to determine whether it provides an appropriate response to SLAPP suits.