Former Chilliwack, British Columbia, school trustee Barry Neufeld, one of the loudest online critics of the provincial government's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) guidelines, has been ordered by the BC Human rights Tribunal to pay $750,000 in damages to the school board's 2SLGBTQ+ teachers, plus $10,000 in punitive damages.
Former B.C. school trustee ordered to pay $750K for hate speech, discrimination: human rights tribunal | CBC News | Lauren Vanderdeen: ·
February 20, 2026 - "The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ordered former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld to pay $750,000 for violating the Human Rights Code by publishing hate speech and discriminatory content against 2SLGBTQ+ people.... Neufeld was one of the 'loudest critics' against the B.C. government's move in 2017 directing school boards to update codes of conduct to address bullying based on "SOGI,' or sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the tribunal’s decision.... Neufeld did not respond to CBC News's request for comment by publication deadline....
"Neufeld's publications included Facebook posts, a speech at a gathering, a widely-circulated email, and comments at a school board meeting and in the media. The tribunal found six of his publications were likely to expose trans, gay and lesbian people to hatred or contempt based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.... More than 20 of Neufeld's publications indicated discrimination or an intention to discriminate against 2SLGBTQ+ people in the Chilliwack School District....
"The BCTF and Chilliwack Teachers' Association sought an award of $750,000 in compensation to teachers' association members who identify as LGBTQ between October 2017 through 2022 for injury to their dignity, feelings and self-respect. The tribunal agreed with the award, saying Neufeld 'poisoned' the workplace with anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination. The tribunal said the $750,000 will result in individual awards between around $4,600 to $16,667 per class member, according to the decision. It noted the purpose of the award is to compensate for the harms of discrimination rather than be punitive....
"A second decision from the tribunal, also released Wednesday, ordered Neufeld to pay $10,000 in punitive costs for improper conduct during the complaint. The tribunal said Neufeld 'repeatedly and flagrantly demonstrated his disregard for the Human Rights Tribunal and its process' and deliberately violated the tribunal's rules and orders. The tribunal said he 'surreptitiously' recorded a pre-hearing conference call and posted the recording on YouTube and published privileged information about settlement discussions."
Man FINED $750K for Saying There are 2 Genders SPEAKS OUT | Barry Neufeld | The Bridgehead | February 24, 2026:
Lisa Bildy: Human rights rules on gender ideology are just blasphemy laws | National Post | Lisa Bildy:
Feb 26, 2026 - "Oppressively enforced beliefs are back. But those beliefs don’t emanate from pulpits. It’s no longer Christianity demanding adherence to beliefs, but the secular religion of social justice. Neufeld learned the hard way that gender identity is now an unquestionable tenet of this new faith. Human rights tribunals are its enforcers under the guise of punishing 'discrimination.' The curriculum he criticized, introduced in 2016, roughly coincided with 'gender identity' becoming a protected class under human rights codes across Canada.
"In 2006, publisher Ezra Levant faced a discrimination complaint for reprinting the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. He and Mark Steyn, who faced similar complaints for commentary on Islam published in Maclean’s magazine, drew attention to tribunal overreach, leading to the repeal of section 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act, which had empowered the tribunal to punish 'hate speech'....
"[T]he federal Online Harms Bill, introduced by the previous Liberal government and floated again by the current government ... proposes to restore those hate speech enforcement powers to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.... But that’s obviously already happening, at least in British Columbia. In an interim decision in Neufeld’s case, B.C.’s Human Rights Tribunal decided that, although previous decisions of the tribunal had found otherwise, it actually does have the power to regulate online posts under its existing legislation....
"This case expands limits on freedom of expression in two significant ways.
- First, disparaging gender ideology — even when targeting ideas, not people — was found to be discriminatory. B.C.’s human rights commissioner argued that’s the way it should be.... Mark Steyn avoided punishment for his commentary on Islam, also litigated in B.C., because it was considered political commentary within the bounds of free expression. Today’s human rights functionaries won’t abide such limits on their power.
- Second, the expanded interpretation was applied to an elected trustee, whose role is to challenge policies and raise concerns about educational changes. Bureaucrats now dictate what elected officials can say on public policy matters....
"The $750,000 fine against Neufeld is unprecedented in the human rights context. While framed as compensation for “harm” to LGBTQ teachers, it was clearly intended to financially ruin him for his speech and refusal to embrace gender identity. It also serves as a warning to anyone considering criticism of the new faith. Blasphemy laws are back.
"Public outrage is growing, and politicians are being pressured to act. Reining in these star chambers is no longer good enough. Legislatures must abolish them, along with the human rights codes that they enforce. That requires political backbone, so don’t hold your breath. Instead, call, write, or sign a petition like ours at the Free Speech Union to let your political leaders know how many Canadians oppose financial ruin for expressing opinions on issues affecting themselves and their children."
Lisa Bildy is a lawyer and executive director of the Free Speech Union of Canada. She can be found on X at @LDBildy.
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