Join Liza Hughes and Sarah Schielke for a grounded discussion on what it means to live and work under increasing state control. Drawing on their respective experiences in Canada and the United States, the conversation explores how government power is exercised in everyday life, how legal systems respond to that power, and where they fall short.

Focusing on practical realities rather than abstract theory, topics such as the expansion of police authority, administrative decision-making that limits rights without meaningful review, and the subtle ways in which individuals adapt their behaviour in response to surveillance, enforcement, and legal risk are covered. Both speakers offer insight into how these pressures appear in their jurisdiction, highlighting both common patterns and important differences.

The discussion also focuses on response that includes litigation strategies, public advocacy, and the role of lawyers in pushing back against overreach. The panel considers how civil liberties organizations, defence counsel, and individual litigants can still create meaningful constraints on government action, even in systems that tend toward deference.

The goal is a clear-eyed assessment of the current landscape, combined with a practical understanding of where resistance remains effective and where new approaches are required.