Watch NDA bill hearing live TONIGHT (Wed) in Manitoba
Canadian legislators to hear from victims of NDAs allowed to speak out
In an unusual hearing on a bill that would restrict the use of NDAs in the Canadian province of Manitoba, witnesses will be able to testify without fear of violating their own NDAs.
The hearing will be aired live Wed, Nov 2, 4pm PT/6pm CT/7pm ET at this link.
As this article explains, a committee of the Manitoba legislature will hear from “those who’ve been gagged by an NDA” as the legislators consider a bill “intended to stop non-disclosure agreements from being used to protect predators and those who employ or represent them”. The measure would restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of discrimination or harassment.
Witnesses testifying will be protected by “parliamentary privilege” to allow them to talk about their experiences while they’re addressing the committee. This is a privilege that legislators in the province always enjoy.
Dougald Lamont, the legislator who introduced the measure, explained:
I’m allowed to say things at committee and in the house and am shielded from liability of being sued because, the whole idea is, so I am able to tell the truth. The same will apply to witnesses and presenters. [They] will actually be able to reveal why they were forced to sign an NDA and why this bill to reform NDAs is so important.
As of last week, 17 presenters had registered to speak at the committee.
The proposed Manitoba legislation would make a non-disclosure agreement unenforceable unless it complies with several requirements, including having a set duration. Many are surprised to learn that NDAs are usually in perpetuity.
You can tune in to watch the hearing live here, Wed, Nov 2, at 4pm PT/6pm CT/7pm ET.
Huge thanks to the advocacy organization, Can’t Buy My Silence for their leadership on this issue and for sharing this critical information on social media.
The U.S. should also protect victims of NDAs here to speak at similar hearings.