The fact that Canada criminalizes speech is sweeping authoritarianism, especially since it aggressively enforces anti-speech codes when the speech pertains to criticism of government policy.
Even the CBC article posted above states that the burden is on the persecuted individual "to prove to immigration officials here [in Canada] that it isn't a crime in Canada to criticize the Russian army."
The fact that some countries don’t give free speech (no matter how reckless, dangerous or untrue) the religious status that America does doesn’t make them authoritarian.
The American constitution says: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Canadian one says: peace, order, and good government. Different strokes for different folks - you do you.
That’s a lazy critique. It’s a Commonwealth thing. If you really believe all Commonwealth countries are authoritarian, there’s not much I can say here that would convince you otherwise.
Anyways, I don’t deny there are pluses and minuses. The situation of the person in this article (if the facts are as reported) is unfortunate, and I’d hope that the ministry would intervene if push really came to shove.
Even the CBC article posted above states that the burden is on the persecuted individual "to prove to immigration officials here [in Canada] that it isn't a crime in Canada to criticize the Russian army."
This is not the only example.