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John Carpay vs. transgender people

John Carpay is a Dutch-born Canadian disbarred lawyer, conservative writer, and anti-transgender activist. Carpay founded the anti-trans group Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

Background

Carpay was born in ~1967/1968 in the Netherlands. Carpay’s family then emigrated to Canada, and Carpay grew up in British Columbia. Carpay earned a bachelor’s degree from UniversitĂ© Laval and a law degree from the University of Calgary in 1998. Carpay was called to the bar in 1999, then worked in civil litigation at Rooney Prentice.

Carpay became active in conservative politics in the 1990s. In 1993, Carpay ran for Parliament as the Reform Party candidate for the Burnaby-Kingsway riding in British Columbia, taking third with 25% of the vote. In 1995, Carpay outlined likely goals if hypothetically elected prime minister.

From 2001 to 2005 Carpay was Alberta director of the conservative Canadian Taxpayers Federation. From 2005 to 2010, Carpay served as the first executive director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF). During that time, CCF was an intervenor in anti-trans extremist Bill Whatcott’s appeal to Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v Whatcott.

In 2010, Carpay founded Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. Carpay attracted national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when the JCCF represented churches and individuals challenging public-health restrictions. In 2021, controversy arose after Carpay admitted hiring a private investigator to follow Manitoba Chief Justice Glenn Joyal during ongoing litigation involving the JCCF. Following public criticism, he took a temporary leave of absence from the organization.

Anti-trans activism

Carpay and JCCF have supported individuals in anti-trans litigation and legislation, including Pamela Buffone, Carolyn Burjoski, Amy Eileen Hamm, Barbara Kay, and Meghan Murphy. JCCF has supported organizations including Gender Dysphoria Alliance, Our Duty Canada, Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights, and Parents for Choice in Education.

Carpay and JCCF are frequently involved in defending people sued by “prolific litigant” Jessica Simpson (formerly Jessica Yaniv).

Carpay frequently writes anti-trans articles for National Post, Post Millennial, Calgary Sun, Epoch Times, Western Standard, New Westminster Times, The Interim, and Human Events.

On March 8, 2025, Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (caWsbar) held an event called Reality Based Women Unite held in Calgary. The event featured Liza Vespi, Maureen Sullivan, Drea Humphrey, Ghislaine Gendron, Trish Oliver, John Carpay, Amy Hamm, Heather Mason, and Kara Dansky.

References

Staff report (July 2, 1993). Reform goes after pro-life vote. The Interim https://theinterim.com/issues/society-culture/reform-goes-after-pro-life-vote/

Anti-trans coverage

Staff report (April 7, 2025). Lawsuit challenges fed policy on housing trans-identifying males in women’s prisons. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/news/breaking-lawsuit-challenges-fed-policy-on-housing-trans-identifying-males-in-womens-prisons/63817

Press release (October 27, 2023). Statement from the Justice Centre: John Carpay innocent of criminal wrongdoing, charges stayed. Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms https://www.jccf.ca/statement-john-carpay-innocent-of-criminal-wrongdoing-charges-stayed/

Selected writing by Carpay

Carpay, John (May 20, 2026). John Carpay: Human Rights Laws Should Respect the Human Right to Speak Freely. Epoch Times https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/john-carpay-human-rights-laws-should-respect-the-human-right-to-speak-freely-6028187

Carpay, John (May 8, 2026). John Carpay: Human Rights Tribunals Must Be Reined In. Epoch Times https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/john-carpay-human-rights-tribunals-must-be-reined-in-6023083

Carpay, John (April 15, 2026). CARPAY: While the US Supreme Court defended free speech, Canada made it a crime to think differently. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/carpay-while-the-us-supreme-court-defended-free-speech-canada-made-it-a-crime-to-think-differently/72694

Carpay, John (March 31, 2026). Notwithstanding: John Carpay on Woke Judges & Section 33 of the Charter. New Westminster Times https://www.newwesttimes.com/opinion/notwithstanding-john-carpay-on-woke-judges-section-33-of-the-charter/article_7a4f7c0c-e383-4a76-9b0a-63769f7df95d.html

Carpay, John (February 24, 2026). CARPAY: How Canada’s ‘Human Rights’ tribunals became political weapons — $750,000 fine for hurt ‘feelings’ over trans comments. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/carpay-how-canadas-human-rights-tribunals-became-political-weapons-750000-fine-for-hurt-feelings-over-trans-comments/71398

Carpay, John (April 7, 2025). John Carpay: Putting female inmates in harm’s way. National Post https://nationalpost.com/opinion/putting-female-inmates-in-harms-way

Carpay, John (February 15, 2025). CARPAY: The Supreme Court’s cross-Canada roadshow. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/carpay-the-supreme-courts-cross-canada-roadshow/62166

Carpay, John (December 30, 2024). CARPAY: An election in 2025 will not fix Canada’s cultural decline. Western Standard https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/carpay-an-election-in-2025-will-not-fix-canadas-cultural-decline/60742

Carpay, John (October 16, 2023). John Carpay: Claiming that children have adult rights is a perversion of the Canadian charter. Epoch Times https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/john-carpay-claiming-that-children-have-adult-rights-is-a-perversion-of-the-canadian-charter-5509978

Carpay, John (June 16, 2023). Courage in the face of school board censorship. The Interim https://theinterim.com/columnist/john-carpay/courage-in-the-face-of-school-board-censorship/

Carpay, John (April 7, 2023). CARPAY: The safety of women and girls should trump transgender ideology. Human Events https://humanevents.com/2023/04/27/carpay-the-safety-of-women-and-girls-should-trump-transgender-ideology

Carpay, John (January 29, 2020). Trans ideology seeks to silence healthy debate. Post Millennial via Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms https://www.jccf.ca/trans-ideology-seeks-to-silence-healthy-debate/

Carpay, John (March 11, 2020). New Trudeau law could jail parents who oppose gender conversion. Post Millennial via Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms https://www.jccf.ca/new-trudeau-law-could-jail-parents-who-oppose-gender-conversion/

Carpay, John (February 25, 2020). You gave me what I wanted. You ruined my life. Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms https://www.jccf.ca/you-gave-me-what-i-wanted-you-ruined-my-life/

Carpay, John (October 30, 2020). If Yaniv is permitted to compete in beauty pageant it would violate the Charter rights of women and girls. Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/if-yaniv-is-permitted-to-compete-in-beauty-pageant-it-would-violate-the-charter-rights-of-women-and-girls

Carpay, John (August 22, 2019). On self-identification, the law is inconsistent. Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/on-self-identification-the-law-is-inconsistent

Carpay, John (March 12, 2019). CARPAY: Charter freedoms of public servants at stake in Newfoundland human rights case. Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/carpay-charter-freedoms-of-public-servants-at-stake-in-newfoundland-human-rights-case

Carpay, John (January 11, 2019). CARPAY: Can a 14-year old girl decide on permanent infertility, facial hair and a male voice? Post Millennial https://thepostmillennial.com/carpay-can-a-14-year-old-girl-decide-on-permanent-infertility-facial-hair-and-a-male-voice

Carpay, John (January 24, 2016). Parents simply must have the final say. Calgary Sun https://www.jccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2016-01-24-Calgary-Sun-Parents-simply-must-have-the-final-say.pdf

Carpay, John (1995). Restoring Faith in the Talent and Wisdom of the Canadian People. In Stronach, Frank [editor]. As Prime Minister, I Would– Canada’s Brightest, Offer Innovative Solutions for a More Prosperous and United Country, Volume 4. Key Porter Books, ISBN 9780771576287

Media

The New Westminster Times with Amy Hamm, David Brett, and John Carpay (February 23, 2026). Gender Craziness! BC Senior Neufeld Slammed w $750K Fine. Carpay, Hamm Brett Discuss Feb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9zRIny2n4g

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms with John Carpay (March 26, 2026). Canadians targeted for “misgendering”: Support their legal defence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4dKGNBx2w

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms with John Carpay (April 13, 2026). John Carpay weighs in on ‘misgendering’ complaints from transgender activist Jessica Simpson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXCOzylYKqI

The Same Drugs with Meghan Murphy and John Carpay (August 29, 2022). Canada’s road to Beijing — John Carpay on the Trudeau government’s move towards a digital ID. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k02O6q9NafI

Viva Frei with David Freitas and John Carpay (February 11, 2021). Live with John Carpay – Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms – Viva Frei Live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZUQSWvRNh4

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and John Carpay (August 1, 2019). Legal Impact of Yaniv Human Rights Case | w Attorney John Carpay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VrmECWK2iQ

The Saad Truth woth Gad Saad, Jordan Peterson, and John Carpay (April 6, 2017). Censorship on Campus – Jordan Peterson, John Carpay, and Gad Saad (THE SAAD TRUTH_391). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrNSxAT7zNU

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms with John Carpay (July 18, 2019). John Carpay on Compelling Women to Wax Male Genitalia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4ihk7lCWg

Rebel News with Sheila Gunn Reid and John Carpay (July 12, 2019). John Carpay: Media boycotting transgender bikini wax trial | Sheila Gunn Reid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7WwG_a5YcU

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Fraser Institute (fraserinstitute.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

The Post Millennial (thepostmillennial.com)

Western Standard (westernstandard.news)

Epoch Times (theepochtimes.com)

Human Events (humanevents.com)

The Interim (theinterim.com)

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