Liss had been living under enslavement in Ontario, which was then part of British-held territory. Simcoe, who had strong abolitionist views, had recently passed legislation that set the groundwork for the gradual abolition of slavery in Upper Canada. Liss’s case was among the first to test this new legal framework, and her release marked a significant symbolic victory for the anti-slavery movement in the region.

Simcoe’s decision to grant Elizabeth Liss her freedom reflected both the changing attitudes towards slavery in the British Empire and the personal convictions of those in positions of power. It also underscored the complex realities of slavery in Canada, where many enslaved Africans had fought for and gained their freedom through legal actions. Liss's freedom was a moment of hope for other enslaved individuals, a powerful demonstration of the potential for legal and social change. The act of granting her liberty was a precursor to the eventual legislative measures that would lead to the full abolition of slavery in Canada, taking a crucial step towards justice and equality.