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Canadaland SLAPPed Down in Scathing Rebuke

Back to Basics for Community Newspapers

Note: This post is adapted from a piece I wrote for the Low Down to Hull and Back News, a successful community newspaper based in Wakefield, Quebec, a village about a half-hour’s drive from downtown Ottawa.

SLAPP Happy

I first got hooked on the WE Charity issue when, after Jesse Brown posted his first major attack on the charity in early 2019, a friend posted on Twitter that the piece on Canadaland was a “nothingburger” smothered in Jesse Brown hype sauce.

WE Charity v. the Fifth Estate, Mark Kelley and Harvey Cashore

First, a few things to make clear. I believe in the CBC. I don’t want it defunded. It has an important role to play in Canadian culture and journalism.

Fundamental Law For Journalists

Here’s a primer on basic law for people who work in newsrooms. With chapters on legal research, the court system, civil law and procedure, criminal law, journalist protection, constitutional law and the making of statutes and regulations. Available from Irwin Law.

WE Charity Sues the CBC’s “The Fifth Estate”

We Charity issued a release last week saying it had filed a massive lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Theresa Kielburger v. Canadaland et al

Here’s the statement of claim in Theresa Kielburger’s lawsuit against Canadaland, Jesse Brown and several of his employees.

Levant v. Al Jazeera and Levant v The Narwal

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice released two decisions last week on SLAPP motions filed by defendants of lawsuits launched by Ezra Levant.

Councillor Sued for Social Media Post

An Ottawa city councilor is being sued for going much too far in what he likely saw as self-defence on social media.

Libel Law Update (Ontario)

Just a few notes to bring people up to date on speech issues in Canada.

CBC Wins SLAPP Motion Against Subway Restaurants

SLAPPS are “strategic lawsuits against public participation” and have been used for years to scare people into silence. They are commonly used against environmentalists, political activists, journalists — especially small media — and bloggers.

Court Decision Protects ATIP Rights

Ken Rubin is a professional investigator who is one of the country’s most skilled access to information users. Rubin’s clients include media and corporations who want information on the way all levels of government conduct business.

Superior Court Judge Gives Damages to People Targeted by SLAPP Suit

On Friday, I heard we won our SLAPP motion. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who are the former mayor and deputy mayor of the Town of the Blue Mountains, west of Collingwood, have been ordered to pay all of the lawyers’ bills and $10,000 in damages to the defendants, a former councilor, his wife...

How Did Pot Get Banned in Canada? This Is One Time When You Can Blame the Media

Marijuana prohibition in Canada was imposed because of a belief among early 20th century decision-makers that social ills could be reduced, or even eliminated, by government action.

Hanging the Sin Eater: International Criminal Law’s Failure To Engage With the Role of Media in a Criminal State.

Mainstream news media play an important role in the political system. They can use their authoritative voices to give domestic and foreign legitimacy to regimes.

Ontario’s SLAPP Law is Headed to the Supreme Court of Canada

Pointes Protection, the key Ontario Court of Appeal case on Ontario’s Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation law (discussed in an earlier post) is headed to Canada’s top court.

Who Gets to Cover Parliament and the Legislatures? A Legal Analysis

The Parliamentary Press Gallery plays an integral part in the national political discourse. Journalists do more than simply record debate in the House of Commons and the Senate.