Archive
27 Aug

How I improved libel law: Mair

In June 2008, radio host Rafe Mair successfully fought off a libel lawsuit in a case that prompted the Supreme Court to set out standards of defamation. The case was […]

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28 Jul

Britian’s libel laws ‘a global menace’

CommentaryBritain’s libel laws are outdated and a gift to the censorious and powerful, who use them to silence critics and, increasingly, to try to shut down websites and bloggers. The […]

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28 Jul

Steyn complaint exposes flaw in human rights laws

CommentaryWhile the Canadian Human Rights Commission has concluded that Mark Steyn’s controversial October 2006 Maclean’s piece was “calculated to excite and even offend certain readers,” the commission ruled that doesn’t […]

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28 Jul

Time to abolish blasphemous libel offence

CommentaryEngland has abolished the ancient common law offence of blasphemous libel, but the crime remains on the books in Canada. Until the offence fell into disuse in the 1920s, anyone […]

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3 Jul

The right to be ‘wrong-headed’

ByBrian MacLeod RogersMedia Lawyer, Toronto The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson (2008 SCC 40) clarifies and strengthens a defence that had fallen into murky […]

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29 Jun

Top court clarifies ‘fair comment’ libel defence

NewsCanada’s highest court has clarified when an opinion is fair commentand protected from a libel suitin a ruling that overturns a libel award against Vancouver radio talk show host Rafe […]

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23 Jun

Spectator photo ruling “patronizing”

By Dean Jobb Memo to the police: Next time, bring your own cameras. A judge has authorized the seizure of 170 photos from the Hamilton Spectator to help the Ontario […]

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9 Apr

No libel please, we’re responsible journalists

By Dean JobbOntario’s Court of Appeal – the court that imported the defence of “responsible journalism” into Canadian defamation law – is being asked to use the new defence to […]

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7 Apr

Tight-lipped reporter vindicated

By Tracey TylerLegal Affairs Reporter Toronto StarToronto (March 18, 2008) — Courts should be extremely cautious about using their contempt powers against journalists who refuse to identify a confidential source, […]

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7 Apr

Courts and sources

Commentary April 7, 2008 – The National Post’s Andrew McIntosh is not entitled to protect the identity of a key source who aided his investigation into former prime minister Jean […]

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