J-Source

Police investigation: 1, Journalist sources: 0

Ontario’s highest court has set the interest of police criminal investigations above the need of journalists to protect confidential sources, in a ruling against the National Post (and the Globe and Mail and CBC as intervenors). In a case involving former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Andrew McIntosh’s reports of business dealings connected to…

Ontario’s highest court has set the interest of police criminal investigations above the need of journalists to protect confidential sources, in a ruling against the National Post (and the Globe and Mail and CBC as intervenors). In a case involving former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Andrew McIntosh’s reports of business dealings connected to a hotel and golf club in Chretien’s
riding, the court ordered the Post to turn over documents sent by a confidential source.

Noted the court ruling: “The main issue requires that we resolve a clash between two competing
interests: the interest of the police and the Crown in investigating and
prosecuting a serious crime; and the interest of the National Post and
one of its journalists in protecting the identity of a confidential source,” said the written decision.

The decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal is online, here. A National Post breaking news story is here.

The controversial ruling will, I expect, be appealed.


Ontario’s highest court has set the interest of police criminal investigations above the need of journalists to protect confidential sources, in a ruling against the National Post (and the Globe and Mail and CBC as intervenors). In a case involving former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Andrew McIntosh’s reports of business dealings connected to a hotel and golf club in Chretien’s
riding, the court ordered the Post to turn over documents sent by a confidential source.

Noted the court ruling: “The main issue requires that we resolve a clash between two competing
interests: the interest of the police and the Crown in investigating and
prosecuting a serious crime; and the interest of the National Post and
one of its journalists in protecting the identity of a confidential source,” said the written decision.

The decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal is online, here. A National Post breaking news story is here.

The controversial ruling will, I expect, be appealed.

[node:ad]