FeatureThere’s a growing chorus of complaint that access to key court documents — informations setting out criminal charges, exhibits tendered during trials, youth court dockets — has become increasingly restrictive in Canada, despite a string of Charter rulings demanding greater openness. Court officials are using outdated precedents and flawed legal interpretations to deny access, while understaffed…
“The (Stephen) Harper government has delayed for months the release of notes on conference calls held at the height of last summer’s deadly listeriosis outbreak — a lag some experts say breaks Ottawa’s own information laws,” reported the Canadian Press, which has filed an information request to the Privy Council Office for “all transcripts and…
In courthouses in countless Ontario cities, journalists are routinely denied easy access to case files and exhibits because of outdated precedents and flawed interpretations of the law. Dean Jobb makes the case for better access.
NewsThe Supreme Court of Canada has reserved judgment on an appeal that could create a new libel defence of “responsible journalism.” Media lawyers argued Feb. 17 that journalists who pursue important news stories of public interest should be able to defeat a libel claim if they acted fairly and professionally, even if facts turn out…
“Informed debate on matters of public interest is essential to democracy, but over-emphasis on protection of reputation in Canadian law and the resulting fear of libel action keep important information from the public.” That’s the nub of the argument to the Supreme Court of Canada by a coalition of media organizations. They’re intervening in an…
NewsA group of Manitoba chiefs is urging hate charges be filed against the CBC for what it called “racist and hateful” comments about natives posted on the broadcaster’s website. But whether media outlets are responsible for what’s said in moderated discussion boards remains a grey area in Canadian law. Patrick White reports in The Globe…
NewsThe Ontario Human Rights Commission is calling on Parliament to force all Canadian magazines, newspapers and “media services” Web sites to join a national press council with the power to adjudicate breaches of professional standards and complaints of discrimination. Journalists warn that mandatory government regulation poses a threat to freedom of expression. Joseph Brean reports…
Feature The Web 2.0 movement ushered in an interactive Internet and put power in the hands of the people, tapping the so-called wisdom of the crowds to change the world — and to keep such a digital democracy in check. A decade later, as defamation lawsuits mount in response to an explosion of vicious attacks…
NewsOntario journalists are being denied their right to view and copy basic court documents under questionable provincial access policies. In response, Tracey Tyler, the Toronto Star‘s legal affairs reporter, and Toronto media lawyer Tony Wong have compiled The Justice Reporter, a 14-page newsletter that explores the problem and demands solutions. A second edition, assessing the…
FeatureThe age of Internet access to court records has dawned in Canada. British Columbia is leading the way with online access to some 200,000 court documents and more to come, and the Supreme Court of Canada wants to post written arguments filed in advance of its hearings. But some fear easy access to registry files…