In June 2019, the House Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in Ottawa published a report about hateful expression on the Internet. Taking Action to End Online Hate tentatively recommends reinstating section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Parliament abolished the section, which authorized online censorship, in 2013. REPORTAGE In the National …
In Ottawa, the House Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has published a report about hateful expression on the Internet. The committee presented its report — Taking Action to End Online Hate — to the House of Commons on June 17, 2019. Read the full report here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/JUST/report-29/page-5 REPORTAGE Deborah Gyapong of Canadian …
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Court of Appeal recently dismissed a civil charge of contempt against Justin Brake, a journalist. The Court of Appeal — which overturned a lower court ruling — delivered its verdict on March 28, 2019. In 2016, Mr. Brake followed protesters onto the construction site of a hydroelectric dam at Muskrat …
The following TWUC statement was sent today to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Michael Tibollo. If you wish to voice your own concern about the cuts to Ontario library services, you can do so online at this petition. The Writers’ Union of Canada strongly urges the Government of …
In British Columbia, the legislature has unanimously passed the Protection of Public Participation Act. Royal assent is expected soon. Ryan Patrick Jones of CBC News reports: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/legislature-passes-anti-slapp-1.5049927
Vic Fedeli, the Ontario government’s minister of finance, is suing Patrick Brown, the former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, and his book publisher for defamation. Mr. Fedeli objects to statements in Mr. Brown’s Takedown: The Attempted Political Assassination of Patrick Brown. He is seeking $8 million. REPORTAGE Liam Casey of the Canadian Press reports: …
The Ottawa Catholic School Board has decided to return Raina Telgemeier’s Drama to elementary school library shelves. Earlier this month, the school board had removed copies of the book because some parents had complained. Drama tells a tale about a student who wants to be part of her middle-school theatre production. The book also depicts …
On November 30, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on a dispute between Vice Media Canada Inc. and the Crown. The court weighed a journalist’s interest in protecting his communications with a source and the RCMP’s interest in investigating crime. The court unanimously upheld an earlier decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal. Reporter Ben …
Carla Qualtrough, the federal minister of public services, has permanently ordered Canada Post to cease delivery of Toronto’s Your Ward News. The order follows an older interim ban on Canada Post’s delivery of the controversial newsprint publication. REPORTAGE The Canadian Press reports: https://globalnews.ca/news/4668793/your-ward-news-canada-post-order/ Peter Zimonjic of CBC News reports: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/your-ward-news-banned-permanently-1.4907808 Rachel Browne of Vice …
Federal departments need to have “scientific integrity” policies to protect their scientists and researchers against muzzling and political interference by the end of this year.