Anti-SLAPP

In late 2015, Ontario’s Protection of Public Participation Act, 2015 took effect. Commonly referred to as the “anti-SLAPP” regime—a reference to the term “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” from US jurisdictions—the law quickly changed the litigation landscape in Ontario, particularly in defamation actions.  

In Prince Edward Island, the legal dispute between a real estate developer and an environmental organization continues to fuel calls for the provincial legislature to enact an anti-SLAPP law.*

Protection of Public Participation Act, 2015 Centre for Free Expression

The Court of Appeal of British Columbia has ruled that author Steven Galloway may pursue his defamation lawsuit against a woman, whom court documents refer to as A.B., and others.

In a recently released decision, the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirmed the important role of anti-SLAPP legislation in protecting those who speak out on matters of public interest and against whom legal action is taken. In particular, the Court made clear that so called “counter-speech” seeking to defend a vulnerable group weighs in favour of protection.

A new report, Global Anti-SLAPP Ratings: Assessing the strength of anti-SLAPP laws, compares and ranks the strength of anti-SLAPP laws in the world’s 37 jurisdictions that offer legal protection against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) – legal actions launched to shut down discussion and critical commentary on issues of public interest.