News

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   In Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, a judge has fined a videographer $2.5 million for making hateful, defamatory remarks about a Lebanese-Canadian restaurateur. On May 13, 2019, Justice Jane Ferguson ordered Kevin J. Johnston to pay the sum to Mohamad Fakih, the owner and founder of Paramount Fine Foods. REPORTAGE

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   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.

The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom has named Ken Rubin, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Free Expression, as its 2018-19 recipient of the Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Contributions in pursuit of press freedom and freedom of information. 

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   On April 1, 2019, Quebec’s Superior Court of Justice began to hear the dispute between Québecor and the Journal de Mourréal. Québecor publishes Le Journal de Montréal, a newspaper. The Journal de Mourréal is a satirical website.

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   On March 27, 2019, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled on a dispute between Morgane Oger and William Whatcott.

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee   On March 14, 2019, police in Quebec raided the home of author Yvan Godbout and the office of publisher Nycolas Doucet. The police confiscated copies of Mr. Godbout’s horror novel Hansel et Gretel.