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From Ad IDEM / CMLA
Welcome to the Ad IDEM / Canadian Media Lawyers Association Website
Ad IDEM stands for Advocates In Defence of Expression in Media / Avocats pour la defense de l'expression dans les medias (the capital letters in bold spelling "MEDIA" (from right to left)). We are also known by the acronym CMLA, the Canadian Media Lawyers Association.
Our members are leading media lawyers across Canada. We organize a major annual conference, intervene in important Supreme Court of Canada cases, and promote improved laws and policies for free expression and openness of courts.
AdIDEM/CMLA is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of free expression in Canada and abroad. Our aim is to achieve this objective through:
* public and professional education * advocacy and law reform initiatives * cooperation with related professional organizations
AdIDEM/CMLA members are lawyers representing the media across Canada. Associate Members, who may or may not be lawyers, have had experience in issues involving media law and free expression, and are advocates for free expression as well.[| Read more...]
New Developments
| July 7, 2017 | John v Ballingall 2017 ONCA 579 | |
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| The ONCA has confirmed that an online newspaper is a "newspaper" within the meaning of the Ontario Libel and Slander Act, and subject to the same libel notice and limitation period as a print article.
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| June 28, 2017 | Google Inc v Equustek Solutions Inc 2017 SCC 34 | |
| The SCC has upheld an order of the BCCA and BCSC for Google to remove the websites of a technology company from its search engine results worldwide.
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| June 22, 2017 | R v Clow 2017 PESC 9 | |
| Justice Key, of the PESC, dismissed a publication ban application by the Crown in respect to getting a copy of an accused' interview with the police for publication.
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| June, 2017 | Taseko Mines Limited v Western Canada Wilderness Committee 2017 BCCA | |
| While the BC Court of Appeal has not yet ruled, its decision to webcast the appeal was a positive development. The video of the court of appeal argument can be viewed here: https://www1.webcastcanada.ca/court/
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| May 25, 2017 | Brissette v Cactus Club Cabaret Ltd. 2017 BCCA 200 | |
| The BCCA held that it was appropriate on a summary trial to decide the issue of qualified privilege.
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| May 16, 2017 | R v The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2017 ABQB 329 | |
| An important decision from the ABQB, dealing with "unpublishing" after a Criminal Code ban has been imposed, under ss 486.4.
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| May 2, 2017 | Teva Canada Limited v Janssen Inc et al 2017 FC 437 | |
| Teva was denied a confidentiality order, pursuant to Federal Courts Rule 151. Prothonotary Tabib cited the open court principle and admonished counsel for failure to uphold fundamental principles of justice including public interest in public and accessible court proceedings.
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| April 21, 2017 | The Globe and Mail Inc v R 2017 ONSC 2407 | |
| The ONSC ordered the unsealing of a search warrant and ITO in the Vice Admiral Mark Norman investigation, with the exception of uncontested portions that had been redacted due to cabinet confidentiality, protection of personal information of third parties, and pricing information of Chantier Davie. The application for a publication ban was denied.
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| April 21, 2017 | Weaver v Corcoran 2017 BCCA 160 | |
| The appellants submitted the judge erred in finding them jointly liable in defamation for four articles written by three different authors. The BCCA has allowed the appeal and a new trial has been ordered.
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| March 22, 2017 | R v Vice Media Canada Inc 2017 ONCA 231 | |
| The ONCA upheld the lower court's decision and refused to quash a production order which directed Vice Media and one of its journalists to produce certain documents and data from the reporter's instant messenger chat logs.
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Events
2017 Conference
November 3 & 4, 2017
Toronto, Ontario
Please click for more details.
The Ad IDEM Freedom of Expression Writing Prize 2018
July 1, 2018
Ad IDEM/CMLA is seeking submissions for the annual student Writing Prize for a paper promoting freedom of expression. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2018 with the winner to be announced by September 2018.
Please click for more details and a link to submission guidelines.
Law Commission of Ontario: Call for Research Papers on Defamation in the Internet Age
August 3, 2016
The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) is undertaking a project on defamation law in the age of the internet. As part of the development of the consultation paper, the LCO will fund a number of research papers that will inform our development of options for reform.
