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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
| September 24, 2019 | AB v United Kingdom (Attorney General) 2019 NSSC 289 | |
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| The NSSC granted a confidentiality order, permitting the plaintiff in a sexual assault tort case to be identified solely by a pseudonym.
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| September 12, 2019 | Hong v Lavy 2019 NSSC 271 | |
| The NSSC refused the applicants’ motion to withdraw affidavits (filed but never “used” as the application was settled). The Respondents had consented and no media were present to oppose.
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| September 5, 2019 | Verrilli v HMQ 2019 NSSC 263 | |
| In this decision, the NSSC examines who has the burden of proof when an interested non-accused party seeks access to sealed ITOs relative to three search warrants, in accordance with s. 487.3(4) of the CC.
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| August 22, 2019 | R v BS and KJ 2019 OCJ Ruling on Pub Ban | |
| In this Ontario Court of Justice decision, the judge refused to impose a publication ban in a case of multiple accused and staggered trials.
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| August 16, 2019 | R v Minassian 2019 ONSC 4455 | |
| The ONSC denied an application for a publication ban and sealing order on information and evidence filed in relation to a pre-trial motion.
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| July 12, 2019 | R v Assoun 2019 NSSC 220 | |
| This NSSC decision ends the sealing of a court file in the case of a man who spent sixteen and a half years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
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| July 8, 2019 | HMQ v Rebecca Reid 2019 OCJ 19-6210 | |
| In this Ontario Court of Justice decision, the Crown’s application for a non-publication and sealing Order on a potential victim impact statement was dismissed. The application was pursuant to section 486.7 of the CCC, which was a novel use of that provision.
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| May 30, 2019 | Torgerson et al v Nijem 2019 ONSC 3320 | |
| In this judgment, the ONSC struck out a claim in defamation for internet postings summarily (prior to defending) on a limitation, relying on the 2017 ONCA case of John v Ballingall.
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| May 9, 2019 | MédiaQMI inc c M.K. 2019 QCCA 814 | |
| The QCCA upheld the Quebec Superior Court judgment, dismissing the appeal of the Journal de Montréal to have a sealing order lifted.
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| April 30, 2019 | Bibeau c La Presse et al 2019 QCCA | |
| In this judgment, the Quebec Court of Appeal states that “at most” the absence of charges is just one of many factors that the Court has to consider in applying Dagenais/Mentuck under s. 487.3 of the Criminal Code.
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Events
2019 Freedom of Expression Award call for nominations
May 1, 2019
Toronto, ON
Please click for more details.
Call for submissions for 2019 Ad IDEM Freedom of Expression Writing Prize
May 31, 2019
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, 2019 with the winner to be announced by September 2019.
Please click for more details and a link to submission guidelines.
2019 Conference
November 8 & 9, 2019
Toronto, ON
Please click for more details.
2018 Freedom of Expression Award
November 2, 2018
Montreal, Quebec
Please click for more details.
2018 Winner of the Ad IDEM Freedom of Expression Writing Prize and call for submissions for 2019
September 5, 2018
Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Association congratulates M. Jay Smith-Hayward, the winner of its annual writing prize for students writing on the topic of protection of freedom of expression or freedom of the press in Canada.
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, 2019 with the winner to be announced by September 2019. Please click for more details and a link to submission guidelines.
