Cases

CBC, CTV, Global, CITY-TV, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail et al v. AG Ontario

November 1, 2000

A challenge by eight media organizations to search warrants against them for unpublished material recorded during the events leading up to a riot at Queen's Park in Toronto was dismissed by Mr. Justice Roberts.  The media argued that they should receive notice of an application to obtain a warrant in these circumstances, so that they could appear in court to argue against the granting of the warrant in the first place.  Evidence was led that such warrants chill the media and affect the news gathering process.  The court did not accept these arguments.  

An appeal was immediately launched by most of the media organizations, and was heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal in December, 2000. The media lost this appeal.

A leave application by most of the remaining applicants to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied.