New Federal Legislation:
- The
Federal Government has been busy. Bill
C-7, the Youth Criminal Justice Act passed the House
of Commons on May 29, 2001 and had first reading in the
Senate on the next day.
- Amendments
to s. 163.1 of the Criminal Code dealing with child pornography
would make criminals of those who access such material through
the internet for themselves. See Bill
C-15. ---
- Amendments
to s. 486 of the Code to protect
justice system participants involve new publication
bans set out in Bill C-24. Journalists
are now also protected from intimidation. Jurors
identities are to be protected in certain circumstances.
Bill
C-24 passed final reading in the House of Commons on
June 13, 2001 and had first reading in the Senate the next
day.
Protecting Public Discussion
Under
the NDP, the B.C. Legislature passed Bill 10 which would have
permitted considerably greater latitude for "communication
or conduct aimed at influencing public opinion, or promoting
or furthering lawful action by the public or by any government
body, in relation to an issue of public interest". A
new qualified privilege was set up in defamation law for such
a communication no matter how many people received it.
The law also set up a mechanism for summary dismissal of actions.
See: Protection
of Public Participation Act. Unfortunately,
the new Liberal government promptly repealed
the legislation on assuming office.
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- Bill
C-7: the new Youth Criminal Justice Act still changes the
rules of publication of the identity of young accused, victims,
and witnesses
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