Good day for freedom

The ability of journalists to hold those in power to account often depends on the willingness of sources to speak. Yet, until last week, unlike most other comparable countries, Canada was without a so-called shield law to protect journalistic sources and, in this way, journalism’s democratic function.

On Wednesday, Members of Parliament passed the Journalistic Source Protection Act, which originated as a private member’s bill in the Senate, marking a major step forward for press freedom. We will finally be joining the United States, Britain, France and others in providing a legal safeguard for the privileged relationship between source and reporter.

Last October, it was revealed that at least 10 reporters in Quebec had had their cellphone communication secretly surveilled by police. Then, before a parliamentary committee, an official of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said it was possible his agency had spied on Canadian journalists in the past.

Under the new law, state agencies seeking such information will be required to convince a superior court judge that there is no other “reasonable” means to obtain it, and that the public interest served by the investigation justifies the infringement on press freedom. The new shield law is an overdue protection.

Toronto Star